Stabilization of Potentially Liquefiable Sand Deposits Using Gravel Drains

The installation of a drainage system offers an attractive and economical procedure for stabilizing an otherwise potentially liquefiable sand deposit. Such a procedure has already been used in one case involving the construction of stone columns in a relatively loose sand deposit, and it is being proposed for stabilization of a medium dense sand layer. The paper presents a simplified theory that provides a convenient basis for evaluating the possible effectiveness of a grain drain system in such cases. Where appropriate, additional analyses may readily be made using a computer program (LARF) based on the theory presented, but for most practical cases, it is believed that the charts presented in the paper will provide for effective stabilization of potentially liquefiable sand deposits.