CPT based liquefaction potential of flood defences in The Netherlands

Abstract

The paper describes a study on the liquefaction potential of flood defences along the rivers running through the delta area of the Netherlands. The study concentrates on an area south of Rotterdam. The dykes used as primary flood defences protect an urban, rural, and industrial area of 102,400 ha. In this paper the data from more than 4200 Cone Penetration Tests, CPT traces are used to assess more than 200 km of dykes. The pore pressure, u2 data is analysed, then used to separate the material response into contractive and dilative zones. Using the separation of liquefaction susceptible soils, and geometry of the riverbed a regional hazard map is generated. The choices for the data visualisation and their effect on the generated map are discussed and presented. The final liquefaction susceptibility map is used by the water governing authority Waterschap Hollandse Delta as a decision-making tool to improve the efficacy of liquefaction hazard assessment such as the location and return period of bathymetry measurements, and the scale of site-and laboratory investigation.