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Finite Element Analysis of Vacuum Consolidation With Modified Compressibility and Permeability Parameters

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International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laboratory tests and case history studies indicate that soil subjected to vacuum preloading may not behave the same as ground treated by traditional surcharge preloading. In detail, soil compression under vacuum pressure is smaller than or equal to that induced by positive pressure with the same magnitude; soil rebound after stopping the vacuum is not as high as after removing the surcharge; and the consolidation rate is usually faster under vacuum pressure than with surcharge preloading. Analysis of vacuum consolidation with existing methods cannot gain all these differences. Thus, in this study, three factors for adjusting compressibility and permeability are proposed based on past laboratory and field results which are used in a finite element analysis of soft soil foundation under vacuum-assisted preloading. This proposed method can be incorporated in existing computer programs associated with classical soil models (e.g., the modified Cam-Clay model and the Soft-Soil model); it is then examined via three distinct simulation scenarios including a laboratory model test and two prototype field cases. The improved accuracy in relation to consolidation by the proposed method is demonstrated and practical ranges for the adjustment factors are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research is sponsored jointly through the 1st author’s Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) fellowship at University of Wollongong, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51308309) and K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University. The authors also appreciate the efforts of Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn at University of Wollongong for his assistance during numerical simulation and language improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, 315211, China

    Yuebao Deng

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, Centre for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong City, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Mojtaba E. Kan, Buddhima Indraratna & Rui Zhong

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  1. Yuebao Deng
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  2. Mojtaba E. Kan
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  3. Buddhima Indraratna
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  4. Rui Zhong
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Correspondence to Yuebao Deng.

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Deng, Y., Kan, M.E., Indraratna, B. et al. Finite Element Analysis of Vacuum Consolidation With Modified Compressibility and Permeability Parameters. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 3, 15 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-017-0092-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-017-0092-8

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