Mechanism test on inhomogeneity of dredged fill during vacuum preloading consolidation

Abstract

First, this article presents a simulation experiment of hydraulic reclamation, and then a vacuum preloading (VP) test using the sedimentary soil obtained by the first experiment. In the VP test, the distribution and variation of different physico-mechanical parameters before and after the treatment were tested. According to the test results, the concept “non-Terzaghi soil” is proposed to explain the inhomogeneity and its mechanism rendered by “seepage separation.” And then a staged VP (SVP) drainage consolidation method has been introduced to improve the inhomogeneity and seepage curtain phenomena around prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) during the consolidation. The test results demonstrate that the clogging problem around PVDs has been prevented and the consolidation efficiency has been promoted after the SVP test. It has been noticed that the cumulative drainage volume and the settlement displacement of SVP test were 27% and 24%, respectively, greater than that of VP test, and the soil tends to be more homogeneous. Moreover, it has been shown that the inhomogeneity degree of the permeability coefficient, unit weight, void ratio, water content, cohesion, internal friction angle, compression modulus, and the soil surface settlement in slurry after the SVP test were 3.10, 1.02, 1.03, 1.09, 2.30, 1.92, 1.19, and 1.02, whereas that after VP test was 397.27, 1.07, 1.40, 1.40, 4.74, 3.00, 1.76, and 1.22. Finally, the mechanism of SVP method has been discussed.