ISSN: 0149-6115
Published Online: 7 August 2008
Page Count: 6

Evaluation of Shear Wave Velocity Based Soil Liquefaction Resistance Criteria by Centrifuge Tests

Fu, Lei
HNTB Corporation, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, formerly Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University,Cleveland,

Liu, Gang
Department of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University,Cleveland,

Zeng, Xiangwu
Professor,Department of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University,Cleveland,

(Received 14 September 2006; accepted 3 July 2008)

Abstract

A new technique has been developed for the evaluation of shear wave velocity based soil liquefaction resistance criteria by centrifuge tests. It involves the application of bender elements in centrifuge tests to measure shear wave velocity while investigating the liquefaction features of a saturated model. A total of six models were tested. Shear wave velocity and shear modulus profiles of the models were obtained. Currently used case history based soil liquefaction criteria were examined. The results show that there is an obvious difference in soil liquefaction resistance before and after the application of an earthquake. It is concluded that currently used case history based soil liquefaction resistance criteria developed from the mixed parameters measured before and after earthquakes need to be modified to take into account this difference.

Keywords:
bender element test, centrifuge modeling, liquefaction resistance criteria, shear wave velocity

Paper ID: GTJ100803
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ100803
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