Summary of Liquefaction

Liquefaction is the process in which stiffness of the soil is decreased by the rapid loading or
earthquake shaking. In the history of the world, liquefaction caused a huge amount of damages.
It is observed that liquefaction occurs in saturated soils. The property of saturated soil is that in
the saturated soil, the distance between the soil particles is not enough to maintain the
stiffness of the soil. The earthquake caused liquefaction as due to earthquake shaking pressure
of water increases on the soil particles, this breaks the connectivity of particles with each other
and destroys the buildings which are built on that soil. Sometimes, liquefaction also caused land
sliding but it normally occurs in the places which are near to the water bodies.
If we see in the past to check that when liquefaction was observed, it is found that there are
different incidents in the past, in which after earthquake liquefaction occurred in those places.
For example, in 1989, liquefaction was observed in Loma Prieta in USA. Although recent
liquefaction also caused by earthquakes.
It is commonly found that the liquefaction occurs on the places which are near water level, i.e.,
it occurs on the places which are very close to the water bodies, like place near rivers, oceans or
bays. At these places water pressure on the soil is high, this high-pressure causes disturbance in
the soil particles and increases this pressure to such a level that the layer of soil having good
stiffness got disturbed and the soil has to face liquefaction. Similarly, places that are
constructed over water bodies also have to face the effects of liquefaction as their basis are
inside the water bodies and also supported by the soil. With the passage of time, the stiffness
of soil is affected by the continuous pressure of the soil on the water and destroys the bridge or
anything else which is constructed on that water body.
If we study the cause of liquefaction, we have to observe the mechanism which occurs inside
the soil. If we consider a soil having good stiffness, it is found that the particles in such soil are
very close to their neighbor particles, every particle set a force on the neighbored particles and
these particles are tightly packed. But if we observe the soil which has the effect of liquefaction,
it is found that the soil particles are far away from each other and these particles free from the
force which was previously being exerted by the other particles. As the distance between the
particles is surrounded by the water stiffness of water gets worst. In this way, liquefaction
occurs in the soil.
There are different parameters for avoiding liquefaction in the future for constructing new
buildings. To avoid destruction in the future we have to concentrate on the following points to
get rid of this. We have to improve the soil using different available techniques. We have to
build the structures which have the property of liquefaction resistant. These structures can save
the future of our buildings. The most important parameter is to avoid construction in such
places which are susceptible to liquefaction, this can be found by the different techniques. This
can also be done by constructing buildings on the places which are far from water bodies.