ABSTRACT
The Wellington CentrePort experienced liquefaction of reclaimed land and liquefaction-induced ground deformations that led to building and wharf damage in the 2016 Mw7.8 Kaikoura earthquake. There was evidence of lateral spreading in the fills behind the pile-supported wharves and liquefaction-induced settlement in the soils surrounding buildings supported on deep foundations. Previous attempts to perform CPTs at the port had limited success. In the reclaimed land constructed by end-dumping of quarried soils there are large gravel-size and boulder-size particles overlain by a 3-m+ thick, dense compacted earth crust covered with a thick pavement. Use of a larger, more robust cone provided reliable subsurface data that characterized well the reclaimed materials at the port. Insights garnered from this site investigation of the gravelly soils are shared.
