Parametric Investigation of Lateral Spreading in Free-Face Ground Formations

Liquefaction-induced lateral spreading can cause extensive damage and even failure to foundations and earthworks resting inside or in the vicinity of the affected ground. The current practice for the evaluation of the ground surface displacement due to lateral spreading, is to rely upon a number of published empirical relations which are based on statistical analysis of field measurements. As an alternative, aimed to overcome a number of objective limitations related to the interpretation of field data, this article employs a numerical investigation to explore the main parameters affecting the anticipated maximum ground surface displacement and to quantify their effect in the form of a simple analytical relation. To ensure the credibility of the numerical methodology, it has been thoroughly validated against nineteen (19) previously reported centrifuge experiments. Furthermore, the accuracy of the new relation is evaluated through a systematic comparison with the numerical predictions of ground surface displacement, as well as with field measurements from the data base of Youd et al. (2002)