Performance of Embankment Stabilized with Vertical Drains on Soft Clay
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Volume 120, Issue 2
Abstract
This study describes the performance of a full‐scale embankment raised on a soft marine clay, stabilized with vertical band drains in Malaysia. The finite element code CRISP, which is based on critical‐state soil mechanics, has been employed to investigate the performance of the embankment and the underlying soft clay. Predictions of the excess pore pressures and both vertical and lateral displacements are made and compared with field observations. The limited use of closed‐form solutions for the prediction of settlements at the line of symmetry of the embankment is also discussed. The effectiveness of the prefabricated drains has been evaluated according to the rate of excess‐pore‐pressure dissipation at the soil‐drain interface. The numerical approach is based on a coupled consolidation analysis rather than on a conventional, purely undrained analysis. The numerical analysis reveals that for efficient vertical drains, the influence of smear and well resistance can be ignored. While the assumption of perfect drains may be acceptable in the long term, the short‐term settlements are governed by the drain efficiency.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 2 • February 1994
Pages: 257 - 273
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 15, 1992
Published online: Feb 1, 1994
Published in print: Feb 1994
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