EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON OPTIMUM INSTALLATION DEPTH OF PVD UNDER VACUUM CONSOLIDATION

摘要

Laboratory model tests were conducted to investigate the influence of prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) installation depth on the effect of vacuum consolidation under two-way drainage condition. To get detailed information on vacuum pressure distribution in the model ground, the model tests were simulated by finite element analysis (FEA). Both the model test and FEA results show that there is an optimum PVD installation depth at which the vacuum pressure induced settlement is the maximum. Chai et al. (2006) proposed an equation to calculate the optimum PVD installation depth. Comparison between the model test results and the calculated value by Chai et al. 's equation indicates that the equation is useful for design vacuum consolidation involving PVD improvement under two-way drainage condition.