ANALYSIS OF DEFORMATION OF DREDGED CLAY AND INTERMEDIATE SOILS UNDER VACUUM PRESSURE

Vacuum-induced consolidation improves soils by reducing voids as the structure of the soil collapses when vacuum pressure is applied to areas of low effective stress. The method increases the effective stress deep within the soil, thus promoting consolidation. The behavior of intermediate soils under vacuum-induced consolidation is not well understood. This behavior is investigated by performing a soil-water coupled analysis of vacuum-induced consolidation using the SYS Cam Clay model, assuming dredged clay and intermediate soils. In this paper, the physical mechanisms of vacuum-induced consolidation are investigated, and the potential for prediction of deformation using finite element analysis is demonstrated. Finally, vacuum-induced consolidation and embankment loading methods are compared.