Selection among CPTu-based liquefaction models

In this paper, a process is taken to select probabilistic models for liquefaction/cyclic softening potential evaluation based on case histories with piezocone penetration test (CPTu) data. Emphasis of the paper is placed on establishing a relationship between the probability of liquefaction/cyclic softening and the safety factor determined with a recently developed deterministic CPTu-based model. The significance of the developed probabilistic model lies in the fact that the model is applicable to both sand-like and clay-like soils, which is ideal as a stand-alone tool for evaluating liquefaction and cyclic softening potential. Furthermore, the developed model is shown to hold advantages over existing CPT-based methods. Examples for applying the proposed CPTu-based models to characterize the liquefaction/cyclic softening potential at a given site are provided.