Liquefactio
–Caused by Rayleigh wave (elliptical motion)
n
happens when loosely packed, waterlogged
sediments at or near the ground surface lose
their strength in response to strong ground
shaking.
How does it occur?
When the ground shakes during earthquakes,
the particles in saturated soil (soil with water)
get rearranged and the gaps between the
particles widen. Because of that, they lose
strength and ability to stay solid.
Moreover, they cannot directly occur during an
earthquake.
3 Factors Required for
Liquefaction
1) DEGREE OF SOIL COMPACTNESS AND
PARTICLE SIZE
–Liquefaction is less likely to occur if the soil
particles are bigger and more compact.
2) DEGREE OF WATER SATURATION
–If may water, mas madali ma-displace,
magalaw, or mahalo.
3) MAGNITUDE OF AN EARTHQUAKE
–Obvious naman :))
4 Types of Liquefaction
Features
1) FLOW FAILURES
–Most dangerous because there is a huge
movement of matter from higher ground to
lower ground, and it can run from 7 to 8 (?) km
per idk
2) LATERAL SPREAD
–Caused by Love wave (going to 1 direction)
3) GROUND OSCILLATION
*Both Lateral Spread and Ground Oscillation
can lead to uplifts and subsidence.
4) LOSS OF BEARING STRENGTH
–Once materials on top seem sinking
Settlement
–Liquefaction will only run during earthquake.
After that, the particles will settle. It may either
form an uplift or subsidence. (Lateral Spread
and Ground Oscillation)
–Uplift can form land forms like hills.
–Subsidence can form small bodies of water
like ponds.
Areas & Deposits Prone to
Liquefaction
How to Identify?
–Position of the location
–Granulometric composition of the soil on
location (presence of soil particles susceptible
to liquefaction)
–Soil compaction on location
–The degree of saturation with water
–Seismic activity zone of location
–Existing data on previous occurrences of
liquefaction on location
How to Mitigate Liquefaction
1) IMPROVING SOIL PROPERTIES
–Vibro-replacement (stone columns)
You have to dig. There are pipes/tubes/stone
columns that will be used to compact the stone
or gravel in the area. This is deep because it
has to reach the bedrock in the location. Once
they reach the bedrock, they can fill in the gaps
they dug. The soft sediments are replaced.
It has good areas for water displacement. Water
can still go from one place to another.
–Dynamic compaction
Engineers use heavy materials that they drop
using the crane. Because of that, there will be
holes. They will fill those holes with solid matter
like gravel until the area is compacted already.
Not good for neighboring areas because the
ground will shake when they drop the heavy
materials.

–Compaction grouting
Similar to vibro-replacement, they make holes
until the bedrock. The difference is that they mix
cement, gravel, and other properties.

This one is good for strengthening the

foundation of an existing building.

2) CONSTRUCTING HAZARD ZONE MAPS

3) CONSTRUCTING A LIQUEFACTION-
RESISTANT STRUCTURES

4) AVOIDING CONSTRUCTION OF
STURCTURES ON THE SOIL SUSCEPTIBLE
TO LIQUEFACTION

There are multiple ways to mitigate liquefaction.

One of which is through improving soil properties.
In class, we have discussed three ways of improving
soil properties. But, with the time limit, I can only
talk about two.

Number 1: Vibro-replacement. In this process, stone

columns are used to strengthen the soil. First, the
ground has to be dug deeply; the digging and the
column have to reach the bedrock. After that, the
gaps will now be filled with gravel.

The advantage of this technique is that it has good

areas for water displacement. Water can still go
from one place to another.

Number 2: Dynamic compaction. In this process,

cranes are used to drop huge and heavy materials
like rocks on the soil. Because of that, there will be
big holes on the ground. Those holes will be filled
with gravel until the experts say that the soil is now
compacted enough.

The disadvantage of this method is that the

neighboring areas will be affected due to the ground
shaking brought by the dropping of the huge and
heavy materials.