Abstract

The development of a reliable, and cost-effective in-situ method for characterizing the liquefaction potential of gravelly soils is a considerable challenge for engineers and researchers. The ability to accurately characterize the liquefaction potential of gravelly soils is an important consideration at port facilities and dams for example. The Dynamic Penetration Test (DPT) provides a reliable and cost-effective method for evaluating the liquefaction resistance of gravelly soils. Probabilistic liquefaction triggering curves based on DPT field data have been developed from data collected at 47 sites in China. However, using the DPT-based liquefaction curves for locations outside of the Chengdu plain in China where the data for the triggering curves were gathered may yield unreliable results. To improve the reliability of the DPT-based liquefaction triggering curves additional DPT field data form outside of the Chengdu plain is required. In total seven new non-liquefaction DPT case histories are presented in this report. Two of the case histories are based on DPT field data from Valdez, Alaska. The remaining five case histories were developed from DPT field data from L'Aquila, Italy. When plotted on the liquefaction triggering curves based only on the DPT data obtained in the Chengdu plain three of the seven data points plot in a position that indicates a considerable possibility of liquefaction despite these case histories being from locations where liquefaction did not occur. Roy (2021) developed new DPT-based liquefaction triggering curves with these seven new non-liquefaction case histories, DPT filed data from other sites around the world, and the DPT field data from the Chengdu plain. The three data points from the new case histories presented in this report that had a considerable probability of liquefaction when plotted on the curve developed only with the data from the Chengdu plain had a significantly lower probability of liquefaction when plotted on the new DPT-based liquefaction triggering curves. One of the data points from Valdez, Alaska decreased from a probability of liquefaction of around 50% to a probability of liquefaction of less than 30% when plotted on the new DPT-based liquefaction triggering curves. The reliability of DPT-based liquefaction triggering curves will continue to increase as the amount of available DPT data increases.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2021-04-12

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd11603

Keywords

Liquefaction, Gravel, Probability, DPT, Valdez, L'Aquila, Non-Liquefaction

Language

english

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