Soil Liquefaction Demonstration

Cross, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Teachers Manual
DRAFT

Demonstration created by Dr. Brad Cross and adapted for use by the MAST Laboratory. Project webpage http !!ci"e.seas.wust#.edu!wuscee#!ucist!! Southern $##inois %ni"ersity &dwards"i##e' Supported in part by the (ationa# Science )oundation *rant (o. D%&+,,-./0..

Table of Contents
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Objective
To demonstrate the effects of soi# #i7uefaction on structures.

Introduction
Li7uefaction is a phenomenon that causes great damage during earth7ua8es or other se"ere sha8ing e"ents in soi#. $t primari#y occurs in saturated soi#s. Saturated soi#s are those where most of the spaces between indi"idua# soi# partic#es are fi##ed with water. Since the "oids in the soi# are fi##ed with water' there is a water pressure e4erted on the surrounding soi#. 9hen an earth7ua8e sha8es the soi#' the pressure that the water e4erts increases' and the soi# partic#es cannot e4ert as much pressure on one another. $n fact' when an earth7ua8e occurs' the water partic#es can put so much pressure on the indi"idua# soi# partic#es that they can easi#y s#ide re#ati"e to one another. Because the soi# partic#es are no #onger in tight contact with one another' the soi# #oses its strength. 9hen the soi# strength decreases the foundations of structures on the soi# may sin8 into the ground. Se"era# significant foundation fai#ures in past earth7ua8es ha"e been #in8ed to #i7uefaction.

Experiment $n order to demonstrate #i7uefaction beha"ior on structura# foundations' an e4periment was de"e#oped for the sha8e tab#e. The materia#s used for this demonstration are 1. Sma## p#astic or rubber container :appro4. -.; #iters' a suitab#e p#astic shoe bo4 can readi#y purchased at a #oca# department store< 6. Standard bui#ding bric8' preferab#y painted to #oo8 #i8e a house /. About ;.- 8g of sand 0. About 1./ #iters of water (o custom made e7uipment is re7uired. The e4periment was designed to be portab#e and ine4pensi"e. The sand and water are easi#y carried in these 7uantities. )i## the container with the sand and p#aced it on the sha8e tab#e. The bo#ts on the tab#e can be used to restrain the container from s#iding :some shimming may be re7uired depending on your container si=e<. The water shou#d be carefu##y added s#ow#y to the perimeter of the container. $dea##y' for the best #i7uefaction effects' the water shou#d be just be#ow the surface of the sand. P#ace the bric8 on the sand. Demonstrate how strong the foundation is by pushing down on the bric8 :)ig. /<. %sing either the pendant or the Mu#ti> contro##er hoo8ed up to a computer' operate the sha8e tab#e with a simu#ated earth7ua8e. The ?obe earth7ua8e is a good one to produce a #i7uefaction effect because of its strong initia# @jo#tA. The bric8 wi## sin8 into the sand about a ha#f inch or so :)ig. 0<.

)ig 6 Dry sand before sha8ing

)igure / Bric8 on saturated sand. Press down on bric8 to demonstrate the firmness of the foundation.

)igure 0 After #i7uefaction. Bric8 has sun8 about ha#f inch. (ote water ponding at surface after #i7uefaction.

Suggested Experiments 1. Students can use different gradations of sand and measure the susceptibi#ity of each sand type to #i7uefaction :e4periment shown abo"e used we##+graded sand<. 6. Students can conso#idate the saturated soi# before sha8ing as a #i7uefaction mitigation techni7ue. The sha8e tab#e can be "ibrated with a high fre7uency acce#eration to induce conso#idation. The change in #i7uefaction effects can be measured. /. %se different weight b#oc8s. $nstead of a bric8' use a simi#ar#y si=ed b#oc8 of wood. Does sett#ement increase' decrease' or not change with a #ighter structureB