Influence of Gaps in Capping Clay Layer on Liquefaction

Typical practice for assessing liquefaction-induced deformations is to use a number of in situ tests. However, the actual soil profile is often more complex and the sedimentary architectures are not always uniform. Due to this variability, the liquefaction-induced ground deformations are difficult to assess with certainty. Recent studies have shown that presence of a continuous impermeable layer within a liquefiable permeable deposit could affect the formation of the water film beneath it. However, little effort has been directed to the effect of discontinuous distribution of impermeable layers on the liquefaction potential. Thus, there is a need to explore the effect of discontinuous impermeable layers on liquefaction surface manifestation. In this paper, simplified site models are built to study this effect through numerical modeling. The results indicate that the discontinuity of the capping clay layer affects the redistribution of the pore pressure, and thus the patterns and magnitude of liquefaction-induced deformations.