Liquefaction Potential of Ash Pond Using SPT

Abstract

In India, thermal power plants produce a considerable amount of ash annually, and out of which, a small proportion is used in industries such as cement, concrete, etc. A significant portion of the produced ash is deposited into onsite storage ponds forming ash ponds, which ultimately leads to the wastage of vast areas. This ash pond occupied land can be wisely utilized for constructing lightweight structures, parking lots, etc., by proper reclamation methods. In seismically active regions, a detailed analysis of such ash ponds is required to ensure the safety of any proposed construction. This paper deals with the assessment of liquefaction potential of a hydraulically deposited ash pond in Delhi region, namely Badarpur ash pond which is fed by deposited ash from Badarpur Thermal Power Station. Standard penetration tests have been conducted in the ash pond and observed low SPT N values indicating the high susceptibility of ash pond to liquefaction. The seismic demand on the ash pond has been determined under an earthquake magnitude of 7.0 with a peak ground acceleration 0.21 g. The result clearly points toward the low liquefaction resistance of ash pond.