LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL OF REINFORCED SAND

A simple stress-controlled cyclic triaxial testing system developed for liquefaction testing is described. Using this system, a series of cyclic undrained triaxial tests were performed on sands with different densities and with different types of reinforcements to investigate the effect of reinforcement in enhancing resistance to liquefaction. The feasibility of using natural fibres as a substitute for geosynthetics, in increasing liquefaction resistance was also studied. It was found that the inclusion of reinforcement significantly increased liquefaction resistance. The reinforcement effect was more pronounced at lower relative densities and with reinforcements having higher stiffness and interface friction. Coir, a natural fibre, was found to be a good substitute for geosynthetics.