Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), NHERI 2023: Assessing Liquefaction Potential in Kawaihae Harbor Using CPT

After the occurrences of two earthquakes at Kawaihae Harbor in Hawaii, a review of methods used to calculate the probability of liquefaction based on earthquake severity was made, with an emphasis on the Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT) cone resistance, sleeve friction, and pore pressure. This paper analyzes the site layering at Kawaihae Harbor following the 2006 earthquake through CPT testing, and whether CPT can serve as a deterministic and simplified method for predicting liquefaction in calcareous deposits making it unique as all current CPT methods test liquefaction prediction against silica sands. This research is aimed to help geotechnical engineers assessing and learning about different methods to assess liquefaction potential in various sand types.