Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction of Fine-Grained Soils - Considerations from Japanese Research

摘要

Liquefaction potential of various types of soils has received a great deal of research attention in the geotechnical community over the previous two decades. Dramatic occurrences of liquefaction in saturated deposits of fine, uniformly graded sands in the Japanese city of Niigata and surrounding areas resulting from ground shaking during the 16 June 1964 earthquake spawned extensive studies to develop methodologies for assessing the potential for liquefaction of predominantly clean sands throughout Japan and worldwide. Japanese researchers have recently performed laboratory and field studies to assess the influence of variations in grain size distribution and soil index properties of liquefaction potential of fine-grained soils. Several Corps of Engineers dams in seismically active areas are founded on fine-grained, low plasticity alluvial deposits. This report reviews current practices applied to study the phenomenon of fine-grained soil liquefaction, with emphasis on recent Japanese laboratory and in situ testing research. The findings will promote efficiency of effort in the conduct of subsequent laboratory testing efforts toward the development of specific procedures for use by the Corps and others in assessing the potential for earthquake-induced liquefaction to occur in fine-grained soils. (FR)