Assessing Susceptibility to Soil Liquefaction Using the Standard Penetration Test (SPT)—A Case Study from the City of Portoviejo, Coastal Ecuador

The city of Portoviejo in coastal Ecuador was severely affected during the 16 April 2016, Pedernales earthquake (Mw 7.8). Various coseismic liquefaction phenomena occurred, inducing lateral spreading, sand boils, ground subsidence, and sinkholes soils with poor geotechnical quality alluvial alluvial–colluvial sedimentary environment. Therefore, main aim this study to collect data from standard penetration tests (SPT) shear velocity exploratory trenches calculate potential index (LPI) by considering a corresponding seismic hazard scenario an amax = 0.5 g. From these data, map constructed for Portoviejo, wherein Fs 1.169 obtained. It determined that strata at depth between 8 12 m are potentially liquefiable. Our quantitative results demonstrate Portoviejo’s urban area has high probability liquefaction, whereas southeast is less sensitive phenomena, due presence older sediments. accordance environmental effects reported aftermath 2016 earthquake.