Liquefaction at Strong Motion Stations and in Urayasu City during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 55-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brady R. Cox ◽  
Ross W. Boulanger ◽  
Kohji Tokimatsu ◽  
Clinton M. Wood ◽  
Akio Abe ◽  
...  

The 2011 MW = 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake generated a large number of unique soil liquefaction case histories, including cases with strong ground motion recordings on liquefiable or potentially liquefiable soils. We have compiled a list of 22 strong motion stations (SMS) where surface evidence of liquefaction was observed and 16 SMS underlain by geologically recent sediments or fills where surface evidence of liquefaction was not observed. Pre-earthquake standard penetration test data and borehole shear wave velocity ( Vs) profiles are available for some stations, but critical information, such as grain size distribution and fines plasticity, are often lacking. In the heavily damaged city of Urayasu, we performed post-earthquake cone penetration testing at seven SMS and Vs profiles, using surface wave methods at 28 additional locations to supplement existing geotechnical data. We describe the liquefaction effects in Urayasu, the available site characterization data, and our initial data interpretations.

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-455
Author(s):  
Curtis R. Treen ◽  
Peter K. Robertson ◽  
David J. Woeller

Cone penetration testing (CPT) in Canada is usually performed using locally available drilling rigs. The limited pushing capacity of most drilling rigs coupled with the risk of damage to expensive cone penetrometers has tended to restrict the CPT to generally loose or soft soils. Therefore, in regions dominated by stiff glacial soils the more rugged standard penetration test (SPT) is still the most commonly used in situ test during geotechnical investigations. However, there are many limitations with the SPT with respect to interpretation and repeatability, especially the uncertainty with the energy delivered from various SPT hammer anvil systems. A downhole cone penetration test (DCPT) has been developed by modifying the equipment and procedure of the standard electric CPT. The DCPT consists of a simple, inexpensive electric cone penetrometer attached to a 1.5 m (5 ft) length of AW drill rod. The test is performed by pushing the cone 1.5 m into the base of an open borehole to produce a continuous profile of penetration resistance Qc, over the 1.5-m interval or whatever interval penetration is possible. The test incorporates the simplicity, ruggedness, and depth capability of the SPT but is able to define a near-continuous, accurate, and repeatable cone penetration resistance profile. The equipment and procedure of the DCPT is described in detail, and results from a near-continuous DCPT and an adjacent continuous CPT are presented and compared with the results obtained from an adjacent borehole with SPT. Excellent agreement was found between the results of the DCPT and the CPT. Key words : in situ, cone penetration testing, stiff soils.


Author(s):  
Melika Sajadian ◽  
Ana Teixeira ◽  
Faraz S. Tehrani ◽  
Mathias Lemmens

Abstract. Built environments developed on compressible soils are susceptible to land deformation. The spatio-temporal monitoring and analysis of these deformations are necessary for sustainable development of cities. Techniques such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) or predictions based on soil mechanics using in situ characterization, such as Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) can be used for assessing such land deformations. Despite the combined advantages of these two methods, the relationship between them has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to reconcile InSAR measurements and CPT measurements using machine learning techniques in an attempt to better predict land deformation.


Author(s):  
Dharma Wijewickreme ◽  
Thushara Jayasinghe

Abstract A systematic research program was undertaken with the objective of developing quantitative geotechnical parameters to support soil-pipe interaction assessment for buried pipelines in muskeg. For this purpose, a field geotechnical investigation program comprising cone penetration testing (SCPT) with shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements, electronic field vane shear testing (eVST), full-flow ball penetration testing (BPT), and pressuremeter testing (PMT), along with fixed-piston tube soil sampling was undertaken in a muskeg soil terrain. The data from field testing were initially interpreted to obtain typical stiffness and strength parameters for the subject soils. These parameters were then used to numerically simulate pressuremeter tests and the results were compared with those obtained from field pressuremeter testing; the intent was to calibrate a suitable constitutive model to represent the muskeg soil mass. These ascalibrated constitutive model was then applied on numerical models developed to simulate buried pipelines in muskeg soil subject to relative lateral ground movements. The work is aimed at developing a framework to generate soil restraint versus relative ground displacement relations (“soil springs”) to assess soil-pipe interaction of pipelines buried in muskeg soils. Initial results from the research are presented herein, with a comparison made between soil springs developed from numerical analyses and those generated from current practice guidelines.


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