Probabilistic framework for assessing liquefaction hazard at a given site in a specified exposure time using standard penetration testing

This paper presents a probabilistic framework for assessing the liquefaction hazard at a given site in a given exposure time. Ten sites from different seismic-prone regions of the USA are studied to validate the developed probabilistic framework. Additionally, this framework is extended from the focus of liquefaction potential at a given soil element (or finite layer) to the concern of the whole soil column based on the concept of liquefaction potential index (LPI) proposed by Iwasaki and his co-workers. In this extended framework, the probability of surface manifestation of liquefaction at a given site subjected to all ground motions at all hazard levels in a given exposure time is determined. As an example to illustrate this probabilistic framework, the widely used, standard penetration test (SPT)-based method by Youd et al. is adopted as a building block in the framework. This framework is illustrated with examples and its versatility is demonstrated. Finally, the procedure for extending the developed framework to the evaluation of ground settlement is outlined.