Liquefaction response from Effective Stress Analysis

There are several challenges and limitations in applying conventional semi-empirical liquefaction evaluation methods to constructed fills composed of gravelly soil and fine-grained hydraulic fills with varying fines content and plasticity as they are not well represented in liquefaction case history databases. Therefore, insights from dynamic analyses are needed to advance our understanding of the liquefaction response of such fills. Dynamic effective stress site response analysis (ESA) is an advanced numerical technique able to realistically simulate many aspects of the dynamic response of liquefying soils including rapid pore water pressure development, reduction in effective stresses, and their effects on the deposit. Despite its advantages, there are limited studies formalizing the procedures for ESA, and its implementation require consideration of several issues including modelling uncertainties, careful engineering interpretation of results, and a holistic approach in the evaluation of liquefaction response. This study aims to gain insights from 1D ESA of reclaimed soils for a well-documented case study at the port of Wellington, New Zealand (CentrePort).

Collaborators:

• Professor Misko Cubrinovski, University of Canterbury

• Professor Ross Boulanger, University of California, Davis

• Dr Maxim Millen, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Canterbury