Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ground deformation induced by vacuum loading–unloading

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The deformation of soft ground due to vacuum preloading can usually be predicted using a method similar to that used for surcharge preloading. However, the accuracy of this practice is questionable. This paper proposes a method for predicting the ground settlement curve and lateral displacement profile induced by vacuum preloading, and analyzes two well-documented field cases from china. In the newly developed method, the settlement–time curve is based on a one-dimensional deformation analysis using compression index (C c) and swelling index (C s) of the subsoil, with the lateral displacement being determined using a modification of an existing method. It is demonstrated that the predictions agree reasonably well with the measurements taken in the field, which suggests that the presented method can be used to predict the deformation of the ground as induced by vacuum preloading.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carrillo N (1942) Simple two and three dimensional cases in the theory of consolidation of soils. J Math Phys 21(1):1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai JC, Carter JP (2011) Deformation analysis in soft ground improvement. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chai JC, Miura N (1999) Investigation on some factors affecting vertical drain behavior. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 125(3):216–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai JC, Miura N (2002) Long-term transmissivity of geotextile confined in clay. Proc. 7th Int Conf Geosynth, Nice, France, Balkema Publishers 1:155–158

  • Chai JC, Carter JP, Hayahsi S (2005) Ground deformation induced by vacuum consolidation. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 131(12):1552–1561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai JC, Miura N, Bergado DT (2008) Preloading clayey deposit by vacuum pressure with cap-drain: analyses versus performance. Geotext Geomembr 26(3):220–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai JC, Ong CY, Bergado DT, Carter JP (2013) Lateral displacement under combined vacuum pressure and embankment loading. Géotechnique 63(10):842–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu J, Yan SW, Yang H (2000) Soil improvement by the vacuum preloading method for an oil storage station. Géotechnique 50(6):625–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansbo S (1981) Consolidation of fine-grained soils by prefabricated drains. Proc 10th Int Conf Soil Mech Found Eng Stockh 3:677–682

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoque E, Tatsuoka F (2004) Effects of stress ratio on small-strain stiffness during triaxial shearing. Géotechnique 54(7):429–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imai G (2005) For the further development of “vacuum-induced consolidation method”: present understandings of its principle and their applications. Proc Jpn Soc Civ Eng, 798/VI-68 1-16 (in Japanese)

  • Indraratna B, Rujikiatkamjorn C, Kelly R, Buys H (2009) Soft soil foundation improved by vacuum and surcharge preloading at Ballina bypass, Australia. Proc Int Symp Ground Improv Technol Case Hist (ISGI09), Singapore 95–105

  • Kjellman W (1952) Consolidation of clay soil by means of atmospheric pressure. Proc Conf Soil Stab, Massachusetts Institute Technology, Boston 258–263

  • Liu X (1996) Application and experience of vacuum preloading method. Proc Int Workshop Technol Transf Vac-Induc Consol 47–69

  • Lou Y (2002) The vacuum preloading technology of soft foundation treatment. China Communications Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesri G, Khan AQ (2012) Ground improvement using vacuum loading together with vertical drains. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 138(6):680–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamedelhassan E, Shang JQ (2002) Vacuum and surcharge combined one-dimensional consolidation of clay soils. Can Geotech J 39(5):1126–1138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ong CY, Chai JC, Hino T (2012) Degree of consolidation of clayey deposit with partially penetrating vertical drains. Geotext Geomembr 34:19–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saowapakpiboon J, Bergado DT, Youwai S, Chai JC, Wanthong P, Voottipruex P (2010) Measured and predicted performance of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) with and without vacuum preloading. Geotext Geomembr 28(1):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang M, Shang JQ (2000) Vacuum preloading consolidation of Yaoqiang airport runway. Géotechnique 50(6):613–623

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work presented in this paper is part of a large research project entitled “Effect of vacuum loading scheme on the consolidation behavior of liquidity mud” granted by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200072, China

    Yajun Wu, Mei Yuan & Dean Sun

  2. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Saga University, Saga, 840-0027, Japan

    Fang Xu

Authors
  1. Yajun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mei Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dean Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yajun Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, Y., Xu, F., Yuan, M. et al. Ground deformation induced by vacuum loading–unloading. Environ Earth Sci 75, 218 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4915-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4915-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation