Minimizing Lateral Displacement of Clayey Deposit under Combined Vacuum and Surcharge Loads

A series of laboratory radial drainage odometer tests was conducted to investigate the deformation behaviour of clayey soils under the combined effect of vacuum pressure and surcharge loading. A parameter, K_w, defined as the ratio of effective horizontal stress on the inner wall of the consolidation ring to the vertical effective stress in the soil sample, is used to determine the tendency of the lateral displacement of the soil sample (i.e., inward or outward). A dimensionless parameter, α, is defined as a function of surcharge loading rate (SLR) and the rate of consolidation of a prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) improved deposits, has been introduced as a control parameter for K_w value which corresponds to the end of surcharge load application. Based on the test results, the α - K_w relationships have been proposed to determine the surcharge loading rate (SLR), with which the lateral displacement of the ground can be minimized.