ASSESSEMENT OF LIQUEFACTIONIN BOUMERDES (ALGERIA) USING RELIABILITY ANALYSIS

Abstract

A destructive earthquake of magnitude Mw=6.8 hit the region of Boumerdes and Algiers
(Algeria) on May 21, 2003. Evidence of soil liquefaction was observed ina site located in the vicinity of
Boumerdes. The results of traditional analysis of soil liquefaction potential using simplified procedures are
usually presented in terms of safetyfactor. However, these methods do not take into account inherent
variability which is expressed in terms of liquefaction probability related to safety factors. An answer to this
problem can be found by reliability analysis. In this study, a practical reliability based method is used for
assessing the soil liquefaction potential. As an application, the Boumerdes region belongs to the Tell Atlas
thrust of Algeria is investigated for liquefaction potential. The investigated are based on in situ tests in which
the results of SPT are analyzed.It was found that even with a safety factor of 1.34, the soil still has a
liquefaction probability about 30.85% for the given design earthquake.
Keywords: Soil Liquefaction, Reliability analysis; SPT