Experimental characterization of storm liquefaction deposits sequences

The collapse depressions in waters of the Yellow River delta are the result of silty sediment liquefaction produced by storm waves. The internal characteristics and formation process of the strata in collapse depressions were studied with consideration of re-stratification caused by sediment liquefaction in coastal areas. In wave flume experiments, silty sediment collected from the Yellow River Delta was shaped into a model seabed. The original uniform sediment stratum was re-stratified and formed into a new structure characteristic of liquefied sediments fluctuating with wave movement. Wave action appears to cause silty sediment liquefaction. Liquefied sediment moved elliptically with wave action, leading to granularity-based deposit differentiation in situ to re-form sedimentary strata. This is probably the cause of collapse depressions in the Yellow River delta. Based on these results and comparison with the stratum under the collapse depressions in the Yellow River delta, we propose that liquefaction deposits are responsible for the bottom to top sequence of graded bedding, convolute bedding, and parallel bedding.