Analytical solutions and design curves for vacuum-assisted consolidation with both vertical and horizontal drainage

A system of vertical drains combined with vacuum preloading is an effective method for promoting radial flow to accelerate soil consolidation. This study presents the analytical modeling of a consolidation of vertical drains incorporating vacuum preloading considering both vertical and horizontal drainage. The effects of a number of dimensionless parameters involving the drain length, soil permeability and vacuum pressure are examined through average excess pore pressure, degree of consolidation, associated settlement and time factor analyses. An analysis of selected case histories compliments the use of the proposed solutions. Design charts are also presented for practical use.