Sand Liquefaction Through Volume Decrease Potential

Abstract

Cyclic triaxial shear tests were performed on granular materials with a variety of grain sizes and uniformity coefficients to determine the effect of grain composition on the liquefaction potential of cohesionless soils. In place of the conventional measure of relative-density as a density index the difference between the current and minimum void ratios defined as the volume decrease potential was used as a new density parameter to define liquefaction potential in a more meaningful way. It was found that the stress ratio required to cause liquefaction in a given number of cycles is intimately related to the volume decrease potential. To aid in using this concept, design curves are presented that may be used to estimate values of this potential from field. Standard Penetration Test results.