Liquefaction-induced Settlement Research Articles

A novel approach to predicting liquefaction-induced settlements using Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (KANs)

Soil liquefaction refers to the loss of strength and bearing capacity of soil under dynamic loads. Structures built on liquefied soils experience settlement. In this study, the newly developed Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (KAN) method, an innovative artificial neural network technique, was utilized to predict liquefaction-induced settlement. The KAN method, which extends beyond the traditional Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) approach, was compared with the Random Forest method for benchmarking purposes. Using data derived from laboratory and field studies, models were constructed using both methods, and their performances were analyzed. According to the results, the KAN model outperformed the RF model in terms of R2, MAE, MSE, and RMSE metrics. Additionally, the feature importance analysis on the KAN model identified cyclic stress ratio (csr) and corrected SPT blow count (n1_60) as the most significant variables. These results underscore the potential of the KAN method in enhancing predictive accuracy and reliability in geotechnical applications, paving the way for its broader acceptance and implementation in real-world scenarios.

Effect of Strong Motion on Liquefaction-Induced Settlement of Shallow Foundations using 3D Numerical Analysis

Effect of Strong Motion on Liquefaction-Induced Settlement of Shallow Foundations using 3D Numerical Analysis

Liquefaction at two petrochemical facilities during the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras-Turkiye earthquake sequence

Two petrochemical facilities, located in the Dortyol district of Hatay metropolitan city along the Mediterranean coastline in Turkiye were shaken by the February 6, 2023, M7.8 Pazarcik and M7.6 Ekinözü-Elbistan earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. This study investigates their seismic performances from a seismic soil liquefaction engineering perspective, addressing several key aspects: the i) identification of surface manifestations of seismic soil liquefaction, including soil ejecta, ground deformations, and displacements, ii) examination of subsurface soil characteristics, iii) evaluations of soil liquefaction susceptibility and triggering, iv) analyses of post-liquefaction ground settlements, lateral deformations, and displacements, and v) comparisons of these observed outcomes with predicted results. The assessment results indicated that liquefaction triggering evaluations, based on the SPT- and CPT-based semi-empirical methods of Cetin et al. (2018) and Moss et al. (2006), respectively, were consistent with observed field manifestations of liquefaction or their absence. However, estimated settlements obtained from the liquefaction-induced volumetric settlement procedures of Tokimatsu and Seed (1984), Shamoto et al. (1998) and Cetin et al. (2009), underestimated field settlements. This underestimation was partially explained by the additional contribution of lateral spreading deformations to field settlements, which were not considered due to one-dimensional nature of these volumetric settlement assessments. Additionally, semi-empirical correlations of Hamada et al. (1986) and Youd et al. (2002) consistently overestimated observed lateral displacements. The discrepancies in settlement and lateral spreading displacements are believed to stem from the presence of liquefaction susceptible fine-grained and/or gravelly units, which may have higher residual shear strengths and/or produce higher volumetric strains than typical clean sand layers in case history sites used for developing these semi-empirical methods. The documented field performances and assessment results are hoped to contribute to further developing and refining/calibrating increasingly accurate and reliable empirical and/or analytical methods for assessing hazards related to liquefaction triggering, and liquefaction-induced ground deformations and displacements.

A numerical study on effect of liquefaction on ring footings during 2001 Bhuj earthquake at Kutch (Gujarat), India

Liquefaction, the temporary loss of strength in saturated sand causing it to behave like a liquid, leads to devastating consequences, including the settling, tilting, or collapsing of structures built on loose, saturated soil. The 2001 Bhuj earthquake witnessed extensive liquefaction in regions such as the Great Rann of Kutch, Banni Plains, Kandla, and Gulf of Kutch, resulting in substantial damage to various infrastructures, including bridges, docks, buildings, embankments, and dams. This study employs a finite element approach to analyse the behaviour of shallow foundations on liquefying subsoil in Kutch during the 2001 earthquake. The investigation focuses on ring footings with inner radii of 0.25 m, 0.5 m, and 0.75 m, as well as an outer radius of 1 m, alongside a circular foundation with a 1 m radius. Notably, the ring footing with a radius ratio of 0.5 exhibits the least settlement under static loads, underscoring that liquefaction-induced settlement for ring footings is significantly less than that for circular footings.

Experimental Evaluation of Optimizing Sheet Pile Installation Depth and Distance to Mitigate Liquefaction-Induced Foundation Settlements

Liquefaction-induced settlement poses significant challenges to the stability and performance of structures constructed on liquefiable soils during seismic events. To mitigate the adverse effects of liquefaction-induced foundation settlements, sheet piles are utilized to provide lateral confinement to the soil, thereby enhancing its stability. The performance of sheet piles is contingent upon their installation location. Therefore, identifying the optimal installation location for sheet piles remains a topic of interest. This research aims to evaluate the optimal installation location of sheet piles to mitigate liquefaction-induced foundation settlements. The experimental study employs a moderate scale 1g shaking table to replicate seismic events and investigate the behavior of sandy soil under liquefaction conditions. Multiple configurations of sheet piles, varying in terms of distance from the foundation, depth within the dense layer, and effect of thickness are examined. The excess pore water pressure generation and dissipation, and foundation movement (settlement and tilting) are used to determine the optimal location of sheet piles that minimize liquefaction-induced foundation settlements. The results indicate that the liquefaction-induced foundation settlement increased with increasing the distance between the sheet piles and the foundation. Adversely, the settlement decreased with increasing the embedment depth of sheet piles. Additionally, although this was not the focus of this study, the installation of thinner sheet piles surrounding the foundation appeared to be a more effective measure than thicker sheet piles in mitigating liquefaction-induced foundation settlements based on this experiment.

Performance-based probabilistic liquefaction-induced ground settlement procedure

Performance-based procedures represent an improvement over current state-of-practice procedures that treat the assessment of seismic demand and engineering response parameters independently. Procedures used in current practice generally provide estimates of liquefaction-induced ground settlement that are inconsistent with the desired ground settlement hazard level. A recently developed probabilistic procedure to estimate liquefaction-induced ground settlement is employed to develop a new performance-based procedure that estimates ground settlement which accounts for key sources of uncertainty. The ground-motion intensity and ground settlement estimations are integrated in the proposed procedure to produce hazard curves for liquefaction-induced ground settlement. The hazard curve for ground settlement links different hazard levels with their corresponding values of ground settlement by evaluating a wide range of ground-motion intensities and site characterization parameters with their associated uncertainties. The proposed performance-based procedure also permits the evaluation of different sources of uncertainty and their effects on the ground settlement estimate.

Liquefaction-induced ground and building interactions in İskenderun from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence

Significant and widespread liquefaction occurred in İskenderun during the 2023 moment magnitude (Mw) 7.8 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Liquefaction effects on buildings were observed in several areas of İskenderun, predominantly in areas of reclaimed land and near historic shorelines. Liquefaction-induced building settlements were particularly concentrated in the Çay District, which is almost entirely reclaimed land. Liquefaction-induced ground and building settlements were either marginal or not apparent in areas away from the historical shorelines. Building settlement and ground deformation were documented at 26 buildings in İskenderun through lidar scans and laser-level hand measurements. Liquefaction-induced building settlements ranged from 0 to 740 mm. Building-ground interactions were evident from hogging ground deformations, including cases where buildings deformed nearby ground and damaged nearby buildings, and sagging buildings. Historic land development affected the spatial extent of observed liquefaction-induced building damage. Representative liquefaction-induced building settlement and building interaction case histories are discussed and key insights are shared.

Liquefaction triggering and induced ground deformations at a metallurgical facility in Dörtyol-Hatay after the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence

The performance of a Metallurgical Facility located on the Dörtyol-Hatay coast is investigated from seismic soil liquefaction engineering perspective. The facility was shaken by the M7.8, and M7.6 Pazarcık and Ekinözü-Elbistan Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence. This paper presents the assessment results of soil liquefaction triggering and induced ground deformations at the site. It discusses: i) the seismic response of the facility, more specifically, the surface manifestation of seismic soil liquefaction in the form of soil ejecta, ground deformations and displacements, mapped after the earthquake sequence, ii) the results of site investigation studies, performed prior to the events, iii) subsurface soil characterization of the site, iv) assessments of soil liquefaction triggering, v) analyses of liquefaction-induced ground settlements, lateral deformations and displacements, and vi) comparisons of them with those of the predicted. The case history performance documented herein, and the assessment results are believed to be useful in the development of case history-based predictive models for the assessment of liquefaction triggering and post-liquefaction ground deformations.

Liquefaction-induced building settlement and ground deformation in the Cay District of Iskenderun due to the 2023 Kahramanmaras, Turkiye earthquake

Liquefaction-induced building settlement and ground deformation in the Cay District of Iskenderun due to the 2023 Kahramanmaras, Turkiye earthquake

Review of a prediction formula for liquefaction-induced building settlements of Taiwan shallow founded buildings - a case study of 2018/02/06 Hualien earthquake event

Review of a prediction formula for liquefaction-induced building settlements of Taiwan shallow founded buildings - a case study of 2018/02/06 Hualien earthquake event

An investigation of the impact of liquefaction-induced building settlement on buried pipelines

An investigation of the impact of liquefaction-induced building settlement on buried pipelines

Performance-based assessment of liquefaction-induced free-field ground settlement

Performance-based assessment of liquefaction-induced free-field ground settlement

Estimation of liquefaction-induced settlement of houses using simple Screw Weight Sounding (SWS) test

Estimation of liquefaction-induced settlement of houses using simple Screw Weight Sounding (SWS) test

Highway embankment fragility behaviour subjected to liquefaction-induced settlement

Highway embankment fragility behaviour subjected to liquefaction-induced settlement

Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Displacement and Settlement Mapping for Yogyakarta-Bawen Toll Road Section I & II, Indonesia

The liquefaction-induced ground displacement (the lateral displacement and ground settlement) study in the Yogyakarta-Bawen toll road, Indonesia, is not yet conducted as the importance of this project, the project needs to be mapped. In this study, the mapping is conducted using two methods for lateral displacement, Gillins & Bartlett’s method and Zhang et al.’s method, while the mapping of ground settlement using Tokimatsu & Seed’s method and Yoshimine’s method. For Gillins & Bartlett’s method, the lateral displacement map in Yogyakarta-Bawen is dominated by moderate to high categories in section I but relatively low in section II. Meanwhile, Zhang et al.’s map in the I & II sections of the toll road is relatively dominated by the moderate category. Furthermore, the ground settlement map in I & II sections with Tokimatsu & Seed is mostly categorized as very high meanwhile Yoshimine’s map is predominately classified as low to moderate.

The Effects of Palu-Koro Fault on Predicting Ground Motion for Estimating Liquefaction-Induced Settlement of the Educational Infrastructure Reconstruction Project at the University of Tadulako

The University of Tadulako suffered significant damage after a tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of M 7.5 with a depth of 20 km that occurred on September 28, 2018. This incident happened because of its location very close to the Palu-Koro fault. The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing was assigned to reconstruct damaged educational infrastructure there. Seismic hazard analysis was needed to prepare reconstruction development projects and mitigation efforts. Many studies are related to predicting ground motion due to seismic fault activity, one of which is the attenuation NGA West 2 models. This study aims to determine the relationship between fault effects and ground motion to estimate liquefaction-induced settlement at this project. The results show that the relationship between the fault effects and ground motion affects various PGA values. PGA value resulting from the CY14 model was used to estimate settlement because it considers the worst condition aspect, where the most significant settlement occurred at the drill point DP-05 of 10.234 cm. This settlement can happen because the liquefied soil layer at the drill point was quite deep compared to other drill points.

A hybrid numerical–probabilistic approach for machine learning-based prediction of liquefaction-induced settlement using CPT data

A hybrid numerical–probabilistic approach for machine learning-based prediction of liquefaction-induced settlement using CPT data

Adaptive Fusion Sampling Strategy Combining Geotechnical and Geophysical Data for Evaluating Two-Dimensional Soil Liquefaction Potential and Reconsolidation Settlement

In engineering practice, properly characterizing the spatial distribution of soil liquefaction potential and induced surface settlement is essential for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation. However, geotechnical site investigations (e.g., cone penetration test (CPT)) usually provide limited and sparse data with high accuracy. Geophysical surveys provide abundant two-dimensional (2D) data, yet their accuracy is lower than that of geotechnical investigations. Moreover, correlating geotechnical and geophysical data can effectively reduce site investigation costs. This study proposes a data-driven adaptive fusion sampling strategy that automatically develops an assessment model of the spatial distribution of soil liquefaction potential from spatially sparse geotechnical data, performs monitoring of liquefaction-induced settlement, and integrates spatiotemporally unconstrained geophysical data to update the model systematically and quantitatively. The proposed strategy is illustrated using real data, and the results indicate that the proposed strategy overcomes the difficulty of generating high-resolution spatial distributions of liquefaction potential from sparse geotechnical data, enables more accurate judgment of settlement variations in local areas, and is an effective tool for site liquefaction hazard analysis.

The effect of RCA pavements on the liquefaction-induced settlement

The use of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) not only reduces the demand for natural aggregates (NA) but also might improve the behavior of soil under earthquake loading. In this study, the behavior of the pavement constructed using 100% RCA and NA on a sandy soil layer with high liquefaction potential under dynamic loads was investigated by numerical analysis and compared with free field conditions. For this purpose, first, the classical geotechnical properties of 100% RCA and NA materials were obtained, and then the stiffness properties were determined by resilient modulus and permanent deformation tests. In the second stage, three different models were created with pavement with NA and RCA and without pavement on high liquefaction potential sand, and dynamic analyses were carried out by PM4Sand. Numerical analyses show that constructing a subbase and base layers significantly reduces liquefaction-induced settlement on the surface of flexible pavements built on liquefied soils. Moreover, when the case of using RCA instead of NA in the subbase and base layers built on the liquefied soil is examined, the liquefaction-induced settlement values on the surface are obtained either lower or very close. Consequently, this study proposes a new alternative to the use of RCA waste materials instead of NA. It is expected the use of these waste materials will reduce the need for storage space and also reduce the negative environmental effects associated with storage.

Numerical investigation of liquefaction-induced settlement and instability on earth dams

Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which soil loses its bearing capacity, large settlements occur, and lateral spreading and failures may be caused. Numerous studies around the world have shown that liquefaction occurs in the alluvium foundations of earth dams. In this paper, methods of assessment and numerical analysis have been used to assess the Shourijeh reservoir dam liquefaction. According to the latest criteria, it was observed that by considering the acceleration of the maximum credible earthquake (MCE) level, the alluvial foundation of the Shourijeh dam is liquefiable in some areas. The dynamic analysis and liquefaction modelling based on linear equivalent analyses have been used. By analysing the sliding block and sliding circles based on the limit equilibrium method and the Newmark sliding block analysis, the stability safety factors of slopes for the Shourijeh dam after the earthquake have been investigated for three different earthquakes and various states of reservoir water level. The results, in addition to providing helpful information regarding the performance of earth dams against liquefaction and its effects, have shown that the settlements caused by liquefaction in the studied dam are not so large that they would cause extensive damage of the dam at the MCE level.