The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

CPT-based probabilistic assessment of seismic soil liquefaction initiation

Moss, Robb E. S.; Seed, Raymond B.; Kayen, Robert E.; Stewart, Jonathan P.; Der Kiureghian, Armen

PEER-2005/15, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 2006-04, pdf (400/P33/2005-15)

The correlation of seismic field performance with in-situ index test results has been proven to be a reliable method for defining the threshold between liquefaction and non-liquefaction. The objective of this research was to define, in the most accurate and unbiased manner possible, the initiation of seismic soil liquefaction using the cone penetration test (CPT). Contained in this report are the results of this research. Case histories of occurrence and non-occurrence of soil liquefaction were collected from seismic events that occurred over the past three decades. These were carefully processed to develop improved CPT-based correlations for prediction of the likelihood of triggering or initiation of soil liquefaction during earthquakes. The resultant correlations provide improved estimates of liquefaction potential, as well as quantified estimates of uncertainty. The new correlations also provide insight regarding adjustment of CPT tip resistance for effects of fines content and soil characteristics for purposes of CPT-based liquefaction hazard assessment.

Available online: http://peer.berkeley.edu/publications/peer_reports/reports_2005/PEER_515_MOSS.pdf