Evaluation of In Situ Methods For Liquefaction Investigation of Dams

This study uses the literature on liquefaction in dams to compare and contrast the various in situ methods of determining embankment dams' susceptibility to liquefaction. The study concludes that three soil penetration tests usually used to measure soil density, the principle factor in liquefaction, predict liquifaction fairly reliably when used in combination with other tests and good data and sound engineering judgement. The study lists advantages and disadvantages of each methods and points out conditions where a method may be better (or less) suited to particular site conditions.