Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), NHERI 2023: Direct Push Crosshole Testing: Assessment of Post-liquefaction Soil Saturation and Stiffness in Kawaihae Harbor, Hawaii

The project's main focus is on studying soil conditions, particularly saturation and stiffness, to evaluate the possibility of soil liquefaction recurring after the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake, using the direct push crosshole test (DCPH). The data produced by the project holds potential for various uses, including comparative analysis with other datasets related to soil liquefaction in Kawaihae Harbor, Hawaii and foundational reference for any future changes in liquefaction mitigation standards or guidelines. The project's uniqueness lies in its innovative combination of the DCPH technique and the NHERI Largescale Mobile Shakers’ T-Rex for data collection, offering a fresh approach to understanding soil behavior. Notably, this approach is applied to gather shear wave data on calcareous soils in Kawaihae. While the project's primary audience is those interested in the geotechnical field and earthquake studies, its insights also cater to a broader audience interested in soil behavior and seismic events.