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Study on Dynamic Behavior of Shallow Foundations on Liquefiable Sand, Using

Video Processing Technique

Article  in  Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering · January 2011

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 Study on Dynamic Behavior of Shallow
Foundations on Liquefiable Sand, Using
Video Processing Technique
Mohammad Amin Tutunchian
Ph.D. candidate in Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Iran
University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 16765-163, Narmak, Tehran,
Iran; e-mail: amin@iust.ac.ir & amintutunchian@hotmail.com

Habib Shahnazari
Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and
Technology, P.O. Box 16765-163, Narmak, Tehran, Iran
e-mail: hshahnazari@iust.ac.ir

Hossein Salehzadeh
Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and
Technology, P.O. Box 16765-163, Narmak, Tehran, Iran
Email: salehzadeh@iust.ac.ir

Mehdi Asadi
Graduate M.S. student in Geotechnical Engineering,School of Civil Engineering,
Iran University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 16765-163, Narmak,
Tehran, Iran; e-mail: mehdiasadi@civileng.iust.ac.ir

ABSTRACT
Due to the importance of the dynamic behavior of shallow foundations, in this study the
behavior of shallow footings on liquefiable soils is studied. Small-scale footings without any
embedment were subjected to seismic loads using 1-g shaking table. The subsoil was
saturated loose sand with high liquefaction potential. The effect of aspect ratio of the
foundation, and the effect of the loading direction along the length and width of the
foundation were studied. In addition to laboratory monitoring, video processing technique was
used for closer examination of soil-structure system. Test results revealed that by increment of
foundation aspect ratio, settlement values were increased. This increment was more along
motions parallel to the width than the corresponding value for loading parallel to the length.
Using image processing technique, the exact dynamic behavior of the foundation was
investigated. The results showed that the foundation horizontal displacement was limited by
increasing the embedment of foundation caused by dynamic excitation.
KEYWORDS: Foundation; saturated loose sand; shaking table; dynamic behavior;
image processing; video processing.

INTRODUCTION
A large number of researches have been focused on the dynamic behavior of earth structures
and geomaterials over the decades, and the sum of these studies is known as seismic geotechnical

- 945 -
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 946

engineering. One of the most significant arguments raised in seismic geotechnical engineering, is
the phenomenon of liquefaction. The start of professional studies about liquefaction goes back to
1962 earthquake in Niigata, Japan. In that earthquake massive devastation and significant
damages happened for about 340 structures. Alaska earthquake in 1964 and California
earthquake in 1971, Kobe earthquake in Japan in 1995 and Izmit earthquake in Turkey in 1999
are among historical earthquakes in liquefaction literature. Also the effects of liquefaction were
observed in the recent 2011 earthquake of Japan, happened at near east cost of Honshu with
magnitude of 8.9.

One of the arguments raised in the topic of liquefaction in saturated sandy soils, is the
assessment of its effects on structures and their settlements. Yoshimi and Tokimatsu (1977) and
Adachi et al. (1992) investigated importance of structure’s width on foundation settlement in
liquefiable sand. Figure 1 is a result of the efforts made by Yoshimi and Tokimatsu (1977) based
on Niigata earthquake and Adachi et al. (1992) based on Louzon earthquake. In this figure, B is
the foundation width, S is the foundation average settlement and Zliq is the depth of liquefaction.

Figure 1: Normalized foundation settlement versus normalized foundation width in 1964 Niigata
earthquake and 1990 Luzon Philippines earthquake [Adachi et al. 1992]

The figure shows the importance of the foundation width on its settlement value and a
consistent band with a clear trend can be observed in it. Yoshimi and Tokimatsu (1977) also
reported a similar variation trend between the width ratio (B/Zliq) and the settlement ratio (S/Zliq),
based on the results of a series of 1-g shaking table tests.

Liquefaction is a phenomenon that occurs by seismic loads in saturated sands especially in the
loose density conditions. If any structure exists on saturated loose sand, its general settlement
condition will be determined by two major components; first, settlement because of volumetric
strains due to localized drainage during seismic loading, and second, settlement due to deviatoric
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 947

deformations beneath the building’s foundation (Dashti et al., 2010). In general, the sum of these
two components can lead to large settlements and significant damages to structures.

Hamada et al. (1987) and Bardet et al. (1999) are among the researchers who have studied
settlements caused by liquefaction on free field at saturated environments. Results of previous
studies can be found in the technical literature of liquefaction. Building effects on the potential of
liquefaction occurrence, and its settlements have been a research topic for many researchers,
including Rollins and Seed (1990), Yoshimi and Tokimatsu (1977), Liu and Dobry (1997), Dashti
and et al. (2010). However still unresolved issues are encountered in this field.

The dynamic behavior of foundations on saturated loose sand under the effects of liquefaction
due to seismic loading is a complicated issue. Many numerical, laboratory and analytical
simulations have been done on this subject but still there is not a general engineering approach to
predict the behavior of this system. It should be noted that the condition of the liquefied soil has
also a great influence on behavior of the foundation.

One of the important parameters in this topic is the effect of the aspect ratio of the foundation
(i.e., length to width ratio) on its settlement. Although Das and Omar (1994) have studied the
effect of this parameter for static loadings, the effect of this parameter in the dynamic mode is
unknown. Hence, in the present study, this parameter was evaluated on saturated clean sand with
low density that has the most potential for liquefaction performing a series of 1-g shaking table
tests. Considering the practical applications of artificial intelligence as a branch of computer
engineering in different fields, in this research, the behavior of the foundation during dynamic
loading was studied by digital video processing technique. In addition, qualitative changes in the
liquefied soil profiles were evaluated.

TEST FACILITIES AND SOIL

In this study, a 1-g shaking table with a container by internal dimensions of 180 cm length, 70
cm height and 46 cm width, made of plexyglass with a thickness of 2 cm was used. Eight
transducers, including a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) for reading foundation
vertical settlement, two transducers for pore water pressure beneath the foundation were used to
investigate the effect of pore water pressure in the liquefaction occurrence, and five
accelerometers were used for recording the acceleration histograms in specified locations of the
model. Also the monitoring system of tests contained a high-tech data logger with capacity of
reading 2000 samples per second (Hz) and one industrial computer. Figure 2 illustrates the
schematic arrangement of the transducers in the container of shaking table. In this figure, shown
dimensions are in centimeters.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 948

Figure 2: Schematic arrangement of the model and transducers

For model preparation, Firuzkooh No. 161 sand was used. Figure 3 shows the grain size
diagram for this sand. This clean silica sand has almost a uniform distribution.

Figure 3: Particle size distribution of Firuzkooh No. 161 sand

The Firuzkooh sand gradation curve is similar to that of the Toyora sand from Japan. Table 2
shows some specifications of this standard soil type. The properties of Toyora sand were reported
by Shahnazari (2001).
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 949

Table 1: Physical properties of Firuzkooh and Toyora sand

Parameter Firuzkooh No. 161 (Iran) Toyora (Japan)
Gs 2.658 2.65
D50 (mm) 0.3 0.16
emax 0.943 0.977
emin 0.603 0.597
F.C. (%) 0 0
K (cm/s) 0.0125 -

The model foundations were made of real concrete with its natural roughness for simulating
the real interface between concrete shallow foundations and soil. The model foundations had
three aspect ratios with constant heights and widths. Constant height and width were H=6 cm and
B=10 cm, respectively and L was equal to 10, 20 and 40 cm. Due to the constant height of the
foundations in all the tests, the stress at the interface of soil and foundation was a constant value
of 15.5 gr/cm2.

MODEL PREPARATION
In this study, Moist-Tamping method, in which the Firuzkooh No. 161 sand was mixed with
6% moisture, was used to prepare a uniform soil profile. Wet Firuzkooh No. 161 sand was poured
inside the container and tamped carefully to the specified target void ratio. This target void ratio
was based on the maximum and minimum dry densities of the sand and was calculated to have a
relative density (Dr) of 25%. The soil medium was made in 11 layers by 5 cm constant height for
each one to attain finally the elevation of 55 cm from the bottom of shaking table, as the bedrock.
Also colored grid lines were created to illustrate the qualitative displacements of the soil profile
and behavior of the model foundation. More details about the wet tamping method can be found
at Ishihara (1996).

The medium was percolated with carbon dioxide (CO2) for dissolving the air in the void spaces
of the soil profile. This process facilitates the saturation stage of model preparation by water. The
gas was inputted from the bottom of the shaking table at a very low pressure. After that, the soil
medium was saturated from the bottom by steady state flow of water with a low rate of 0.9
lit/min. Higher rate of saturation may cause sand having some value of settlement. In this rate, the
settlement of the soil profile was less than 1% that was insignificant.

Figure 4 shows a view of the 55 cm height prepared model of saturated loose sand with relative
density of 25%, before application of base motion.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 950

Figure 4: View of the prepared model before application of base motion

In this investigation, 6 shaking table model tests were performed. Input dynamic excitation in
all tests, was a sinusoidal wave. The frequency of shaking motion and amplitude of the base
acceleration were 3.1 Hz and 0.3g, respectively. Table 3 shows the brief descriptions of the
experiments in this study.

Table 2: Characteristics of performed model tests

Test Ratio Excitation direction Acceleration (g) Frequency (Hz) Excitation time (s)
F1 4 Parallel to L 0.3 3.1 10
F2 2 Parallel to L 0.3 3.1 10
F3 1 - 0.3 3.1 10
F4 1 - 0.3 3.1 10
F5 2 Parallel to B 0.3 3.1 10
F6 4 Parallel to B 0.3 3.1 10

It was assumed that the length of the model footing to be parallel to the direction of vibration
in the first two tests and in the last two ones, the foundation was rotated 90˚ in the horizontal
plane. F3 and F4 tests were conducted to investigate the repeatability of the shaking table model
tests on the present topic. Obtained values of the settlements and pore water pressure ratios
showed a very good agreement between these two test results.

VIDEO PROCESSING TECHNIQUE

Video processing is a type of signal processing techniques that studies image data for various
aims such as face detection, medical imaging and microscope image processing. Most of the
applications of image processing techniques in recent years, have been aimed on the evaluation of
displacement data from the images or videos. There are many instances of applications of image
processing in geotechnical engineering. Shahnazari et al. used image processing for determination
of virtual cohesion in unsaturated sand trenches in centrifuge model tests (2008), Knappett et al.
(2006) investigated the failures mechanisms of shallow foundations dynamic; Zhang et al. (2006)
measured the soil particle movement during a soil-structure interface test; Okamura et al. (2001)
developed a high frame rate image acquisition system for dynamic centrifuge tests and many
other works that all of them show the importance of image processing in geotechnical
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 951

engineering. In this study, measuring the displacements of a model foundation during seismic
loading, was aimed. This goal can be known as a new implementation of video processing (a
specific kind of image processing techniques) in geotechnical engineering.

To have high precision in measuring the displacements, and to facilitate the process, the
model concrete foundation was colored in black and two Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) were
fixed on the side of the foundation. These LEDs made it possible to measure the displacements of
right and left edges precisely. In addition, the background of camera view, was in different color
with other parts of the system. Two cameras were used at two longitudinal sides of the shaking
table container. A camera manufactured by SONY company, model DCR-TRV530E and a
camera manufactured by CANON company, model SX100is. The software that aided the video
processing analyses was MATLAB ver. 7.8 (Image Processing Toolbox). Figure 5 shows the
colored model foundation and the fixed LEDs on it.

Figure 5: View of the model colored foundation and two LEDs after application of seismic
motion

RESULTS
The measured histograms of different transducers of the fifth test, F5, are illustrated as a
sample in Figures 6 to 12. Figures 6 to 10 show the acceleration time histories for A1-A5. Figure
11 demonstrates the excess pore water pressure ratios of P1 and P2 versus time, and Figure 12
shows the foundation settlement time history.
Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 952

Figure 6: Time history of acceleration of transducer A1 (test F5)

Figure 7: Time history of acceleration of transducer A2 (test F5)

Figure 8: Time history of acceleration of transducer A3 (test F5)

Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 953

Figure 9: Time history of acceleration of transducer A4 (test F5)

Figure 10: Time history of acceleration of transducer A5 (test F5)

Figure 11: Time history of excess pore pressure of transducers P1 & P2 (test F5)
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 954

Figure 12: Time history of foundation settlement (test F5)

Comparison of the input motion (i.e., Figure 6) and the free field histogram (i.e., Figure 9)
indicates that there was not a considerable acceleration difference between the bedrock (i.e., input
excitation) and free field time histories. Similar assessment between Figures 9 and 10 (i.e., free
field and foundation acceleration histograms) states that a great acceleration reduction were
occurred between free field and foundation acceleration histograms, as a result of dynamic soil-
foundation interaction effects. This acceleration reduction is a positive feature that occurred due
to the foundation embedment. Therefore, the significant attenuation of the free field motion by
the foundation was observed in all the performed tests.

Excess pore water generation is the main reason of large settlements during liquefaction of
saturated sandy soils. In this study, the pore water pressure transducers were arranged to study the
conditions beneath the model foundation. Figure 11 shows the variations of excess pore water
pressure (ru) versus time. As can be seen, the excess pore water generation for both transducers
started simultaneously, but the maximum value of transducer P2 was observed 15 seconds later
than transducer P1. This effect was because of the dissipation of excess pore water pressure
toward the higher levels where the transducer P2 was located. It should be mentioned that the
liquefaction depth of this test was close to the elevation of transducer P1. Figure 13 shows the
qualitative deformations of soil profile from the sidewall of shaking table container. In this figure,
the liquefaction depth is assignable.

Taking into consideration the maximum values of P1 and P2 in Figure 11, it can be understood
that the complete liquefaction was not occurred beneath the model foundation. Although Yoshimi
and Tokimatsu (1977) believed that the complete liquefaction was imminent once the pore water
pressure ratio of 60% was achieved. They also stated that as the percentage of the area beneath
the structure with a pore ratio of 60% increased, the structure settlement increased dramatically.
In Figure 11, the pore pressure generation upper than ru>60% can be observed in the early stages
of the excitation.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 955

Figure 13: View of the model before, during and after the base motion (test F5)

In Figure 13, the effects of foundation presence and its deviatoric load is completely obvious.
In addition, the large strain deformations in soil profile can be seen. Dynamic excitation increased
the relative density of soil profile. Therefore, the free-field settlement of subsoil during the
experiment was observed.

Figure 14: Phases of foundation settlements during and after excitation (test F5)

The foundation settlement during the experiment has three main parts; the first part during the
dynamic excitation, the second part during the free vibration of the system, and the third during
the time that the soil-foundation system reached to its physical equivalence. The first phase had a
high rate and was about 5 mm/s. The second part that was during the free vibration of the system
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 956

up to complete stop of the shaking table container, had a lower rate and was about 1 mm/s. The
final phase has occurred as a result of the pore water pressure dissipation, reduction of the subsoil
void ratio, and returning the effective stress to soil particles. This phase had the settlement rate of
about 0.04 mm/s, which was negligible. These stages are demonstrated in Figure 14.

Effect of Aspect Ratio

Based on the results, it was observed that the aspect (i.e., length to width ratio) of foundation is
completely effective on the settlement values of foundations under seismic excitations. The other
important finding was the major role of excitation direction. Figure 15 shows foundation aspect
ratio versus its settlement for two different loading directions. The precise observed settlements
are also illustrated in this figure.

Figure 15: Foundation aspect ratio versus its settlement for two different loading directions

The results showed that the excitation direction parallel to the width of the foundation caused
the footing to settle more than the corresponding state, for loading parallel to length. At the aspect
ratio of 2, the excitation parallel to the width caused the footing to experience 6% larger
settlement than the condition of loading parallel to length. This increment of foundation
settlement for L/B=4 was about 8%.

Video Processing Results

In this study, the dynamic behavior of the model foundation was also evaluated by video
processing technique. This technique made it possible to assess the complete behavior of
foundation during experiments. Figure 16 shows the foundation settlement time history, resulted
from this technique.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 957

Figure 16: Foundation settlements versus time (test F5)

It can be seen that the foundation was tilted during the excitation, because of a difference in
left and right sides settlements. Figure 17 illustrates the foundation displacement in the x-y
coordinate system. Horizontal and vertical displacements are shown in different scales (i.e.,
centimeter for the horizontal displacements and millimeter for vertical displacements) for better
graphical demonstration. It should be noted that the origin of horizontal axis is considered on the
centerline of the foundation with the width of 10 cm.

Figure 17: Foundation settlements in the x-y coordinate system (test F5)

This figure reveals that the foundation had a considerable horizontal slip (more than 10 mm) at
the start of dynamic excitation. When the settlement began, foundation experienced an
embedment which limited its horizontal displacement. This feature also caused the soil-
foundation system to attenuate motion from the free field to the foundation. In addition, Figure 17
demonstrated the tilt of foundation. By calculation, it was found that the tilt of foundation was
about 4˚. Figure 18 shows the model foundation before and after application of base motion.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 958

Figure 18: Model foundation before and after application of excitation (test F5)

CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the dynamic behavior of shallow foundations on saturated loose sand was
evaluated using a 1-g shaking table. The effects of foundation aspect ratio and excitation direction
were the main parameters and video processing technique as a kind of image processing
techniques was used to assess the behavior of foundation in seismic condition. The main
conclusions of this study are:

1. By increment of the foundation aspect ratio, the settlement of foundation will increase.

2. Direction of seismic motion is effective on the settlement value of foundation.

3. Settlements for excitations parallel to width are greater than for excitation parallel to length.

4. Foundation with zero embedment depth, on liquefiable saturated sand, will have embedment
due to dynamic excitation and therefore, its horizontal displacements will be limited due to it.
This embedment can attenuate the seismic motion transfer from the free field to the foundation.

5. As it was shown in this study, video processing is a powerful technique that can help
geotechnical engineers to have more understandings during experimental researches.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was supported by Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), using the
facilities at Geotechnical Engineering Research Center (GERC). The authors also like to express
their thanks to Mr. Reza Abraham for his help during this study.
 Vol. 16 [2011], Bund. I 959

REFERENCES

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reinforced concrete buildings in Dagupan City due to liquefaction during the 1990
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2. Bardet, J., Mace, N., and Tobita, T., (1999) "Liquefaction-induced ground
deformation and failure." Report to PEER/PG&E., University of Southern California.

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