Performance of Buried High Voltage Power Cables due to Liquefaction

Buried high voltage power cables failed in many locations in the February 22, 2011 M 6.3 Christchurch earthquake, due to liquefaction. The empirical evidence of these failures is presented. The original design of the cables is considered, and what made the cables so vulnerable. Nonlinear analyses of buried cables are presented to see how they "theoretically" should perform due to liquefaction. Full scale tests are conducted for unreinforced and reinforced buried cable duct banks to examine their relative capability to absorb the effects of liquefaction. Recommendations are made for the design of new buried cables in liquefaction zones.