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In this episode, we talk with Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, PhD., Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, about the intricate world of gravelly soil liquefaction analysis—an imperative concern in the realm of geotechnical engineering, analyzing its complexities, implications, and potential solutions.
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Adda:
- What led you to pursue both your master’s and PhD in geotechnical engineering?
- What is soil liquefaction, and why is it significant in the context of geotechnical engineering, especially when discussing earthquakes?
- Is liquefaction possible with gravel?
- What are the main challenges encountered in evaluating the likelihood of gravel liquefaction?
- How does the common practice of not testing gravel in the field pose a challenge in geological assessments?
- How does gravel liquefaction pose a specific threat to critical infrastructure?
- How do the rules of laboratory testing, field exploration, and numerical monitoring differ in assessing soil liquefaction risk, and how do these methods collectively contribute to the overall assessment?
- Is there a single method you consider most effective for assessing soil liquefaction, or is it truly a combination of all approaches that provides an accurate assessment of the likelihood of liquefaction?
- What key areas of research or development do you consider critical for geotechnical engineers, particularly in the context of earthquake resilience?
- When working in earthquake-prone regions, what key considerations should engineers and planners bear in mind when addressing soil liquefaction, especially within gravel materials?
- How can engineers learn more about your work and get involved in this aspect of geotechnical engineering?