This research will be conducted in conjunction with the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center (http://peer.berkeley.edu/about/what_is_peer.html), the Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) and various state DOTs. Liquefaction-induced lateral spread is a type of permanent ground deformation resulting from horizontal movement of surficial soil deposits due to liquefaction at depth. It is generally the most pervasive and damaging type of ground failure to transportation systems following major earthquakes, and is especially damaging to bridge structures located near river systems. Recent liquefaction-induced ground failures from earthquakes in Tohoku, Japan (2011) and Christchurch, New Zealand (2010) have raised questions about the engineering profession’s ability to assess, delineate and quantify the amount of lateral spread displacement in vulnerable locations. The best defense against such damage is to first, identify areas prone to lateral spread ground failure, estimate the expected amount of ground displacement, and establish planning or other engineering countermeasures to mitigate the hazard and ensure more earthquake resilient infrastructure. Nonetheless, the transportation systems of many regions in the U.S. (e.g., California, Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, mid-America and Northeastern and Central Atlantic seaboard) remain vulnerable to lateral spread damage associated with future, major earthquakes. This research topic addresses the need to improve the methodologies used to estimate the amount of permanent ground displacement associated with liquefaction-induced lateral spread. There is a need to update, validate and improve current empirical, semi-empirical, analytical and numerical methods using a peer-reviewed, community database of well-documented case histories of liquefaction-induced lateral spread. The project will be executed in two phases: Phase (I) case history database development, collection, and public dissemination; and Phase (II) predictive model development. This pooled fund study addresses the work to be completed under Phase (I) and consists of: (i) collecting, reporting, and assessing the sufficiency and quality of field case history observations as well as in situ field test data; and (ii) addressing the spatial variability and uncertainty of these data. This will be followed by Phase (II) which has the primary objective of developing more accurate tools for assessing liquefaction-induced lateral spread and its consequences.

Objectives for the Phase (I) study include: (1) Develop peer-reviewed and consistent methods for data documentation and archiving of case histories of liquefaction lateral spread (2) Develop methods/protocols to quantify uncertainties associated with the collected data (3) Disseminate this peer-reviewed database for general use using web-based software tools

Tasks for the Phase (I) study include: (1) Procurement of software and kickoff meeting (2) Development of database protocols and quality assurance procedures (3) Structuring of database (4) Selection of case histories to populate dataset. The initial earthquakes that will be reviewed for inclusion in the database are, but will not be limited to: 1906 San Francisco, California; 1964 Alaska; 1964 Niigata, Japan; 1971 San Fernando, California; 1979 Imperial Valley, California; 1983 Nihonkai-Chu, Japan; 1983 Borah Peak, Idaho; 1987 Superstition Hills, California; 1989 Loma Prieta, California; 1994 Northridge, California; 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey; 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan; ; 2005 Kobe, Japan; 2010 Chile; 2011 Tohoku, Japan; and 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand. (5) Population of database and review of data (15 months) (6) Draft technical report and database (7) Final technical report and database dissemination

The principal investigators for this study will be Drs. Steven Bartlett (U. of Utah), Steven Kramer (U. of Washington and PEER Research Executive Committee Member), Kevin Franke (Brigham Young University) and Daniel Gillins (Oregon State University). All PIs have extensive background in evaluating and modeling liquefaction phenomena and their effects. Work is planned to begin in late fall 2015 and continue through 2017 for Phase (I). Phase (II) is projected to start soon thereafter and have a duration of two years. The minimum partner commitment for Phase (I) is $20,000. This could consist of $20,000 for FY2016, or split with $10,000 for FY2016 and $10,000 for FY2017. We will be requesting the 100% SP&R Approval from FHWA. The MPC has already committed $50,000 for Phase (I), conditional on the availability of match, USDOT funding, and a successful peer review. This amount is not included in the $150,000 total commitments required from state DOTs or other agency partners for the pooled fund study.