Linearized Liquefaction Process by Kalman Filter

Abstract

Sand liquefaction is a very important problem during earthquake excitation. This paper details the development of equivalent linearization theory for sand, based on both the extended Kalman filter and the weighted global iteration method, and shows how this theory can be used to analyze liquefaction. The equivalent linearization model presented in this paper is very simple and numerically efficient. This numerical model for liquefaction allows direct determination of progressive pore‐water pressures. The model requires a relatively small number of parameters in comparison to an effective stress model by Finn et al. (13). The pattern of progressive pore‐water pressure based on the equivalent linearization law agrees reasonably well with Finn's model based on effective stress analysis for the dynamic response of saturated sand. However, the equivalent linearization law is computationally less efficient and a simple tool for evaluating progressive pore‐water pressure during earthquake motions.