The mechanism of sandblows

Abstract

The formation of sandblows by earthquakes is explained in terms of well-known properties of water-bearing soils. The important parameters of the problem are the porosity, the permeability, the elasticity, and the degree of consolidation of the soil. The important conditions are that the water table be sufficiently near the ground surface and that the readjustment of soil particles by the passage of seismic waves be of sufficient magnitude.