As an example of Liquification

[Finn]

As demonstrated in Subjugation, an effort done by Mother Nature...

http://twitpic.com/5aun6n

Occurring due to the earthquake in Christchurch at the moment...

[Lochar]

Wow. Just wow.

[Fiferguy]

That looks more like wet concrete or sand to me, not liquification of concrete. The windows in the background are still in one piece (not shattered), so there couldn't have been that much shaking...

[Fel]

It's not solely the magnitude of shaking that can induce liquefaction into a substance, it's also the frequency of the seismic waves. Taking both magnitude and the frequency of the seismic waves, they can induce liquefaction.

Sand especially is notorious for entering a liquid-like state with even low frequency vibrations.

[Hearly]

It's not solely the magnitude of shaking that can induce liquefaction into a substance, it's also the frequency of the seismic waves. Taking both magnitude and the frequency of the seismic waves, they can induce liquefaction.

Sand especially is notorious for entering a liquid-like state with even low frequency vibrations.

you gotta wonder how hard it is to build something to do low level frequencies and why we've never really heard of anyone trying it...

[ANTIcarrot]

you gotta wonder how hard it is to build something to do low level frequencies and why we've never really heard of anyone trying it...

"Not so hard" and "Because it only works on wet sand". If you google Brianic or Science Abuse on youtube you might find the machine they built. Or if your local university has a geology department, they might have a desktop model. Or you can build on yourself without too much trouble. Cut the top of a drinks bottle, fill with wet sand and put a heavy weight on top. Then duct tape it to a car engine and turn it on.

Solid material only behaves like a liquid when you change it's temperature. (Though on a microscopic scale protines can break this rule via catalyzation - but that's another topic.) Wet sand is a 'sol' a loose composite material, and that makes the difference. Consider the alternative: What makes you think that vibrations strong enough to break electron and covalance bonding between atoms (in tarmac for example) would be stopped by your shoes, and wouldn't affect you as well!