Abstract
There is a definite need to detect subsoil liquefaction immediately after an earthquake so that an emergency program can be started as quickly as possible. The method proposed here attempts to interpret the seismic data obtained at the ground surface and to assess the thickness of a liquefied layer. The investigation was initiated by conducting shaking table tests on liquefaction of model subsoil. The test results suggested that the soil is in a state of resonance at the onset of subsoil liquefaction. Hence, the shaking of subsoil at this special moment can be studied by assuming a harmonic motion in the subsoil profile. In addition, the spectrum intensity, that is approximately equal to the maximum velocity, was demonstrated to occur at the time of maximum acceleration. It was also found that the maximum acceleration occurs at resonance and onset of liquefaction. The maximum values of acceleration and velocity of harmonic motion recorded at the surface can therefore be combined to indicate the maximum displacement at the ground surface. A combination of this surface displacement together with the theory of resonant motion makes it possible to assess immediately after an earthquake the thickness of a liquefied layer. An emergency program against liquefaction-related damage can therefore be initiated quickly. This idea was investigated based on model tests as well as seismic case histories, and was found to be reasonable.
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