Which of the following is a common material property adversely affected by liquefaction?

Liquefaction significantly affects the shear strength of soil, which is critical in determining how the soil will behave under load, especially during seismic activity. When liquefaction occurs, saturated soils lose their strength and stiffness due to the buildup of pore water pressure. This phenomenon transforms the soil from a solid to a more fluid state, drastically diminishing its ability to support structures.

In such conditions, the soil's ability to resist any shear stresses is compromised, leading to potential failure in retaining walls, foundations, and other structural elements. The loss of shear strength can result in lateral spreading, excessive settlement, or even total collapse of infrastructure.

Other properties mentioned, such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and bending strength, do not directly reflect the immediate effects of liquefaction, as they pertain more to materials like concrete and steel rather than soil behavior during seismic events. Therefore, the most relevant property affected by liquefaction is indeed shear strength.