CANLEX full-scale experiment and modelling

• Published in: Canadian geotechnical journal Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 543 - 562
• Main Authors: Byrne, P M, Puebla, H, Chan, D H, Soroush, A, Morgenstern, N R, Cathro, D C, Gu, W H, Phillips, R, Robertson, P K, Hofmann, B A, (Fear) Wride, C E, Sego, D C, Plewes, H D, List, B R, Tan, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.06.2000; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Engineering geology; Exact sciences and technology; Liquefaction; Sand & gravel; Soil mechanics; experimental studies; stress; models; centrifuge methods; shear; terrains; embankments; triaxial tests; liquefaction; loading; finite element analysis; clay; rupture; elastoplasticity; sedimentary rocks; sand; tailings; pore pressure; numerical models; numerical analysis; deformation; boundary conditions; clastic rocks; laboratory studies
• ISSN: 0008-3674; 1208-6010
• DOI: 10.1139/t00-042

A major aim of the Canadian Liquefaction Experiment (CANLEX) was to verify analysis procedures for predicting liquefaction phenomena. Towards this purpose, two loading events were carried out: a field event comprising a clay embankment built over a loose sand foundation layer, and a centrifuge test performed on a model of a sand embankment structure. Both the field event and the centrifuge model were planned so as to induce a static liquefaction failure and were instrumented to observe their response in terms of displacement and pore pressure. The fundamental mechanical characteristics of the foundation layer were determined from laboratory element tests (triaxial and simple shear). These tests formed the basis for the stress-strain modelling used in the numerical analyses. Two fundamentally different modelling techniques were used. One involved a fully coupled plasticity model, and the other involved a model based on a collapse-surface approach. The model and prototype structures were then analyzed and the predicted results in terms of displacements and pore pressures were compared with the measured values. The results from both approaches were found to be in reasonable agreement with the measurements, provided allowance was made for direction of loading and drainage effects were accounted for.Key words: liquefaction, field experiment, embankment, centrifuge model, elastic-plastic model.