Sand Liquefaction

Question

Does liquefaction occurs only to sand? Explain?

Answer 1

In liquefaction, the pressure of pore water builds up gradually and ultimately approaches a value equal to confined pressure. During earthquake, however, there is not enough time for water in the soil pores to squeeze out. Instead, the water gets trapped and this avoids the particles of soil from moving closer together. Subsequently, this results in an increase in the pressure of water which reduces the contact forces between the individual soil particles, thus softening and weakening the soil. Ultimately, soils particles lose contact with each other and behaves like a liquid.

Hence, the type of soil which is vulnerable to liquefaction is one whose resistance to deformation is mobilized by frictional forces between particles which are under confined pressure. In other case, where the soil is finely grained, cohesive forces develop between these particles and it becomes really difficult to separate them. Therefore, the sand with large content of fines tends have greater resistance to  the liquefaction.