Abstract
In the current design and practice of earthquake geotechnical engineering, the liquefaction potential of soil layers under groundwater levels is evaluated based on laboratory tests on fully saturated soils. However, it is known that partly saturated soil layers exist below groundwater tables.
In this study, in order to properly evaluate the liquefaction potential of such partly saturated soil layers, the field tests and laboratory triaxial tests were conducted. Based on the relation between B-value and elastic wave velocities from these both tests, liquefaction potential at 4 sites, damaged by the past earthquakes were evaluated. As the results, by taking into account of in-situ saturation condition, it is found that it is possible to evaluate liquefaction potential equivalent to actual liquefied situation.