In situ method for determining soil liquefaction tendency and its prevention by electro-osmosis

An apparatus for determining if electro-osmosis can prevent an occurrence of liquefaction of a soil in situ at a measurement depth horizon comprising:

• a plurality of expanding and contracting bladders in contact with the soil for cyclically loading the soil at the measurement depth horizon under a zero volume change condition;
• a pore water pressure sensor in contact with the soil for measuring the pore water pressure of the soil adjacent the bladders;
• a d-c power source;
• an array of electrodes connected to the d-c power source positioned in the apparatus and in contact with the soil, wherein a d-c current flows through the electrodes as result of an applied d-c voltage from the d-c power source;
• a pore water pressure relief port located in the apparatus and adjacent to at least one of the conductors;
• and
• a data acquisition system for receiving the pore water pressure measurements from the soils during the cyclic loading.

An method for determining liquefaction tendency of a soil in situ at a measurement depth horizon comprising:

• cyclically loading the soil under a zero volume change condition;
• measuring the pore water pressure of the soil during the cyclic loading;
• and
• recording the pore water pressure measurements of the soils during the cyclic loading.

A method for determining if electro-osmosis can prevent liquefaction of a soil in situ at a measurement depth horizon comprising:

• cyclically loading the soil under a zero volume change condition;
• measuring the pore water pressure of the soil during the cyclic loading;
• applying a d-c voltage to the soil to induce a d-c current in the soil;
• providing pore water pressure relief within the soil subject to the cyclic loading;
• and
• recording the pore water pressure measurements of the soils during the cyclic loading.