STATISTICAL SITE CHARACTERIZATION.

The estimation of the in situ site parameters in any geomechanical problem influences the predictability of the model. When the parameters are estimated from the data from a few poorly sampled, widely spaced and often poorly logged borings, this adds another dimension to the problem. Soil deposits are inherently nonhomogeneous. The small-scale properties of this complex material need to be modelled accurately. Methods are discussed here to model the three dimensional characteristics of a soil deposit statistically. A statistical site characterization model could complement the solution techniques for a complex geomechanical problem. Discussions are made here on how this method can be used in a liquefaction problem. The estimation of site-related parameters deserves more attention than it usually receives. (Author/TRRL)