This paper describes a probabilistic method for assessing the liquefaction
potential of sandy soils. The proposed probabilistic method is formulated b
ased on the results of reliability analyses of 225 field records, observati
ons of soil performance against liquefaction. The results of the present st
udy show that a meaningful mapping between notional probability and an actu
al relative frequency measure of the occurrence of liquefaction can be obta
ined with the proposed method. Twenty case records from the 1989 Loma Priet
a earthquake are further analyzed to demonstrate the proposed reliability-b
ased method. The developed method has the potential of becoming a practical
tool for engineers involved in the assessment of liquefaction potential.