Analysis of Soil Improvement Through PVD and Vacuum Preloading with Several Equivalent Permeability Methods

Abstract

Vacuum preloading combined with prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) is one of the common soft soil improvement methods. Soft soils often pose significant problems in construction projects due to their low shear strength and high compressibility, leading to settlement issues and potential structural instability. The PVD combined with vacuum preloading method addresses these problems by accelerating the consolidation process and minimizing settlement during service period. The acceleration occurs due to the presence of PVD, allowing dissipation of excess pore water in horizontal direction towards the PVD. Thereafter, the water in the PVD is drained to the surface. When modelled in 2D, PVD behaves as a continuous drain in the plane strain direction, causing the flow conditions to deviate from the actual conditions. To address this issue, equivalent soil permeability values is required, allowing the 2D model to produce results closely resembling the actual conditions. This research explores the improvement of PVD vacuum preloading through three equivalent permeability approaches. Utilizing field monitoring data, which includes settlement measurements from settlement plates, changes in pore water pressure recorded by piezometers, and lateral deformation data captured by inclinometers, the study evaluates the effectiveness of these approaches. Comparative analyses with field monitoring data reveal that Indraratna equivalent permeability method has the best fit. The integration of PVD and vacuum preloading, coupled with the refinement of equivalent permeability methodologies, offers a promising solution for addressing soft soil problems in geotechnical engineering. This research contributes to the practical application of these methods in construction projects, emphasizing their potential to enhance soil stabilization and reduce settlement-related risks.