3D Modelling of Standard Penetration Test in the Framework of Assessing Liquefaction Risk

This article presents an application of geostatistics at the geotechnical study phases, prior to construction on a nuclear site. The site under investigation is on dense tertiary sands where the shallow depth layers may include some loose lenses from the point of view of geotechnics. Therefore, it is decided to estimate the potentially liquefiable soil volumes to remove and substitute before constructing the nuclear power plant. The liquefaction is studied by combining several geotechnical parameters. One of such parameters is the Standard Penetration Test (SPT). In this study, a 3D block model of SPT is constructed using ordinary kriging method of interpolation, and the probability of SPT exceeding a threshold of 15 counts (simplified no-liquefaction criterion) is evaluated using Turning Bands Simulation (TBS). Accepting the risk of 30%, the results are mapped and visualized for the elevation of −10 m AOD, which is the base of the general excavation.