• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.27-37
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• 2011

Uplift phenomenon occurs when the apparent unit weight of buried geo-structures becomes smaller than that of the liquefied backfill due to the increase of an excess pore water pressure during strong earthquakes. In order to explain the relationship between the uplift displacement of the buried geo-structures and the increase of the excess pore water pressure ratio in backfill, dynamic centrifuge model tests are conducted. In the present study, primary and secondary factors against uplift behavior of the buried geo-structures are considered in the dynamic centrifuge model tests. Among these factors, the most important factors affecting the increase in the excess pore water pressure ratio were the ground water depth, the relative density of backfill, and the amplitude of the input acceleration, which were also largely affect the uplift amount of the buried geo-structures.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.5-16
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• 2012

Geotechnical buried structures with relatively light weight have been suffering from uplift damage due to liquefaction in the past earthquakes. The factor of safety approach by Koseki et al. (1997a), which is widely used in seismic design, predicts the triggering of uplift. However, a method for "quantitative" estimates of the uplift displacement has yet to be established. Estimation of the uplift displacement may be an important factor to be considered for designing underground structures under the framework of performance-based design (ISO23469, 2005). Therefore, evaluation of the uplift displacement of buried structure in liquefied ground during earthquakes is needed for a performance-based design as a practical application. In order to predict the uplift displacement quantitatively, a simplified method is derived based on the equilibrium of vertical forces acting on buried structures in backfill during earthquakes (Tobita et al., 2012). The method is verified through comparisons with results of centrifuge model tests and damaged sewerage systems after the 2004 Niigata-ken Chuetsu, Japan, earthquake. The proposed flow diagram for performance-based design includes estimation of the uplift displacement as well as liquefaction limit of backfill.