CE 298 THZQ

Assessment of the Liquefaction and Cyclic Softening of Soils in the

Coastal Lowlands of Taguig City
Introduction
With an increasing number of nature induced calamities
around the world, structural safety once again became
a leading concern in engineering design. The recent
growth in land development around Metro Manila
made a call for establishment of different hazards maps
aiming to generalize the effects that these calamities
might wreak upon our structures. For structures in the
coastal lowlands, soil liquefaction is one of the hazards
being considered upon by structural engineers. The city
of Taguig was recently placed into spotlight about
concerns of possible liquefaction. Although the
Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology
(PHILVOCS) categorized some parts of this region to
have high liquefaction susceptibility, some developers
still insisted on the citys soil stability. This study is made
to shed some light in the intricacies of this subject. The
objective is to determine which areas can be
susceptible to liquefaction and assess the possible
damage that will be induced by this hazard based on
recently developed generally accepted empirical
engineering solutions. The possibility of cyclic softening
and its possible effects shall also be determined.
Geologic Setting of Taguig City
The geologic configuration of Taguig City can be
characterized into two regions based on the geologic
maps from Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The
western portion of the city belongs to the Guadalupe
Formation (GF) which houses the most stable stratum
in the city. The eastern portion is generally composed
of Quaternary Alluvium (QAI). This formation can be
characterized by loose deposits of sand, silt and gravel
and can reach depths of up to 60 meters near Laguna
de Bay. Deposits of this consistency and thickness could
explain why the area had been classified to have
moderate to high liquefaction susceptibility based from
the latest liquefaction hazard maps from PHILVOCS.
Tectonic Setting of Metro Manila
The islands of the Philippines were formed by the
convergence of tectonic plates in the east and the west
of the archipelago. Faults and fissures were formed by
these subduction zones some of which were found to
produce the large ground movements that had
devastated Metro Manila throughout history.
Currently, the most popular earthquake generator is
the Marikina Valley Fault System transecting the east of
Metro Manila and happens to transect the center of
Taguig City. This 130km slip-strike fault system is
composed of the West Valley Fault (WVF) and the East
Valley Fault (EVF) (PHILVOLCS 2008). Fault-scaling
relationships showed that the WVF could
accommodate an earthquake of up to moment
magnitude of 7.5 (Rimando et al., 2006). Paleoseismic
investigations predicted recurrence for these
earthquakes has been previously estimated at between
400 to 600 years (Nelson et al., 2000).
Peak Ground Acceleration
Large ground movements are expected to be generated
should the WVF moves in the future. Estimation of the
magnitudes of these movements relies in the
development of attenuation formulas. At present, the
ground movement attenuation formula for the
Philippines have not yet been developed. The proposed
attenuation formula by Y. Fukushima and T. Tanaka
(1990) had been popularly adopted in the Philippine
setting. Recently, a study made by Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) presents some series of
spectral acceleration maps for the whole archipelago
(JICA 2013). The report showed that the horizontal peak
ground acceleration (PGA) of Level 1 earthquake
ground motion for Metro Manila is 0.6g. The results of
this report shall be considered in this study.
Development of Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI)
The liquefaction potential index has been widely used
by engineers around the world to assess the damage
potential of liquefaction. Its development was spear
headed by Iwasaki et al (1981). The objective of this
parameter is to measure the effect that liquefaction has
on man-made structures as a function of the depth to
and the extent of the liquefied zone along the vertical
axis of a geotechnical exploration (R. Luna, J. Frost,
1998). The liquefaction potential index can be
expressed as,
20
= () [1 ()]
0
Where w(z) = weight function, FSL(z) = factor of safety
against liquefaction, and dz = differential increment of
depth. The weight function can be defined as a linear
function that represent the impact of the layers with
depth below the surface and is suggested by Iwasaki as,
() = 10 0.5
The value of LPI varies from 0 to 100 and its assessment
can be done as follows:

Christian Ibaez - 201589803

CE 298 THZQ

LPI = 0 Liquefaction potential is very low and () = 0.106 + 0.118(/11.28 + 5.142)

detailed investigations on soil liquefaction
The magnitude scaling factor, MSF, was re-evaluated by
arent needed in general
Idriss (1999) and was proposed as,
0<LPI<5 Liquefaction potential is low but detailed
investigations on soil liquefaction are needed = 6.9 exp ( ) 0.058 1.8
4
only for specially important structures The effect of overburden stress was recently re-
5<LPI<15 Liquefaction potential is rather high and evaluated in some detail by Boulanger and Idriss (2004).
detailed investigation in soil liquefaction are Their recommended are expressed as,
need for important structures and
countermeasures of soil liquefaction are = 1 ( ) 1.0

needed in general Where =
1
0.3
18.92.55(1 )60
15<LPI Liquefaction potential is very high and
detailed investigations and countermeasures Development of Cyclic Resistance Ratio (CRR) for Coarse
on soil liquefaction are needed. Grained Soils

Development of Liquefaction Factor of Safety (FS) Certain corrections were presented by Idriss and
Boulanger (2004) for calculating the Cyclic Resistance
Numerous papers had been published to develop the Ratio (CRR). One of them is the SPT overburden
factor of safety against liquefaction most of which correction factor . They proposed that these
began from the works of Seed and Idriss who published simultaneous equations be used for calculating and
the simplified procedure (Seed and Idriss, 1971). In (1 )60 .
1996, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering
= ( ) 1.7
Research (NCEER) conducted a workshop convening a
group of 21 experts to improve the procedure (Youd Where = 0.784 0.0768(1 )60
and Idriss, 1996). The report presented that the factor (1 )60 = ()60 46
of safety against soil liquefaction shall be taken as, The evaluated SPT penetration resistance should also
be adjusted to an equivalent clean sand value as,
= / (1 )60 = (1 )60 + (1 )60
9.7 15.7 2
where FS is the factor of safety against liquefaction, CRR Where (1 )60 = (1.63 + ( ) )

as the cyclic resistance ratio of the soil, CSR as the cyclic
stress ratio of the quake. Finally, the Cyclic Resistance Ratio for coarse grained
soils can be calculated using the following expression,
Development of Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR) for Coarse (1 )60 (1 )60
2
(1 )60
3

Grained Soils
Recent developments on the evaluation of Cyclic Stress
Ratio (CSR) had been performed and presented by Idriss
and Boulanger (2004) in the proceedings of the 11th
ICSDEE and 3rd ICEGE. Their semi-empirical procedures
added modifications to the stress reduction coefficient
rd, and the magnitude scaling factor MSF. They also
included another overburden correction factor K .
Finally, their semi-empirical equation has been
proposed as,
1 developments on this matter. They observed the
()=7.5 = 0.65 ( )
where = peak ground acceleration
= total vertical stress at depth z
= effective vertical stress at depth z
The modified stress reduction coefficient by Idriss
(1999) considered both depth and earthquake
magnitude such that,
( ) = () + ()
where M = earthquake moment magnitude
() = 1.012 1.126sin(/11.73 + 5.133)
= { +( ) ( )
14.1 126 23.6
4
(1 )60
+( ) 2.8}
25.4
Cyclic Failure Susceptibility of Fine Grained Soils
The methodology of Wang (1979) had been widely used
for decades in evaluating the liquefaction susceptibility
of silts and clays.
In 2004, Boulanger and Idriss presented new
behavior of fine grained soils while performing
monotonic and cyclic undrained shear loading and
found out that these soils transition over a fairly narrow
range of plasticity indices (PI). They proposed that silts
and clays be separated into two categories such as
those that behave sand-like and clay-like. They
recommended that the term liquefaction be reserved
for describing the development of significant strains or
strength loss in fine-grained soils with sand-like
behavior and the suggested the term cyclic softening

Christian Ibaez - 201589803

CE 298 THZQ
failure be used to describe the same phenomena under Liquefaction Potential Index of Taguig City
fine-grained soils with clay-like behavior. For practical
To evaluate the liquefaction potential of coarse and
purposes, clay-like behavior can be expected for fine
fine grained soils in Taguig City, a number of boreholes
grained soils that have PI 7, otherwise a sand-like
were gathered in some areas. Some of them revealed
behavior can be expected. that the western part of the city have soils with shallow
Modifications on Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR) for Fine depths of five (5) to ten (10) meters before reaching
Grained Soils hard tuff strata. In this case, more boreholes were
gathered from the eastern side of the city which is
Idriss and Boulanger (2004) proposed that their semi- believed to be more susceptible to liquefaction or
empirical procedures for sand be applied for evaluating cyclic failure. Twenty Five (25) borehole logs were
the Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR) of fine-grained soils considered in this assessment. The map below shows
behaving either sand-like or clay-like defined as, the distribution of these boreholes around the city.
1
()=7.5 = 0.65 ( )

A further review led them to modifications of the
Magnitude Scaling Factor (MSF) to make their semi-
empirical formulas compatible for fine-grained soil
analysis. Their proposed MSF for fine-grained soil is
presented as,

= 1.12 exp ( ) + 0.828 1.13
4
Development of Cyclic Resistance Ratio for Fine Grained
Soils (CRR) Borehole Drilling
West Valley Fault
City Boundary
For fine-grained soils with sand-like behavior, the same Section A
semi-empirical equations of CRR by Idriss and Section B

Boulanger for sands can be used directly.

Figure 1. Borehole location plan
Meanwhile, they proposed three (3) approaches for
evaluating the CRR of fine-grained soils with clay-like The general soil stratigraphy along section A and B
behavior. are presented below.

Measure CRR by cyclic laboratory testing

Measure Su by in situ or laboratory testing, and
then multiply it by an empirical factor to get
CRR
Empirically estimate CRR based on the stress Figure 2. Section A Soil Profile
history profile
Section A generally consist of coarse grained
This study will adopt the second approach for materials predominantly sands with thin layers of fine
evaluating the CRR. grained soils mostly silts near C5 road. Tuff was
observed at shallow depths near C5 road and builds up
Idriss and Boulanger proposed the following formula for in depth while approaching C6 road. The thickness of
estimating CRR for natural deposits of clay-like fine the fine grained materials develop further near C6
grained soils, road.

()=7.5 = 0.8 ( )

where = undrained shear strength
= correction factor

The correction factor can be related with the initial

static stress ratio to produce different values over a
range of over-consolidation ratios. For this study, the
adopted value of initial static stress ratio = 0, whence
the value of the correction factor can be evaluated as
= 1.
Figure 3. Section B Soil Profile
Meanwhile, section B shows a stratigraphy generally
composed of fine grained materials mostly silts. Some
thick layers of sand can be observed in the western
portion. This thickness almost got depleted in the

Christian Ibaez - 201589803

CE 298 THZQ
midsection but accumulated again in the eastern
boundary of the city.
The liquefaction potential index was determined based
References:
from the results of Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and
laboratory tests of all the boreholes. The methodologies
discussed above were incorporated to come up with the
map below.
On the other hand, the map below shows the areas
which is susceptible both to cyclic softening and
liquefaction.
Summary and Conclusions
The results revealed that the eastern portion of the city
is highly susceptible to ground movements such as
liquefaction. Structural developments within this region
should not neglect the effects that could be brought
upon by these phenomena since a fault exists near this
section.
Cyclic softening can also be expected in areas with thick
deposits of fine grained materials. D. Chu (2006) had
discussed some of its effects on seismic foundation
pressure. His study concluded that reduction of
undrained shear strengths can occur within these layers
which can cause bearing capacity failures in mid-rise
structures and even pile capacity failures resulting from
diminishing skin frictions.
Further study should be conducted in the north, north-
east and south-eastern region of the city to finally
produce a detailed map reflecting possible ground
failures.
Christian Ibaez - 201589803
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Geologic Map of
Manila and Quezon City Quadrangle.
Rimando, Rolly E.; Knuepfer, Peter L.K. 2004. "Neotectonics of
the Marikina Valley fault system (MVFS) and tectonic
framework of structures in northern and central Luzon,
Philippines". Tectonophysics. Elsevier. pp. 1738
T. Allen, H. Ryu, et al, 2014. Enhancing Risk Analysis
Capacities for Flood, Tropical Cyclone Severe Wind and
Earthquake for the Greater Metro Manila Area. PHILVOCS,
Geosciene Australia.
Nelson, A. R., S. F. Personius, R. E. Rimando, R. S.
Punongbayan, N. Tugol, H. Mirabueno, and A. Rasdas, 2000.
Multiple large earthquakes in the past 1500 years on a fault
in metropolitan Manila, the Philippines. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.
90, 7385.
T. Iwasaki, K. Tokida, F.Tatsuoka 1981. Soil Liquefaction
Potential Evaluation with Use of the Simplified Procedure.
International Conferences on Recent Advances in
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics.
Paper 12.
R. Luna, J. Frost, 1998, Spatial Liquefaction Analysis. J.
Commput. Civ. Eng.
H. Seed, and I. Idriss, 1971, Simplified procedure for
evaluating soil liquefaction potential. J. Soil Mech.
Foundation Division, 97, 12491273
T. Youd, I Idriss,et. al. , Liquefaction resistance of soils.
Summary report from 1996 NCEER and 1998 NCEER/NSF
workshops on Evaluation of Liquefaction Resistance of Soil, J.
Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 127, 817833,
I. Idriss, R. Boulanger, 2004. Semi-empirical procedures for
Evaluating Liquefaction Potential During Earthquakes.
Proceedings of the 11th ICSDEE and 3rd ICEGE
I. Idriss 1999. "An update to the Seed-Idriss simplified
procedure for evaluating liquefaction potential", Proc., TRB
Workshop on New Approaches to Liquefaction, January,
Publication No. FHWA-RD-99-165, Federal Highway
Administration.
I. M. Idriss and R. W. Boulanger, "Relating K and K to SPT
Blow Count and to CPT Tip Resistance for Use in Evaluating
Liquefaction Potential." Proc. of the 2003 Dam Safety
Conference, ASDSO, September 7 10, Minneapolis, 2003b.
I. Idriss, R. Boulanger, 2004. Evaluating the Potential for
Liquefaction or Cyclic Failure of Silts and Clays. Center for
Geotechnical Modeling Report No. UCD/CGM-04/01
I. Idriss, R. Boulanger, 2006. Liquefaction Susceptibility
Criteria for Silts and Clays. Journal of Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE Vol 132:1413-1426
H. Hettiarachchi, T. Brown, 2009. Use of SPT Blow Counts to
Estimate Shear Strength Properties of Soils: Energy Balance
Approach. J. Geotech. Engg. 135(6).
D. Chu, et. al. 2006. Cyclic Softening of Low-plasticity Clays
and its Effect on Seismic Foundation Performance. 4th
International Conference on Earthquake Engineering.