Mark Gil T. Mara Dr. Gilbert B.

Estores
2020190109 09/25/2020

A Research Critique

On

“A Simple and Sustainable Prediction Method of Liquefaction-Induced Settlement at Pohang Using an

Artificial Neural Network”

Sung-Sik Park, Peter D. Ogunjinmi, Seung-Wook Woo and Dong-Eun Lee

(2020)

Introduction and Review of Related Literature

Since the initiation of modern geotechnical earthquake engineering, most liquefaction related
research has been dedicated primarily to assessment of liquefaction susceptibility and triggering analysis,
while relatively fewer studies have focused on liquefaction-induced settlement. Recently, Pohang was
struck by an earthquake resulting to liquefaction and lateral spreading because of it, studies were made
regarding with post-earthquake damage and paid a little attention on liquefaction-induced displacement.

In this study, the researchers used an artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting the
liquefaction-induced settlement by applying a machine learning algorithm to a standard penetration test
data. Since SPT data is quite common, procedures that were used was not so complicated. This research
is quite interesting because Liquefaction-Induced Settlement is a major cause of damage in earthquakes
yet many are not paying attention regarding this. Furthermore, this research was considered by the
authors because many studies and tools do not directly provide any information regarding expected
liquefaction-induced deformation and researchers goal was to present a tool to predict liquefaction-
induced settlement that may occur when an earthquake occurs in the field using SPT data obtained in the
past. Unfortunately, not much literature has been mentioned about the method of machine learning
approach (ANN) to predict liquefaction-induced settlement. However, the background of using ANN is
really common and easy to understand compared to statistical methods. Also, the researchers showed
that using ANN model is very fitting and suitable in their study.

Problem Description

Since liquefaction-actuated settlement is regularly determined by considering various

boundaries and following a few complex analytical and mathematical methodology. Nonetheless, getting
such boundaries in the field may not be practicable as a rule, as a portion of the necessary information
may not be accessible. Consequently, there is a requirement for an elective basic settlement prediction
procedure that requires a couple of boundaries that are promptly gotten from a field observations
database. This study aims to predict the liquefaction-induced settlement in the field only with the use of
standard penetration test data using ANN model. Using ANN model is not new in this case, in predicting
outcome of non-linear and complex relationships. Also, using ANN model is really a big factor because in
real life, many of the relationships between inputs and outputs are non-linear as well as complex. This
paper clearly stated that a few studies were conducted regarding the settlement or displacement caused
by liquefaction.

Modelling, Results, Analysis and Conclusion

The researchers used a database from the Korea Geotechnical Information DB system and the
UBCSAND constitutive effective stress model. The summary statistics of the data set presented was clear.
There were only two ANN Models that were used and trained. The ANN were trained using a back-
propagation algorithm. After the models were trained, the root mean square error (RSME) and loss were
plotted to check the models’ performance. Also, the result and discussions of the study were clearly
explained because of the tables and illustrations that were presented in comparison. The researchers
clearly explained what is the reason over choosing what input variables to be used. Then, sensitivity
analysis was performed to know the relevance of the input parameters on settlement prediction.
Moreover, the researcher clearly showed that using SPT data can help to make a prediction on settlement
caused by liquefaction.

Finally, the simplified relationship between N1(60)-CSR-Settlement using the optimal ANN mode
showed that liquefaction-induced settlement can be predicted and also the relationship of the said
variables can be a handy tool to predict and obtain liquefaction-induced settlement.

Comment and Suggestion

From what I’ve read, I can say that this research paper is well explained. Through data gathered,
on choosing what variable to put, on explaining what is ANN model and the reason why it was used. Also
the illustrations, tables and computations were well explained. I also like the fact that they applied the
the result on additional boreholes and compared it to existing settlement displacement map.