Liquefaction induced permanent ground deformations and energy dissipation analysis based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics method (SPH): validation by large-scale model tests

To accurately simulate the permanent displacements caused by liquefaction in saturated sandy soils, a mesh-free method named smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with a suitable soil behavior model and considering the interaction between soil and water phases has been developed in this study. The considered soil-water coupled phase plays the most critical role in more accurate modeling of soil failure during liquefaction and post-liquefaction processes. The results of the developed SPH code have been validated in the present study by performing some large-scale model tests in the laboratory using a shaker and a shaking table. The comparison between the SPH simulated displacement and the results of shaking table tests showed a good agreement, which proved that the proposed SPH framework could be a suitable tool for simulating and estimating the liquefaction-induced displacements. Moreover, the shear stress-strain response and subsequently the energy dissipated in soil were investigated in the shaking table test setting and a close correlation was observed between the excess pore water pressure and energy dissipation during liquefaction.