Journal of Natural Disaster Science

A GRANULAR ASSEMBLY SIMULATION FOR THE DYNAMIC LIQUEFACTION OF SAND

Yuji TARUMI
Civil Engineer, Japan Public Highway Corporation, Tokyo
and
Motohiko HAKUNO
Professor, Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo

(Received 23 May, 1988 and in revised form 27 July, 1988)

Abstract

Various liquefaction analyses have been made. No numerical liquefaction analysis in which sand is considered a non-continuous material, however, has yet been reported. In 1971 , the Distinct Element Method (DEM) was introduced by Cundall. This method is numerical simulation by which rock behavior is analyzed based on the assumption that individual rock elements satisfy the equation of motion. We developed a modified DEM that takes into account pore water pressure based on Darcy's law. We analyzed the liquefaction of saturated sand under seismic excitation. Excessive pore water pressure in the numerical results rose gradually due to the effect of shaking. This result agrees with results of past laboratory tests.

Key words

liquefaction, distinct element method