Potentially liquefiable Soils

Soil Type
Soils that should be considered potentially liquefiable are
sands,
low plasticity silts(PI<7), and, in unusual cases,
gravel.
Rock and most clay soil are not liquefiable.

Soil Density
Potentially liquefiable Granular soils with
an SPT blow count (N1)60 < 30, or
a normalized Cone Penetration Test (CPT) resistance (qc1N) < 160.

However, increased fines content reduces the liquefaction potential and granular soils
with the following combinations of (N1)60 and percent fines are not liquefiable:
(N1)60 % Fines
>30 5%
> 25 15%
> 21 35%

Laboratory Testing
In potentially liquefiable soils that may have enough fines to render the soil
nonliquefiable
the following tests must be performed for a final determination:
Particle Size Analysis (ASTM D 422)
Atterberg Limits (ASTM D 4318)
Moisture Content (ASTM D 2216)

COARSE GRAINED SOIL

Coarse grained soils are divided into two groups, Sand & Gravel.
Particles having diameter larger than 4.75 mm is called Gravel.
Particles having diameter in between 4.75 mm to 75 micron (0.075mm) is called Sand.

FINE GRAINED SOIL

1. Fine grained soils are identified on the basis of its plasticity. Individual particles
are not visible by naked eye.

2. Fine grained soils are also divided in two groups, Silt & Clay.
3. Particles having diameter in between 75 micron to 2 micron (0.002mm)are called Silt.

4. Particles having diameter smaller than 2 micron is called Clay.

5. Verbal description of fine grained soil is done on the basis of its dry strength, dilatancy,
dispersion and plasticity.

6. Fine grained soil exhibit a poor load bearing capacity.

7. Fine grained soil is practically impermeable in nature because of its small particles size.

8. Volume change occurs with change in moisture content.

9. Strength changes with change in moisture condition.

10. Fine grained soil is susceptible to frost action.

11. Engineering properties are controlled by mineralogical factors.

12. When touched by hand it feels smooth, greasy and sticky.

For most geotechnical applications N 60 and N1,60 values are calculated based on the following
equations:

N60 = Nfield x Ce
N1,60 = Nfield x Ce x Cn [1]

Equation [1] is used only when the Simplified calculation for N1,60 is checked. When
unchecked, N1,60 value is calculated according to:

N1,60 = Nfield x Ce x Cn x Cr x Cb x Cs

where:

Ce is the energy correction factor which depends mainly on the way that hammer is lifted
and released. Some typical values are presented on the table below (after Skempton, 1986)

Factor Equipment variable Correction

Donut Hammer 0.50 to 1.00
Safety Hammer 0.70 to 1.20
Energy ratio
Automatic-Trip
0.80 to 1.30
Donut-type Hammer

Cn is the overburden correction factor. Measured blow count is adjusted to a 100 kPa
overburden pressure according to an equation that you can select from the Calc. method pop-
up menu. Clicking on the down arrow opens a menu where you can select one of the
suggested equations. Clicking on the button opens a new dialog where these functions are
visualized. SPTCorr applies a constraint on C n value as suggested in various publications (e.g.
SP117).

Cr is the rod length correction factor which depends on the total length of the drill rod.

Cb is the bore-hole diameter correction factor and its is set according to the selected
diameter from the drop down list.

Cs is the liner correction factor and its value depends on the sampler used to perform the
test. The split spoon sampler may contain liner or not. The C s value for the sampler with liners
is 1.00 while for samplers without liners value ranges from 1.10 to 1.30.