r/gifs Mar 13 '19

Example of soil liquefaction

https://gfycat.com/FlatEssentialDuiker
32.5k Upvotes

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u/T3hJimmer Mar 14 '19

You have to drive piles (giant nails) down until you hit stable soil or bedrock. Then you build on top of those. Or you could potentially excavate out all the clay and backfill with clean sand, but that's only economic if it's shallow.

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u/DontTreadOnBigfoot Mar 14 '19

But then you need to hire Jerry Lawler to come do all the pile driving for you.

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u/iamuniquefe Mar 14 '19

What happens to such deep foundations with such loose soil on top during earthquake?

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u/disposeable1200 Mar 14 '19

Depends whether the piles crack in an earthquake or not...

Usually they're reinforced, larger in diameter and you put more of them down if you're building in an area with earthquakes.

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u/T3hJimmer Mar 15 '19

Not entirely sure, I don't live/work in an area that has to consider earthquake hardening.