Assessment of liquefaction potential during earthquakes by using SPT-number of blows and two-dimensional finite element analyses

For the planning and design of buildings in earthquake zones with high groundwater levels, the liquefaction potential of the building site has to be investigated and evaluated. In DIN EN 1998-5:2010-12 (2010), the diagrams based on SPT-number of blows are given for the assessment of liquefaction potential. In the present study, this method is first described according to the current state of knowledge. Subsequently, the liquefaction potential of a sandy soil is analyzed using SPT-number of blows and two-dimensional finite element analyses (2D-FEA) with the sand-plasticity model PM4Sand. With respect to the assessment of liquefaction potential, a good agreement between the results obtained from both methods is found. Furthermore, the use of 2D-FEA with the PM4Sand model allows the estimation of earthquake-induced deformations on the soil surface.