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 a nd 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 te st (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 correl ations for prediction of the likelihood of “triggering,” or initiation, of soil liquefaction during earthquakes. Important advances over previous efforts include
- Collection of a larger suite of case histories,
- Development of an improved treatment of CPT thin-layer corrections,
- Improved treatment of normalization of CPT tip and sleeve resistances for effective overburden stress effects,
- Improved evaluation of the cyclic stress ra tio (CSR) in back-analyses of field case histories,
- Assessment of uncertainties of all key parameters in back-analyses of field case histories,
- Evaluation and screening of case histories on the basis of overall uncertainty, and
- Use of higher-order (Bayesian) regression tools.
The resultant correlations provide improved estimates of liquefaction potential, as well as quantified estimates of uncerta inty. The new correlations al so provide insight regarding adjustment of CPT tip resistance for effects of “f ines” content and soil character for purposes of CPT-based liquefaction hazard assessment.
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