A Simple Method for Calculating Settlement-Time Curves of PVD-Improved Deposits

详细

A simple method has been proposed for calculating the settlement-time curves of deposits improved by prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs). This method considers the vertical and radial horizontal drainage effects of a surface/bottom layer on the degree of consolidation of the PVD-improved deposit and the time-dependent loading. An approximate method with appropriately subdivided loading steps was developed to evaluate the consolidation of PVD-improved deposits induced by a time-dependent loading; the utility of the proposed method was verified by numerical investigations using finite element analyses. Finally, an experimental analysis of a test embankment was conducted on a PVD improved deposit in China to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed settlement prediction method.