Evaluation of Flow Liquefaction Susceptibility in Non-Plastic Silty Soils Using the Seismic Cone

Abstract

The state parameter allows the evaluation of the in situ state of soils, which can be particularly useful in tailings impoundments where flow liquefaction is the most common failure model. Positive state parameter values characterize a contractive response during shearing and, for non-plastic soils, can indicate flow liquefaction susceptibility. This paper presents a methodology to classify and estimate the state parameter (Ψ) for non-plastic silty soils based on seismic cone penetration measurements. The method expands on a previous methodology developed for sands that use the ratio of the small strain shear modulus and the cone tip resistance G0/qt for classification and Ψ assessment. For non-plastic silty soils, drainage conditions during cone penetration must be accounted for and are used to allow soil classification and correct the cone tip resistance. An empirical formulation is proposed to correct qt for partial drainage measurements and predict Ψ for non-plastic silty soils. Mining tailings results of in situ and laboratory tests were used to validate the proposed methodology producing promising responses. The Ψ value estimated through the proposed methodology are in the range of those obtained from laboratory tests, indicating an adequate prediction of behavior for non-plastic silty soils.