Liquefaction Potential of Saturated Sand Reinforced by Cement-Grouted Micropiles: An Evolutionary Approach Based on Shaking Table Tests

Cement-grouted injections are increasingly employed as a countermeasure material against liquefaction in active seismic areas; however, there is no methodology to thoroughly and directly evaluate the liquefaction potential of saturated sand materials reinforced by the cement grout-injected micropiles. To this end, first, a series of 1 g shaking table model tests are conducted. Time histories of pore water pressures, excess pore water pressure ratios (r(u)), and the number of required cycles (N-peak) to liquefy the soil are obtained and modified lower and upper boundaries are suggested for the potential of liquefaction of both pure and grout-reinforced sand. Next, adopting genetic programming and the least square method in the framework of the evolutionary polynomial regression technique, high-accuracy predictive equations are developed for the estimation of r(umax). Based on the results of a three-dimensional, graphical, multiple-variable parametric (MVP) analysis, and introducing the concept of the critical, boundary inclination angle, the inclination of micropiles is shown to be more effective in view of liquefaction resistivity for loose sands. Due to a lower critical boundary inclination angle, the applicability range for inclining micropiles is narrower for the medium-dense sands. MVP analyses show that the effects of a decreasing spacing ratio on decreasing r(umax) are amplified while micropiles are inclined.

Automated summary

Currently, there is no methodology to directly evaluate the liquefaction potential of saturated sand materials reinforced by cement grout-injected micropiles. Shaking table model tests were conducted to obtain data on pore water pressures, excess pore water pressure ratios, and the number of cycles required for soil liquefaction. Predictive equations for estimating excess pore water pressure ratios were developed using genetic programming and the least square method.