Validation and Verification of Semi-Empirical Methods for Evaluating Liquefaction Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Liquefaction is a hazardous and temporary phenomenon by which a soil saturated with water loses some or all of its resistance. The undrained conditions and a cyclic load increase the pores water pressure inside the soil and therefore a reduction of the effective stress. Nowadays many semi-empirical methods are used to introduce a proposition to evaluate the liquefaction's potential using the in-situ test results. The objective of this paper is to study their ability to correctly predict the liquefaction potential by modelling our case using finite element methods. The study is based on the data of Cone Penetration Tests experimental results of the Casablanca-Tangier High-Speed Line exactly between PK 116 + 450 and PK 116 + 950 and near of Moulay-Bousselham city. It belongs to the Drader-Soueir basin region which is located in the North-West of Morocco. This region had a specific soil’s formation, the first 50 meters are characterised by the existence of sand layers alternating with layers of clay. These formations are very loose and saturated which suggests the possibility of soil liquefaction. We present and discuss the results of applying the Olsen method [1], the Juang method [2] and the Robertson method [3], in the evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility. Apart from the previous empirical analysis to evaluate the liquefaction potential, numerical modelling is performed in this study.