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Liquefaction is a hazardous and temporary phenomenon by which water saturated soil loses some or all of its resistance. The undrained conditions linked to the cyclic load increase the pores water pressure inside the soil and consequently reduce effective stress. As a result, the soil can no longer resist or hold the shear forces, and lead to enormous deformations that directly influence the stability of structures and infrastructures foundations. Since 1964, several semi-empirical methods have been invented to evaluate the liquefaction potential using the in-situ test results. This study is based on the correlation between experimental data results of Menard pressuremeter and SPT dynamic penetrometer tests. Samples used in this test come from the Rhiss dam located in the North of Morocco, 24 kilometers as the crow flies from the town of Al Hoceima and south of the foundations of a calcareous ridge. The studied area have high seismic activity and a high percentage of fine soil elements, which suggests the possibility of soil liquefaction. We present and discuss the results of applying Idriss and Boulanger, and Youd et al methods in the evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility.

Liquefaction is a hazardous and temporary phenomenon by which a soil saturated with water loses some or all of its resistance. The undrained conditions and a cyclic load increase the pores water pressure inside the soil and therefore a reduction of the effective stress. Nowadays many semi-empirical methods are used to introduce a proposition to evaluate the liquefaction's potential using the in-situ test results. The objective of this paper is to study their ability to correctly predict the liquefaction potential by modelling our case using finite element methods. The study is based on the data of Cone Penetration Tests experimental results of the Casablanca-Tangier High-Speed Line exactly between PK 116 + 450 and PK 116 + 950 and near of Moulay-Bousselham city. It belongs to the Drader-Soueir basin region which is located in the North-West of Morocco. This region had a specific soil’s formation, the first 50 meters are characterised by the existence of sand layers alternating with layers of clay. These formations are very loose and saturated which suggests the possibility of soil liquefaction. We present and discuss the results of applying the Olsen method [1], the Juang method [2] and the Robertson method [3], in the evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility. Apart from the previous empirical analysis to evaluate the liquefaction potential, numerical modelling is performed in this study.

The earthquakes are abrupt and sudden, and, in few seconds, they can lead to huge casualties. Nowadays, several approaches can be used to better know the seismic movement than we can expect when and where will have an earthquake. These approaches kind, always begins with a full study of the seismic action: the seismic birth, the wave formation and propagation, accelerometers and associated spectrum representation, etc. The northern region in Morocco has an important seismic activity, indeed, this region has been struck during its history by many destructive earthquakes. In this paper, we present and discuss the Mediterranean earthquake, January 25, 2016, saved in ZGH station located in Zeghanghane near of Nador city, Morocco. In this case, we determine the spectral response of the ground motion for ZGH station, and study his influence on the structures as well as make a comparison with the requirements of the Moroccan seismic construction regulations (RPS) 2000 revised in 2011.