Recovery of small-strain stiffness following blast-induced liquefaction based on shear wave velocity measurements

Changes in soil fabric following liquefaction have been studied using various in situ methods that often return inconclusive or conflicting observations. The time–rate variation of stiffness, when observed, is usually not evaluated over significant periods of time, limiting investigations about aging in post-liquefaction regain of stiffness. Even more uncommon is the application of geophysical techniques to evaluate changes in shear wave velocity (V S) as a proxy for small-strain stiffness. This study uses controlled blasting to examine long-term post-liquefaction regain of stiffness following multiple blast events. The multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) technique was used to observe changes in V S of aged deposits at a test site in South Carolina. Blast-induced liquefaction of the target liquefiable layer resulted in significant reduction to its initial small-strain stiffness owing to the destruction of the aged soil fabric. The time-rate variation in V S indicated that the initial small-strain stiffness was not re-established over many months following liquefaction. Following a second blast event, the small-strain stiffness reduced again, but recovered more quickly, similar to previously reported observations of young sand deposits. This study provides a significant basis for interpreting in situ body and surface wave measurements of aged and young sand deposits densified using blast liquefaction.