University of Patras

MEEES PROGRAM in Earthquake Engineering

A.A. 2017-2018

GEOTECHNICAL EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

Homework 5

Professor: George Athanasopoulos Student: Geraldo Jaho

Evidence of soil liquefaction (sand boils etc.) was observed at the coastal village of Rizomylos in the Aigion
1995, MS=6.1, earthquake. The simplified soil stratigraphy of the site and a measured VS-depth profile are
shown in the following figure. Estimate the minimum value of the horizontal surface acceleration, A max,
which is compatible with the occurrence of liquefaction.
The silty SAND is identified as the critical layer (susceptible to liquefaction) and the estimate of the
minimum Amax is performed at the top, half and bottom level of the layer.

The shear wave velocity values for the three levels of interest are summarized below:

Depth (m) VS (m/s)

5 166
7.5 180
10 176

Lecturer: Prof Athanasopoulos George Student: Geraldo Jaho

MEEES – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 18 April 2018
1) Evaluation of Amax for the top level (z=5m)

𝑉𝑠 = 166𝑚/𝑠
𝑃𝑎 0.25
𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( )
𝜎𝑣′
Where:

𝑃𝑎 = 1𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 100𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎𝑣′ = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + (𝛾𝑘 − 𝛾𝑤 ) ∙ 4.5𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + (20 − 9.81) 3 ∙ 4.5𝑚 = 54.4𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚
Hence:

𝑃𝑎 0.25 𝑚 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎 0.25

𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( ′ ) = 166 ∙ ( ) ≃ 193 𝑚/𝑠
𝜎𝑣 𝑠 54.4 𝑘𝑃𝑎

From the CSR versus Vs1 profile [Kayen et al. 2013], an estimate of CSR is given, which is:

CRR*(z=5m)≃0.2
And the actual value, for the specific event is equal to:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎
Where:
−𝑀 −6.1
𝑀𝑆𝐹 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
− 0.058 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
4 4 − 0.058 = 1.44 ≤ 1.8
𝑃𝑎 1 𝑃𝑎
𝐾𝜎 = 1 − 𝐶𝜎 ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( )=1− ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( ) ≤ 1.1
𝜎′𝑣 18.9 − 2.25 ∙ √(𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝜎′𝑣

Since there are no SPT blow count, it is not possible to evaluate (𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝜎 , therefore for the
homework is assumed 𝐾𝜎 = 1
Hence:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎 = 0.2 ∙ 1.44 ∙ 1 = 0.288
Since:
1 𝑎𝑚 𝜎0 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝐶𝑆𝑅 = 0.65 ∙ 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∙ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′
𝜎′𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎0 = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + 𝛾𝑘 ∙ 4.5𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + 20 ∙ 4.5𝑚 = 98.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚3
The minimum value of amax is obtained equating CSR=CRR, so that:

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣 𝑔 54.4 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥,1 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙ = 0.288 ∙ ∙ = 0.26𝑔
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0 0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 5𝑚) 98.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Lecturer: Prof Athanasopoulos George Student: Geraldo Jaho

MEEES – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 18 April 2018
2) Evaluation of Amax for the top level (z=7.5m)

𝑉𝑠 = 180𝑚/𝑠
𝑃𝑎 0.25
𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( )
𝜎𝑣′
Where:

𝑃𝑎 = 1𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 100𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎𝑣′ = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + (𝛾𝑘 − 𝛾𝑤 ) ∙ 7𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + (20 − 9.81) 3 ∙ 7𝑚 = 79.8 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚
Hence:

𝑃𝑎 0.25 𝑚 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎 0.25

𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( ′ ) = 180 ∙ ( ) ≃ 190 𝑚/𝑠
𝜎𝑣 𝑠 79.8 𝑘𝑃𝑎

From the CSR versus Vs1 profile [Kayen et al. 2013], an estimate of CSR is given, which is:

CRR*(z=5m)≃0.19
And the actual value, for the specific event is equal to:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎
Where:
−𝑀 −6.1
𝑀𝑆𝐹 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
− 0.058 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
4 4 − 0.058 = 1.44 ≤ 1.8
𝑃𝑎 1 𝑃𝑎
𝐾𝜎 = 1 − 𝐶𝜎 ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( )=1− ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( ) ≤ 1.1
𝜎′𝑣 18.9 − 2.25 ∙ √(𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝜎′𝑣

Since there are no SPT blow count, it is not possible to evaluate (𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝜎 , therefore for the
homework is assumed 𝐾𝜎 = 1
Hence:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎 = 0.19 ∙ 1.44 ∙ 1 = 0.274
Since:
1 𝑎𝑚 𝜎0 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝐶𝑆𝑅 = 0.65 ∙ 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∙ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′
𝜎′𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎0 = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + 𝛾𝑘 ∙ 7𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + 20 ∙ 7𝑚 = 148.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚3
The minimum value of amax is obtained equating CSR=CRR, so that:

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣 0.274 ∙ 𝑔 79.8 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥,1 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙ = ∙ = 0.25𝑔
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0 0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 7.5𝑚) 148.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Lecturer: Prof Athanasopoulos George Student: Geraldo Jaho

MEEES – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 18 April 2018
3) Evaluation of Amax for the top level (z=10m)

𝑉𝑠 = 176𝑚/𝑠
𝑃𝑎 0.25
𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( )
𝜎𝑣′
Where:

𝑃𝑎 = 1𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 100𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎𝑣′ = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + (𝛾𝑘 − 𝛾𝑤 ) ∙ 9.5𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + (20 − 9.81) 3 ∙ 9.5𝑚 = 105.3 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚
Hence:

𝑃𝑎 0.25 𝑚 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎 0.25

𝑉𝑠1 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ 𝐶𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑠 ∙ ( ′ ) = 176 ∙ ( ) ≃ 173 𝑚/𝑠
𝜎𝑣 𝑠 105.3 𝑘𝑃𝑎

From the CSR versus Vs1 profile [Kayen et al. 2013], an estimate of CSR is given, which is:

CRR*(z=5m)≃0.14
And the actual value, for the specific event is equal to:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎
Where:
−𝑀 −6.1
𝑀𝑆𝐹 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
− 0.058 = 6.9 ∙ 𝑒 ( )
4 4 − 0.058 = 1.44 ≤ 1.8
𝑃𝑎 1 𝑃𝑎
𝐾𝜎 = 1 − 𝐶𝜎 ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( )=1− ∙ 𝑙𝑛 ( ) ≤ 1.1
𝜎′𝑣 18.9 − 2.25 ∙ √(𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝜎′𝑣

Since there are no SPT blow count, it is not possible to evaluate (𝑁1 )60𝐶𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝜎 , therefore for the
homework is assumed 𝐾𝜎 = 1
Hence:
𝐶𝑅𝑅 = 𝐶𝑅𝑅∗ ∙ 𝑀𝑆𝐹 ∙ 𝐾𝜎 = 0.14 ∙ 1.44 ∙ 1 = 0.2
Since:
1 𝑎𝑚 𝜎0 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝐶𝑆𝑅 = 0.65 ∙ 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∙ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′ = 0.65 ∙ ∙ ′
𝜎′𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣 𝑔 𝜎𝑣

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
𝜎0 = 𝛾𝑑 ∙ 0.5𝑚 + 𝛾𝑘 ∙ 7𝑚 = 17 3
∙ 0.5𝑚 + 20 ∙ 9.5𝑚 = 198.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑚 𝑚3
The minimum value of amax is obtained equating CSR=CRR, so that:

𝑔 𝜎′𝑣 0.216 ∙ 𝑔 105.3 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥,1 = 𝐶𝑆𝑅 ∙ ∙ = ∙ = 0.19𝑔
0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 𝑧) 𝜎0 0.65 ∙ (1 − 0.015 ∙ 9.5𝑚) 198.5 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Lecturer: Prof Athanasopoulos George Student: Geraldo Jaho

MEEES – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 18 April 2018
Summarizing the results, we can observe that the triggering acceleration decreases increasing the
depth.
Depth (m) AMAX (g)
5 0.26
7.5 0.25
10 0.19

The bottom level is the level with the minimum acceleration that trigger the liquefaction.

Lecturer: Prof Athanasopoulos George Student: Geraldo Jaho

MEEES – Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 18 April 2018