Discharge Capacity of Prefabricated Vertical Drain Confined In-Clay Under Long-Term Conditions

Abstract

Typically, soft clay improvement is carried out using installation of PVD and surcharge method. According to circumstances, installed PVD has left for a long time due to the change in construction schedule. Therefore, for simulation of this kind of condition, discharge capacity tests were carried out under a series of temperature condition (30, 35, 40°C). The results indicated that under water confinement, the discharge capacities significantly reduced with elapsed time. And, the empirical equation by Miura and Chai (2000) was used for estimating the long-term in-clay discharge capacity. Based on the test results, it is recommended that in term of long-term discharge capacity, Miura and Chai’s equation and reliability evaluation using discharge capacity tests under a series of temperature condition may be used.