A major aim of the Canadian Liquefaction Experiment (CANLEX) was to verify
analysis procedures for predicting liquefaction phenomena. Towards this pur
pose, two loading events were carried out: a field event comprising a clay
embankment built over a loose sand foundation layer, and a centrifuge test
performed on a model of a sand embankment structure. Both the field event a
nd the centrifuge model were planned so as to induce a static liquefaction
failure and were instrumented to observe their response in terms of displac
ement and pore pressure. The fundamental mechanical characteristics of the
foundation layer were determined from laboratory element tests (triaxial an
d simple shear). These tests formed the basis for the stress-strain modelli
ng used in the numerical analyses. Two fundamentally different modelling te
chniques were used. One involved a fully coupled plasticity model, and the
other involved a model based on a collapse-surface approach. The model and
prototype structures were then analyzed and the predicted results in terms
of displacements and pore pressures were compared with the measured values.
The results from both approaches were found to be in reasonable agreement
with the measurements, provided allowance was made for direction of loading
and drainage effects were accounted for.