Relationship between shear wave velocity and liquefaction resistance of coral sand in the South China Sea
WANG Yunlong1, 2, WANG Yide1, 2, 3*, CHEN Longwei1, 2, MA Jiajun1, 2, LIU Huida4, WANG Luan5, ZHANG Wenbin6, YUAN Xiaoming1, 2
(1. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150080, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Disaster Mitigation, Ministry of
Emergency Management, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration, Harbin, Heilongjiang
150080, China; 3. Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Engineering Geology and the Environment, Ocean University
of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China; 4. China Construction Infrastructure Co., Ltd., Beijing 100044, China;
5. China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong 518048, China; 6. Shanghai Municipal
Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China)
Abstract：Coral sand deposits in the islands and reefs of the South China Sea are vulnerable to seismic liquefaction. Shear wave velocity provides a rapid and non-destructive method for assessing liquefaction potential; however, existing criteria, primarily developed for quartz sands, exhibit limited applicability to coral sands. This study aims to establish a specific relationship between shear wave velocity and cyclic resistance ratio for coral sand. A series of cyclic undrained triaxial tests and bender element tests were conducted using a GDS dynamic triaxial system on saturated coral sand from the South China Sea and comparable quartz sand. Systematic measurements of cyclic resistance and shear wave velocity were obtained for both materials, leading to the development of a quantitative model relating shear wave velocity to cyclic resistance for coral sand. The validity and engineering applicability of the proposed model were further validated through a case study of typical liquefaction sites, resulting in an empirical equation for the critical shear wave velocity of coral sand. The results indicate a strong correlation between shear wave velocity and cyclic resistance ratio in coral sand, with coral sand exhibiting significantly higher shear wave velocity than quartz sand at equivalent cyclic resistance ratio levels, thereby confirming their intrinsic mechanical differences. The proposed model effectively characterizes the liquefaction resistance of coral sand under varying seismic intensities and can accurately delineate liquefied layers in case analyses. This research provides a valuable reference for seismic safety assessments and foundation design in coral sand sites, such as islands and ports in the South China Sea.
汪云龙1，2，王义德1，2，3*，陈龙伟1，2，马佳钧1，2，刘荟达4，王 鸾5，张文彬6，袁晓铭1，2. 南海珊瑚砂剪切波速与抗液化强度关系研究[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2026, 45(2): 613-625.
WANG Yunlong1, 2, WANG Yide1, 2, 3*, CHEN Longwei1, 2, MA Jiajun1, 2, LIU Huida4, WANG Luan5, ZHANG Wenbin6, YUAN Xiaoming1, 2. Relationship between shear wave velocity and liquefaction resistance of coral sand in the South China Sea. , 2026, 45(2): 613-625.
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