It is suggested that undrained steady state (or residual) strength, and associated (critical) confining pressure can be assessed in a straightforward manner from drained triaxial tests with volume change measurements based on a proposed effective stress interpretation of such undrained behavior. If the envisioned procedure can be verified as part of this study, it should be possible for all geotechnical firms with the standard laboratory capability to perform drained triaxial tests on sands (with associated volume change measurements) to accurately assess the residual strength of such liquefying material, which otherwise require sophisticated equipment beyond the capability of the great majority of geotechnical firms.
