Open Access

ARTICLE

An SPH Framework for Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction Hazard Assessment of Geotechnical Structures

by Sourabh Mhaski^,*, G. V. Ramana

Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India

* Corresponding Author: Sourabh Mhaski. Email:

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2025, 142(1), 251-277. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2024.055963

Received 11 July 2024; Accepted 23 October 2024; Issue published 17 December 2024

Abstract

Earthquake-induced soil liquefaction poses significant risks to the stability of geotechnical structures worldwide. An understanding of the liquefaction triggering, and the post-failure large deformation behaviour is essential for designing resilient infrastructure. The present study develops a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) framework for earthquake-induced liquefaction hazard assessment of geotechnical structures. The coupled flow-deformation behaviour of soils subjected to cyclic loading is described using the PM4Sand model implemented in a three-phase, single-layer SPH framework. A staggered discretisation scheme based on the stress particle SPH approach is adopted to minimise numerical inaccuracies caused by zero-energy modes and tensile instability. Further, non-reflecting boundary conditions for seismic analysis of semi-infinite soil domains using the SPH method are proposed. The numerical framework is employed for the analysis of cyclic direct simple shear test, seismic analysis of a level ground site, and liquefaction-induced failure of the Lower San Fernando Dam. Satisfactory agreement for liquefaction triggering and post-failure behaviour demonstrates that the SPH framework can be utilised to assess the effect of seismic loading on field-scale geotechnical structures. The present study also serves as the basis for future advancements of the SPH method for applications related to earthquake geotechnical engineering.

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