Performance of Lifelines Subjected to Lateral Spreading, PEER Report 2006-03

Abstract: 

This report presents the results of full-scale lateral spreading tests in the port of Tokachi on Hokkaido Island, Japan, to assess the behavior of piles and pipelines subjected to lateral spreading. This research project was the joint collaboration between the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and several Japanese organizations. Controlled blasting was used to liquefy the soil and subsequently induce lateral spreading in the 4–6% surface slope test beds. Several instrumentations including pore-pressure transducers, global positioning (GPS) units, and inclinometers, were installed to measure pore-pressure buildup and movements of the soils, piles, and pipelines during lateral spreading. The test piles and pipelines were extensively instrumented with strain gages to measure the distribution of bending moment during lateral spreading; this allowed the back-calculation of the loading conditions, as well as the as sessment of damage and the performance of the structures. This report presents the back-calculated soil pressure exerted on the piles during lateral spreading. In addition, the potential of using the p-y analysis method for single piles and pile groups su bjected to lateral spreading was evaluated. Finally, the design implications are given for piles subjected to lateral spreading.

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Author: 
Scott A. Ashford
Teerawut Juirnarongrit
Publication date: 
July 1, 2006
Publication type: 
Technical Report
Citation: 
Ashford, S,. A., & Juirnarongrit, T. (2006). Performance of Lifelines Subjected to Lateral Spreading, PEER Report 2006-03. Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, CA.