Centrifuge study on the effect of the SCP improvement geometry on the mitigation of liquefaction-induced embankment settlement

Abstract Liquefaction of foundation soil causes significant damage to infrastructures. The sand compaction pile (SCP) method is a countermeasure against liquefaction to densify the ground by installing dense sand piles. In recent years, an innovative method has been developed to install sand piles into the ground at any angle. In this study, a series of dynamic centrifuge tests are carried out to investigate the effects of the angle of the SCP improvement zone on mitigating the liquefaction-induced settlement of embankment crests. The lateral displacement beneath the embankment toes is mitigated by the presence of the improvement zone installed in the foundation ground. In particular, the case with a 50° improvement zone is the most effective in mitigating lateral displacement and contributes to the lower settlement of the embankment.