The 2017 Pohang earthquake [the second largest local magnitude (M-L) of 5.4 since 1978] caused significant damage: numerous sand boils and a few building settlements were observed in rice paddies and residential areas, respectively, representing unprecedented case histories of earthquake-triggered liquefaction and cyclic softening. This study evaluated liquefaction triggering and cyclic softening potentials using three in situ tests [standard penetration test (SPT), cone penetration test (CPT), and downhole (DH) test for shear wave velocity (V-S)] and laboratory tests (grain size and soil indices) for the observed sand boils and building settlements. We selected six sites, four of which had sand boils (Sites 1, 2, 3, and 4), and two of which had experienced building settlements that may have resulted from cyclic softening (Sites 5 and 6). The SPT, CPT, and V-S adequately assessed liquefaction triggering [i.e., factor of safety (FS)2 at all depths. The site-specific cyclic stress ratio through the maximum shear stress ratio computed from site response analysis appropriately evaluated the liquefaction triggering and cyclic softening at the considered sites. The results of the soil index test are consistent with the liquefaction and cyclic softening susceptibility criteria for fine-grained soils. We publicly provide the field and laboratory measurements in this study to enrich case history data on liquefaction and cyclic softening induced by intermediate-size earthquakes (e.g., a moment magnitude, M<6), which might significantly contribute to geotechnical earthquake engineering and engineering geoscience communities

Some soil characteristics, such as the shear wave velocity, the shear modulus, the Poisson ratio, and the porosity, affect how clay soils behave. The soil design parameters under loading, such as soil liquefaction induced by dynamic earthquake loading, employ the shear wave velocity and shear module with modest stress. In order to understand the pore saturation, the Poisson ratio and seismic velocity ratio are also utilized. Additionally, one of the most crucial physical characteristics for assessing permeability at the base of any engineering structure, resolving consolidation issues that may arise at the foundation of an engineering structure, and influencing the deformation behavior of soils is soil porosity. Predicting the porosity of clay soils is a crucial first step in tackling engineering and environmental issues that may arise in the soil after an earthquake or not. With the use of dynamic soil metrics such as seismic velocities, shear modules, bulk modules, seismic velocity ratios, and Poisson ratios, the current work aims to estimate soil porosity. Seismic refraction was used by various studies in the past to conduct in-situ geophysical research. The lithological characteristics of the soil (such as the grain size, shape, type, compaction, consolidation, and cementation of the grains) and the physical characteristics of the soil (such as porosity, permeability, density, anisotropy, saturation level, liquid-solid transition, pressure, and temperature), as well as the elasticity characteristics of the soil (such as shear modulus (G), bulk modulus (K), Young modulus (E), Poisson ratio (mu) and Lame constants (lambda) all have an impact on seismic waves passing through a medium.

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale that occurred in Palu on 28 September 2018 resulted in liquefaction where the soil lost its bearing capacity due to increased pore water pressure. The liquefaction disaster caused great damage to the Gumbasa Irrigation channel, a large part of which is in the alluvial fan area. This study aims to analyze the potential of liquefaction in irrigation canals in the Sidera village area, Sigi Regency. Using SPT (Standard Penetration Test) data from 2 boreholes with a depth of +/- 20 m, MASW data, and Earthquake Risk Map. Researchers analyzed with the Seed Simplified Procedure approach, The researchers analyzed the Simplified Procedure method proposed by Seed, which uses a stress-based approach that uses the ratio of soil shear strength (CRR) and earthquake-induced soil shear stress (CSR). The results of the analysis using Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) of 0.43 and groundwater level variations of -2.85 m (borehole BM 53) and -12.5m (Borehole BM 49) show that liquefaction occurs at depths of 4-8 m (BM 53) and 14-17 m (BM 49). The value of the Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI) increases and indicates a high liquefaction potential below the water table with the highest value of 17.88. The analysis shows that liquefaction is closely related to the shallow water table, soil type, and low N-SPT values. The high liquefaction potential requires prevention methods as a form of treatment.