Response of Sandy and Clayey Soils to Weak And Strong Seismic Loading

The response of sandy and clayey near-surface soils representing the classes of noncohesive and cohesive soils to seismic loading of various intensities is analyzed from the in situ data —from the records by vertical groups of the Japanese nationwide KiK-net strong motion seismograph network. For the analysis, out of a total of ~800 stations, we selected five stations with near-surface sandy soils and five stations with near-surface clayey soils, most purely represented in the upper layers. Using the method (Pavlenko and Irikura, 2003), we have constructed and analyzed the models of strong ground motion behavior for “sandy” and “clayey” stations, showing the distributions of earthquake-induced stresses and strains in the soil layers. Close estimates of the amplification of seismic waves in sands and clays at weak seismic ground motion and close stress-strain relationships characterizing the behavior of the near-surface soils at moderate seismic ground motion are obtained. The liquefaction of sandy soils under strong shaking (the 2011 Tohoku earthquake with Мw ~ 9.0) is analyzed. The effects of the extended seismic sources (directivity of their radiation pattern) on the behavior of sandy and clayey soils and the amplification of seismic waves in these soils is studied. Differences in the behavior of sandy and clayey soils are noted only at strong seismic motions: liquefaction in sandy soils is possible if the groundwater level is on the order of a few meters from the surface, while in clayey soils there is no liquefaction.