Seismic resilience evaluation of granular column-supported road embankments on liquefiable soils

In this study, the seismic resilience of granular column-supported road embankments on liquefiable soils is examined to enhance the understanding and seismic design of resilient transportation infrastructure. A nonlinear dynamic analysis of embankments on liquefiable soils is performed, and the results are validated against centrifuge test data. In the assessment, a functional analysis framework encompassing fragility, vulnerability, and restoration functions is employed to evaluate the robustness and recovery of embankments. The resilience of embankments is quantified by the comprehensive life-cycle resilience index (R), which considers various factors, such as the embankment height, the liquefiable soil thickness, and the area replacement ratio (AR) of granular columns. A simplified design method is proposed that involves a model for rapidly assessing the resilience state of embankments under varying seismic intensities. The analysis highlights the essential role of granular columns in mitigating liquefaction-induced damage during seismic events, improving robustness, and recovering post-earthquake functionality, and a practical and reliable tool is developed for assessing embankment resilience across diverse seismic scenarios.