We present in this paper the elementary mechanical behaviours which are responsible for sometimes very spectacular flow failures of saturated sand masses, known under the generic term of liquefaction. After a brief description of the mechanical behaviour of soils under monotonie loading, we describe the phenomenon known as « static » liquefaction, which is a specific instability characteristic of loose (contractant) sands submitted to monotonic undrained (or constant volume) loading. Then, the behaviour of sand under cyclic loading is examined, showing strong analogies with the monotonie case. Two distinct phenomena, which may be initiated under cyclic loading, are described, called cyclic mobility, characteristic of dilatant states and true liquefaction, characteristic of essentially contracting states. These phenomena are controlled by different mechanisms and, for a given sand, either one may be triggered and develop, in function of the initial conditions of the sand. Finally, elements are given on a possible general framework, which could allow to account, in the same state diagram, for the different undrained behaviours which may be observed under monotonie and cyclic loadings.