Liquefaction Behavior of Stabilized Sand using Clay - A Case Study: Dorood Liquefied Sand Investigation

The phenomenon of liquefaction in loose and saturated sandy soils is one of the most important hazards for engineering structures during an earthquake. In this phenomenon, the sand changes its behavior rapidly from solid to viscous fluid, resulting in the instability of the ground. In this research, at first, sand samples with liquefaction history collected from a site in Dorood, Lorestan, Iran. Samples obtained from depth of 1.8-2.7 and 2.7-3.5 m and in the laboratory, the parameters of maximum density, moisture content, friction angle and cohesion were determined. Then, in order to evaluate the effect of additive on the liquefaction potential, different percentages of clay from Dorood region added to the samples and tested. Finally, three-dimensional finite difference software (FLAC3D) used with inducing Dorood earthquake, to investigate liquefaction potential of stabilized samples by analyzing the u/σ ratio for models. The results showed that adding clay to the soil of this area reduce the friction angle, increase cohesion, and has a favorable effect on the liquefaction potential. Results of this investigation indicated that adding 3% clay to the liquefied Dorood sand, would lead to decrease the liquefaction potential up to 39%.