Assessing liquefaction potential in Dhaka: a case study of some reclaimed lands using LPI and Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the largest cities in the world. It is rapidly growing, and new housing areas are being developed by filling water bodies and flood-prone lowlands. Additionally, the city is in a highly vulnerable seismic hazard area in South Asia. Accessing liquefaction potential analysis in Dhaka has become an important task for the geotechnical engineering community, as most studies have relied on SPT (Standard Penetration Test) data in the LPI (Liquefaction Potential Index) method. A gap remains in probabilistic assessments that incorporate uncertainty, such as the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), which can provide more precise and reliable risk evaluations and validation of the LPI method. This study assesses liquefaction potential in some reclaimed areas of Dhaka using the LPI, which is based on SPT data from 534 boreholes in 140 projects, and the MCS, yielding similar findings for both methods. In many areas, the shallow depths exhibited very high liquefaction susceptibility, with some locations showing even higher susceptibility within the first 15 to 20 m.

Keywords

Standard penetration test / Liquefaction potential index / Monte Carlo simulation

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