Title

CPT-Based Probabilistic Assessment of Seismic Soil Liquefaction Initiation

Author Info

Robb E.S. Moss, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow
R. B. Seed, University of California - Berkeley
R. E. Kayen, U.S. Geological Survey
J. P. Stewart, University of California - Berkeley
Armen Der Kiureghian, University of California - Berkeley

Recommended Citation

PEER Report 2005/15, April 1, 2006.

Abstract

The correlation of seismic field performance with in situ index test results has been proven to be a reliable method for defining the threshold between liquefaction and non-liquefaction. The objective of this research was to define, in the most accurate and unbiased manner possible, the initiation of seismic soil liquefaction using the cone penetration test (CPT). Contained in this report are the results of this research.

Case histories of occurrence and non-occurrence of soil liquefaction were collected from seismic events that occurred over the past three decades. These were carefully processed to develop improved CPT-based correlations for prediction of the likelihood of “triggering,” or initiation, of soil liquefaction during earthquakes. Important advances over previous efforts include
(1) Collection of a larger suite of case histories,
(2) Development of an improved treatment of CPT thin-layer corrections,
(3) Improved treatment of normalization of CPT tip and sleeve resistances for effective overburden stress effects,
(4) Improved evaluation of the cyclic stress ratio (CSR) in back-analyses of field case histories,
(5) Assessment of uncertainties of all key parameters in back-analyses of field case histories,
(6) Evaluation and screening of case histories on the basis of overall uncertainty, and
(7) Use of higher-order (Bayesian) regression tools.

The resultant correlations provide improved estimates of liquefaction potential, as well as quantified estimates of uncertainty. The new correlations also provide insight regarding adjustment of CPT tip resistance for effects of “fines” content and soil character for purposes of CPT-based liquefaction hazard assessment.

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Publisher statement

A report on research sponsored by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) through the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center’s (PEER) Lifelines Program, Task 3D02.