Sacramento AEG Virtual March Meeting: Dr. Ross Boulanger 

Liquefaction: Lessons, challenges, and opportunities

Ross W. Boulanger, PhD, PE, NAE

 Distinguished Professor and Director: Center for Geotechnical Modeling, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis

rwboulanger@ucdavis.edu

Abstract

Liquefaction during earthquakes has been the subject of extensive study for over half a century and is now routinely addressed in engineering practice using a wide range of technical approaches that depend on the project size and importance. These past studies have produced major advances in our scientific understanding of liquefaction phenomena and the engineering practices used to address liquefaction hazards, but there remain numerous situations where knowledge gaps and engineering practice limitations hinder the efficient mitigation of earthquake-induced liquefaction damage to our infrastructure and communities. This presentation examines a number of lessons, challenges, and opportunities regarding the evaluation and mitigation of liquefaction hazards, including aspects of site characterization, engineering analysis methods, challenging soil types, remediation methods, performance-based engineering procedures, and risk management approaches.

Speaker Bio

Professor Ross W. Boulanger is Director of the Center for Geotechnical Modeling in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis. He received his PhD and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and his BASc degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia. His research and professional practice are primarily related to liquefaction and its remediation, seismic performance of dams and levees, and seismic soil-structure interaction. His honors include the TK Hsieh Award from the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Peck Award, Norman Medal, Huber Prize, and Casagrande Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and election to the US National Academy of Engineering.