Settlement Rate Increase in Organic Soils Following Cyclic Loading

Postshaking settlements observed during centrifuge tests of model levees resting atop soft compressible peat are compared with numerical settlement solutions. Two large-scale (9 m) and one small-scale (1 test analyzed. The models included extensive instrumentation consisting pore pressure sensors, accelerometers, bender elements, displacement transducers to measure levee response after the application scaled ground motions at container base. Postcyclic records suggested an increase in rates within on cyclic loading preseismic due combined effects excess generation secondary compression. were predictions a one-dimensional nonlinear consolidation code that follows implicit finite difference formulation. includes compressibility permeability properties compression strain rate as function soil state rather than time. Secondary was found be largest contributor settlement. Further, straining earthquake shaking. Incorporating reset into resulted close agreement measurements, whereas failing consider substantial underprediction experimental records.