Characterizing the Liquefaction Potential of the Pleistocene-age Wando Formation in the Charleston Area, South Carolina

摘要

Liquefaction potential of the younger sand facies of the 100,000-year-old Wando Formation (Qws) near Charleston, So uth Carolina, is ch aracterized using forty-two seismic cone soundings in this paper. Liquefaction potential is expressed in terms of the liquefaction potential index (LPI) and corrected for the influence of diagenetic processes using th e ratio of measured shear wave velocity to estim ated shear wave velocity. Locations of th e cone soundings lie 12-32 km from the Woodstock fault, the probable source of the 1886 Charleston earthquake. It is found that values of LPI, computed assum ing a single value of peak ground acceleration, are independent of the distance to fault, indicating uniform liquefaction susceptibility for Qws. Liquefaction probability curves are developed considering the influence of depth to the groundwater table and depth to the non-liquefiable Cooper Marl.