Study on the effectiveness of horizontal drain method

The horizontal drain method has been proposed by the authors as one of the soil improvement methods in reclamation works using dredged clays. In this method the clays which are dredged from the seabed and transported to a reclamation pond are quickly consolidated using the downward seepage force created by pumping water up from horizontal drains. The effectiveness of the horizontal drain method was confirmed by the consolidation tests using the seepage force. The design procedures including the selection of the appropriate arrangement of horizontal drains were discussed based on the results of the numerical simulation solving Mikasa's consolidation equation.