Estimation of the Apparent Permeability in the Dynamic Centrifuge Tests

Centrifuge model tests have been widely used to validate analytical procedures, with the assumption that variations of parameters from the prototype to the model are governed by the scaling law. However, the coefficient of permeability in dynamic centrifuge tests seems to be much larger than the value calculated from the scaling law. Permeability may significantly affect the rate of pore-pressure buildup in liquefiable soil and associated deformation during earthquake loading. Therefore, proper estimation of the actual coefficient is very important in interpreting experimental data and validating analytical procedures. Based upon the physical law of conservation of mass, this paper presents an approach for backanalysis of the permeability of saturated sand in the dynamic centrifuge test. The ability and necessity of such an approach was demonstrated by comparing the experimental and numerical results.