Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential in Erzurum Aziziye District

The aim of this study is to evaluate the liquefaction potential of Aziziye District inErzurum Province and to determine the seismic safety of the region in terms of soilproperties. In this context, the liquefaction potential of the study area was calculated usingthe methods proposed by Iwasaki et al. (1982) and Sönmez and Gökçeoğlu (2005). Aspart of the field studies, boreholes were drilled at designated points and StandardPenetration Test (SPT) was applied. In addition, disturbed and undisturbed soil samplestaken from the research pits were subjected to consistency limits, natural and saturatedunit weight, sieve analysis, and hydrometer tests in the laboratory. Using all the dataobtained from the field and laboratory tests, liquefaction potential analyses wereperformed according to the criteria of Iwasaki et al. (1982) and Sönmez and Gökçeoğlu(2005). The liquefaction potential for Erzurum province was evaluated using theLiquefaction Potential Index (LPI) and Liquefaction Severity Index (LSI) methods, anda liquefaction potential map was prepared in a GIS environment according to differentearthquake scenarios. As a result of the evaluation of the data obtained within the scopeof the study; it was determined that the average SPT-N value was 25.36, the natural unitweight was 16.20 kN/m³, and the saturated unit weight was 17.45 kN/m³. Furthermore,the plasticity index was determined to be 13.8%, the clay content 11.12%, and the finegrain ratio 32.34%. In the liquefaction analyses performed using these soil properties, theliquefaction potential at different points of the study area was calculated according to themethods of Iwasaki et al. (1982) and Sönmez and Gökçeoğlu (2005). The liquefactionpotential for Erzurum province was evaluated, and maps were prepared according todifferent earthquake scenarios. According to the results obtained from field andlaboratory studies, it has been determined that the probability of liquefaction occurring ishigh at the SK-1, SK-4 and SK-7 borehole locations in the study area, while theliquefaction potential is at a very low level at the SK-2, SK-3, SK-5 and SK-6 locations.