ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: A large number of residential houses suffered from liquefaction-induced damage following the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand and the 2011 off Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake in Japan. In this study, the application of shallow ground improvement for the residential houses was investigated as an economically attractive countermeasure against liquefaction. Based on the case studies after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan, allowable tilt angles and penetration settlements of houses were proposed for the required level of serviceability against moderate and large earthquakes. The mitigation effect of the shallow ground improvement against liquefaction-induced damage was confirmed by questionnaire survey, airborne LiDAR survey and centrifuge model experiments. The numerical analyses indicated that improvement of shallow layer (below ground water table) by solidification of at least 3 m thick is needed in order to prevent significant damage of houses.
