A critical assessment on seismic liquefaction potential of fine-grained soils.

Devastating ground failures at seismically active sites underlain by saturated fine-grained soils have led to a need for revealing liquefaction potential of fines and effects of the characteristics governing this potential. A cyclic pore pressure model is introduced to examine the effects of plasticity index, ratio of water content to liquid limit and cyclic stress ratio on liquefaction susceptibility of such soils. The model is developed using data of 68 cyclic triaxial tests compiled through a comprehensive literature review. By means of pore pressure behavior estimated by the model and strain tendencies observed during the tests, a critical assessment on liquefaction susceptibility criteria for fine-grained soils is provided. Beyond evaluation of the susceptible and non-susceptible fines, this assessment partially provides distinction between liquefaction-related phenomena one of which is induced by complete loss of strength, whereas the other is induced by high strain levels without complete loss of strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]