Seismic resilience evaluation of granular column-supported road embankments on liquefiable soils

In this study, the seismic resilience of granular column-supported road embankments on liquefiable soils is examined to enhance the understanding and seismic design of resilient transportation infrastructure. A nonlinear dynamic analysis of embankments on liquefiable soils is performed, and the results are validated against centrifuge test data. In the assessment, a functional analysis framework encompassing fragility, vulnerability, and restoration functions is employed to evaluate the robustness and recovery of embankments. The resilience of embankments is quantified by the comprehensive life-cycle resilience index (R), which considers various factors, such as the embankment height, the liquefiable soil thickness, and the area replacement ratio (AR) of granular columns. A simplified design method is proposed that involves a model for rapidly assessing the resilience state of embankments under varying seismic intensities. The analysis highlights the essential role of granular columns in mitigating liquefaction-induced damage during seismic events, improving robustness, and recovering post-earthquake functionality, and a practical and reliable tool is developed for assessing embankment resilience across diverse seismic scenarios. •The seismic resilience curves for granular column-supported embankments on liquefiable sites are established.•The effect of embankment height, liquefiable soil thickness, and AR on the resilience of embankments are evaluated.•A simplified design method is proposed for rapidly analysing the resilience state of embankments.