Regionalization of Liquefaction Triggering Models

The stress-based simplified liquefaction triggering procedure is the most widely used approach to assess liquefaction potential worldwide. However, empirical aspects of the procedure were primarily developed for tectonic earthquakes in active shallow-crustal tectonic regimes. Accordingly, the suitability of the simplified procedure for evaluating liquefaction triggering in other tectonic regimes and for induced earthquakes is questionable. Specifically, the suitability of the depth-stress reduction factor (r_d) and magnitude scaling factor (MSF) relationships inherent to existing simplified models is uncertain for use in evaluating liquefaction triggering in stable continental regimes, subduction zone regimes, or for liquefaction triggering due to induced seismicity. This is because both r_d, which accounts for the non-rigid soil profile response, and MSF, which accounts for shaking duration, are affected by the characteristics of the ground motions, which can differ among tectonic regimes, and soil profiles, which can vary regionally. Presented in this paper is a summary of ongoing efforts to regionalize liquefaction triggering models for evaluating liquefaction hazard. Central to this regionalization is the consistent development of tectonic-regime-specific r_d and MSF relationships. The consistency in the approaches used to develop these relationships allows them to be interchanged within the same overall liquefaction triggering evaluation framework.