Assessment of Soil Liquefaction Resistance Using the Standard Penetration Test: A Case Study in Ha Tinh City, Vietnam

This study aimed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of soils in Ha Tinh City, Vietnam, located near the seismically active Rao Nay fault zone, a region susceptible to ground motion due to earthquake activity. To conduct the analysis, 10 soil profiles were examined, and the standard penetration test-based method was applied to assess the soils under varying seismic conditions. The findings reveal that the soil in Ha Tinh City demonstrates a high degree of stability under low levels of ground acceleration (0.15 g), indicating minimal liquefaction risk in these conditions. However, localized liquefaction was observed in specific areas when ground acceleration reaches moderate levels (0.30 g), particularly in soils with loose to medium density. Furthermore, at higher levels of ground acceleration (0.45 g), widespread liquefaction becomes a significant concern, posing a potential risk to the integrity of infrastructure. Despite these findings, the study concludes that the overall probability of ground failure due to liquefaction remains low in the region. Nevertheless, these results highlight the importance of incorporating comprehensive liquefaction risk assessments into the seismic design and construction standards for buildings and infrastructure in Ha Tinh City, ensuring their long-term safety and resilience against seismic events.