Physical modeling of soil-structure systems response to earthquake loading

Two centrifuge model tests at 40g level were examined in order to evaluate the use of particle size reduction as an alternative method to construct centrifuge model tests of a pile foundation undergoing lateral spreading of liquefied soil. The main difference between both tests was the method used to match the prototype permeability coefficient: (1) viscous pore fluid instead of water and (2) reduction of the particle size while using water as pore fluid. The two soils were placed at the same relative density, which resulted in two very different soil compressibilities and different model responses. Other centrifuge tests reported elsewhere (Gonzalez M., 2007), indicate that when compressibility rather than relative density is matched, particle size reduction produces the correct soil and pile response that agrees. Therefore, both permeability and compressibility need to bematched when using the particle size reduction technique. Copyright ASCE 2009.