Effect of Liquefaction on shallow foundations during 2001 Bhuj earthquake at Kutch (Gujarat), India

Abstract

Liquefaction, the temporary loss of strength in saturated sand causing it to behave like a liquid, leads to devastating consequences, including the settling, tilting, or collapsing of structures built on loose, saturated soil. The 2001 Bhuj earthquake witnessed extensive liquefaction in regions such as the Great Rann of Kutch, Banni Plains, Kandla, and Gulf of Kutch, resulting in substantial damage to various infrastructures, including bridges, docks, buildings, embankments, and dams. This study employs a finite element approach to analyse the behaviour of shallow foundations on liquefying subsoil in Kutch during the 2021 earthquake. The investigation focuses on ring footings with inner radii of 0.25 m, 0.5 m, and 0.75 m, as well as an outer radius of 1 m, alongside a circular foundation with a 1 m radius. Notably, the ring footing with a radius ratio of 0.5 exhibits the least settlement under static loads, underscoring that liquefaction-induced settlement for ring footings is significantly less than that for circular footings.