Vacuum-drain consolidation induced pressure distribution and ground deformation

The method of using a surface or subsurface soil layer as an air-sealing layer to carry out vacuum consolidation is referred to as the vacuum-drain method. A method of determining the vacuum-drain consolidation induced vacuum pressure distribution in the ground has been proposed based on unit cell finite element analysis results. With the calculated vacuum pressure distribution, a method for calculating the settlement–time curve and the lateral displacement profile at the edge of the vacuum consolidation area has been established. Finally, the proposed methods were applied to a project using the vacuum-drain method at Tokyo Bay in Japan. Comparing the calculated results with the measured field values indicates that the methods can be a useful tool for designing vacuum consolidation project.