A Novel Analytical Solution for Slurry Consolidation Induced by a Vacuum-Assisted Prefabricated Horizontal Drain
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 12
Abstract
Vacuum preloading via prefabricated horizontal drains (PHDs) is an efficient technique to accelerate the consolidation of dredged soft soils. However, this technique lacks a clear and concise theoretical solution to the PHD vacuum consolidation analysis for slurry. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel analytical solution based on a mathematical logical procedure. The governing equations are first derived based on square PHD consolidation unit cells given the assumption of equal strain, taking into account various drainage conditions at the boundaries and the horizontal and vertical spacings of PHD. A seepage direction coefficient, directly determined through PHD spacing without additional identification, is further introduced into the derived formulation to enhance the solution to be more consistent with the results of free strain consolidation analysis. Then, the proposed analytical solution is validated based on three laboratory and field tests. The proposed solution is successfully applied to estimate the consolidation behavior at a site in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, involving PHD vacuum preloading. All results demonstrate that the proposed analytical solution is applicable for the design and management of PHD vacuum preloading construction projects and practically useful for engineers. Furthermore, the influences of the large strain effect, variable hydraulic conductivity, and variable compressibility on the consolidation analysis are discussed.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
Financial support for this investigation was provided by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2019YFC1806000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51878312), and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government of China (Grant Nos. R5037-18F, 15209119, 15210322, 15231122). This support is gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 12 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 21, 2023
Accepted: Jul 19, 2024
Published online: Sep 30, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Feb 28, 2025
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bodies of water (by type)
- Coasts, oceans, ports, and waterways engineering
- Consolidated soils
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Design (by type)
- Drainage
- Dredged materials
- Dredging
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Irrigation engineering
- Load factors
- Material mechanics
- Materials engineering
- Offsite construction
- Preloading
- River engineering
- Sediment
- Soil mechanics
- Soils (by type)
- Strain
- Structural design
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Waterways
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