This paper is aimed to develop a new process for assessing degrees of liquefaction potential by the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence (DS). By applying the DS combination rules, the proposed model combines different results of liquefaction potential by the simplified methods based on field data, including SPT-N, CPT-qc and Vs values. Beyond this, the entropy theory is used extensively in the study of criterion priority value for the potential degree models. To demonstrate this DS process, we take for examples of the Yuanlin area in Taiwan. Our results show that through the proposed model, the suitable liquefaction potential classification and uncertainty of any orientation can be obtained.
In recent years, there are serious damages caused by soil liquefaction while the earthquake struck in the world. For the reasons include:
easily understood for the inhabitant,
offered reference for urban planner and engineer,
provided hazard for earthquake insurance.
Consequently, it is one of critical topics in the earthquake prevention to evaluate degree of liquefaction potential in the possible liquefied areas, especially offshore plain. Some evaluation models had been developed for liquefaction potential, especially those named simplified method followed Seed and his coworkers (Seed and Idriss 1971, 1982), has become the standard of practice in North America and throughout much of the world for over 40 years. The liquefaction safety, equal to the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) divided by the cyclic stress ratio (CSR), can be obtained at any depth of straight alluvium by the simplified models. The CRR can be calculated by the soil field test parameters, main as N-value of the standard penetration test (SPT), the tip resistance of the cone penetration test (CPT) and the shear-wave velocity test (Vs).
