Research Projects

Soil liquefaction is a major hazard that poses significant risks to lives and infrastructure in earthquake-prone regions. This phenomenon occurs when saturated, cohesionless soil is subjected to static or dynamic loading under undrained conditions, leading to the buildup of excess pore water pressure and substantially reducing the shear strength, causing the soil to flow like a liquid. The devastating effects of liquefaction have been demonstrated in major earthquakes worldwide, including the 2001 Bhuj earthquake in India, which caused widespread damage, substantial loss of life, and massive economic disruption. Such events highlight the critical need for precise liquefaction assessment in India, where earthquake-prone regions are widespread. The current design practices for assessing liquefaction potential rely on empirical methods using in-situ tests and field observations. The commonly used "simplified method" correlates liquefaction resistance with penetration test results, typically applies correction factors to account for site-specific variations in earthquake magnitudes, confining pressure, and ground slope. However, applying these corrections, especially for sloping ground, is challenging due to the complex soil behaviour under initial static shear stress. The lack of conclusive research on these conditions raises significant concerns about the method's reliability, particularly when applied by non-specialists. Such limitations highlight the need for laboratory assessments for more reliable liquefaction evaluations. Laboratory evaluation of liquefaction resistance typically uses cyclic triaxial and cyclic simple shear tests, which provide accurate site-specific estimates but are limited by equipment availability in few laboratories. This gap highlights the need for a more accessible approach to evaluate the cyclic resistance without depending on advanced cyclic tests. Therefore, this research aims to create a novel framework correlating traditional laboratory test results (direct shear and triaxial tests) to liquefaction resistance using critical state concepts. The unique approach will enable liquefaction resistance estimation without requiring cyclic triaxial or simple shear tests, with a specific focus on addressing the critical challenges of assessing liquefaction potential in sloping ground. Secondly, this study explores sustainable soil stabilization using natural coir fibres to mitigate liquefaction. Unlike costly traditional methods like grouting and soil replacement, coir fibres offer an eco-friendly, locally available alternative for liquefaction mitigation. The research will determine the optimal fibre percentage through comprehensive field investigations, laboratory tests, and numerical analyses. By focusing on seismically vulnerable regions like the Himalayas, the study aims to develop an environmentally sustainable solution for enhancing soil stability and infrastructure resilience.