ABSTRACT
In this paper the maximum likelihood analyses of a liquefaction database are carried out to develop probabilistic models for liquefaction potential evaluation using piezocone penetration test (CPTU). The liquefaction database consists of case histories compiled by Chen et al. (2008) from different sources. Each case, either liquefied or non-liquefied, is characterized with the piezocone penetration test (CPTU) data, including cone tip resistance (qt), sleeve friction ( fs), and penetration porewater pressure (u2), and the seismic parameters, including peak ground surface acceleration (amax) and moment magnitude (Mw). One objective of the study is to develop a mapping function that relates the probability of liquefaction (PL) to the factor of safety (FS ) against the occurrence of liquefaction computed with a CPTU model (Chen et al. 2008; Juang et al. 2008). This mapping function, an empirical relationship between PL and FS , is developed through the maximum likelihood analysis. The developed relationship allows for a practical, one-step estimate of the liquefaction probability PL based on the computed FS .
