Physical modeling of soil liquefaction: Overview of LEAP production test 1 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Issue 113 (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kokkali, P.; Abdoun, T.; Zeghal, M.
• Is Part Of: Soil dynamics and earthquake engineering. Issue 113(2018)
• Page Start: 629
• Page End: 649
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Centrifuge modeling -- Liquefaction -- Lateral displacement -- Dilation; Soil dynamics -- Periodicals; Earthquake engineering -- Periodicals; Sols -- Dynamique -- Périodiques; Génie parasismique -- Périodiques; 624.176205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soildyn.2017.01.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-7261

Abstract

Abstract: Liquefaction induced ground failures during seismic events have been of major concern to the engineering community. Laboratory, full-scale, and centrifuge experimentation has provided valuable insights on the mechanics and propagation of liquefaction. Concurrently, advances in the computational field have led to refined numerical tools to simulate the liquefaction phenomenon. In an effort to better evaluate the modeling capabilities, the Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Project (LEAP) aims at providing numerical modelers with high quality experimental data that can be used in a series of prediction exercises. For this purpose, in early 2015 several centrifuge tests were conducted at different facilities all over the world and were followed by numerical simulations. This paper presents the centrifuge test that was conducted at the Center for Earthquake Engineering Simulation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and discusses the modeling techniques that were employed in order to gain a variety of information on the soil response. Highlights: A centrifuge test was conducted in order to study the liquefaction mechanisms of a sloped model in a rigid container and provide reliable data for numerical simulations. Considerable pore water pressure build up was observed accompanied by sudden pressure drops and large acceleration spikes close to the soil surface. The lateral displacement of the soil surface was obtained through image tracking and indicated higher levels of deformation close to the top of the slope than the bottom. That method of analysis provided a good indication of the deformation patterns along and across the model. Tactile pressure sensors recorded the pressure at the boundaries of the rigid container. The tactile pressure sensors provided a reliable way to quantify and visualize the lateral pressure distribution with depth.