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← GeographyWhich mechanism increases liquefaction risk in saturated silty sediment layers upon seismic wave propagation?
A)Dilatancy causing increased shear strength
B)Pore water pressure increase reducing effective stress✓
C)Thixotropy resulting in gel formation
D)Soil desiccation causing volumetric contraction
💡 Explanation
When seismic waves propagate through saturated silty sediments, pore water pressure increases because the soil particles rearrange, reducing effective stress and causing liquefaction. Therefore, reduced effective stress is the key mechanism, not dilatancy, thixotropy or desiccation, which would all stabilize the soil or require other processes.
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