Evaluation of soil liquefaction from surface analysis

Abstract

In this paper we describe how some techniques for estimating shallow shear wave velocity profiles obtained from measurements of ambient vibrations and from artificially generated waves can be used to assess sand liquefaction potential. The measurements are easy, quick and more economical than most other methods. The passive Microtremor Analysis Method (MAM) and the active Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) have only recently been adopted for liquefaction studies. We propose a method that was applied in the valley of Mexicali to characterize soil in terms of shear wave velocity to assess liquefaction potential; our results display its advantages.