The objective of the study presented herein is to assess three commonly used CPT-based liquefaction evaluation procedures and three liquefaction severity index frameworks using data from the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. Specifically, post-event field observations, ground motion recordings, and results from a recently completed extensive geotechnical site investigation programme at selected strong motion stations (SMSs) in the city of Christchurch and surrounding towns are used herein. Unlike similar studies that used data from free-field sites, accelerogram characteristics at the SMS locations can be used to assess the performance of liquefaction evaluation procedures prior to their use in the computation of surficial manifestation severity indices. Results from this study indicate that for cases with evidence of liquefaction triggering in the accelerograms, the majority of liquefaction evaluation procedures yielded correct predictions, regardless of whether surficial manifestation of liquefaction was evident or not. For cases with no evidence of liquefaction in the accelerograms (and no observed surficial evidence of liquefaction triggering), the majority of liquefaction evaluation procedures predicted liquefaction was triggered. When all cases are used to assess the performance of liquefaction severity index frameworks, a poor correlation is shown between the observed severity of liquefaction surface manifestation and the calculated severity indices. However, only using those cases where the liquefaction evaluation procedures yielded correct predictions, there is an improvement in the correlation, with the Liquefaction Severity Number (LSN) being the best performing of the frameworks investigated herein. However scatter in the relationship between the observed and calculated surficial manifestation still remains for all liquefaction severity index frameworks.
A report detailing the Liquefaction Trial, the observations, and discussions of the trial interpretation and findings.
A video filmed during the Liquefaction Trial detonation and immediately following (run time approximately one minute).
Workers using a shovel and a wheelbarrow to clear liquefaction from a property. The liquefaction is being piled out the front where it will be collected.
Piles of liquefaction on the side of the road in Avonside. The liquefaction has been dug out of people's properties and placed on the road to be picked up by the council. The power boxes and the power pole to the left are on a lean due to liquefaction.
Liquefaction covering a driveway in Bexley.
A group of residents clearing liquefaction from a property in north-east Christchurch. They can be seen using shovels and wheelbarrows to shift the liquefaction.
A photograph of liquefaction at the Bexley substation.
A photograph of liquefaction at the Bexley substation.
A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Liquefaction".
A photograph of liquefaction at the Bexley substation.
Liquefaction covering a driveway in Bexley.
Liquefaction covering a driveway in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.
A photograph of liquefaction in the Avon Heathcote Estuary.
A photograph of liquefaction near Anzac Drive in Bexley.