Liquefaction of Soil

What is Liquefaction???
• When Cohesion-less saturated soil loss its
strength because of increasing pore water
pressure under static or dynamic loading

• High pore water pressure pull apart soil

particles and reduce grain to grain contact,
consequently particles moves freely and soil
ability to endure structural load significantly
reduce
 Types of Liquefaction
• Flow Liquefaction: Disturbance of static
equilibrium of liquefied soil when shear
stresses overcome shear strength of soil

• Cyclic Mobility: It is triggered by cyclic loading

and deformation induces in liquefied soil
incrementally
 Effects of Liquefaction
• Bearing Capacity: Ground appreciably
reduces its ability to withstand structural load.
e.g. tilting of foundation, sinking of structures
etc.
• Lateral Spreading: Ground can slide down
very gentle slopes. It causes damage to utility
lines, foundation of structures and
communication network
 Effect of liquefaction cont..
• Sand Boil: Water ejects out from a buried
liquefied layer and erupts at the surface to
form sand volcanoes.

• Flow Failure: Most catastrophic ground

failure in which huge quantity of soil mass
(loose saturated sand or silt) waste on steep
slopes.
 Effect of liquefaction cont..
• Ground Oscillations: Liquefaction at depth
decouple overlying soil layers and allow them
to oscillate. Opening and closing of fissures
damage roads and pavements.
• Flotation: Utility lines, water and fuel tanks
installed at shallow depth float to surface
when surrounded by liquefied soils.
• Settlement: Reconsolidation of soil leads to
densification of strata and cause settlement.
 Mitigation of Liquefaction
• Remove Problematic Soil: Avoid to construct
on liquefaction susceptible soil.

• Liquefaction Resistant Structures: Design

foundation elements to resist the effect of
liquefaction. Structures having ductility can
sustain under large deformation and
differential settlement.
 Mitigation of Liquefaction cont..
• Shallow Foundation Aspects: If all elements
in shallow foundation are uniform and tied
together then foundation will settle uniformly.
Thus decreases the effect of induced shear
force in structural elements. Strap footing and
mat foundation distribute the load and
transfer it on surrounding strong ground
rather liquefied zone.
 Mitigation of Liquefaction cont..
• Deep Foundation Aspect: Piles driven
through a weak soil layer to a stiff soil layer
not only have to carry vertical load from
structure but must also be able to resist lateral
movement if weak layer liquefied. Highly
reinforced and larger dimension piles can
provide sufficient resistance.
 Mitigation of Liquefaction cont..
• Vibro-Compaction: It involves the use of
vibrating probe that can penetrate up to 100
feet depth through granular soil. Vibrating
probe cause readjustment of soil particles and
thereby densifying the soil surrounding the
probe.
 Mitigation of Liquefaction cont..
• Dynamic Compaction: Densification by dynamic
compaction is performed by dropping a heavy
weight of steel or concrete in a grid pattern from
height of 100 feet.
• Compaction Grouting: A slurry
(water+sand+crush+cement) injected in loose
material under high pressure. It does not enter in
soil voids rather forms a bulb that densify the soil
and force it to occupy less space
 Mitigation of Liquefaction cont..
• Stone Column: Densification of loose material
is done by constructing stone column. A steel
casing run through weak layer and filled with
crush material tamped by dropping steel
hammer.
Thanks You!