Elucidation of Seismic Soil Liquefaction Significant Factors

The paper develops a framework to analyze the interactions among seismic soil liquefaction significant factors using the interpretive structural model (ISM) approach based on cone penetration test. To identify the contextual relationships among the significant factors, systematic literature review approach was used bearing in mind the selection principle. Since multiple factors influence seismic soil liquefaction, determining all factors in soil liquefaction would be extremely difficult, as even a few seismic soil liquefaction factors are not easy to deal with. This study highlighted two main characteristics of seismic soil liquefaction factors. First, the seismic soil liquefaction factors–peak ground acceleration F2 (amax), equivalent clean sand penetration resistance F5 (qc1Ncs), and thickness of soil layer F11 (Ts) influenced soil liquefaction directly and were located at level 2 (top level) in the ISM model, meaning they require additional seismic soil liquefaction factors except thickness of soil layer F11 (Ts) to collaboratively impact on soil liquefaction potential. The multilevel hierarchy reveals that depth of soil deposit F10 (Ds) is formed the base of ISM hierarchy. Secondly, Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliqués à un classement (MICMAC) analysis has been employed for evaluating these identified factors in accordance with driving power and dependence power. Factors with a higher driving power should be given special consideration. Autonomous soil liquefaction factors have no reliance on other soil liquefaction factors and interfere less. In order to identify the significant factors that affect seismic soil liquefaction susceptibility, the model built in this study clearly illustrates the complex relationships between factors and demonstrates the direct and indirect relationships.