Performance prediction of prefabricated vertical drain in soft soil using finite element method

Abstract

Prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) had successfully been applied in many soft ground construction projects. Finite element method (FEM) could assist designers to model very complex subsoil and structural elements. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to verify the effectiveness of modelling of PVD in subsoil using computer software, Plaxis V8. The field settlement data were collected at two particular locations and were analysed using Asaoka’s method to estimate the ultimate settlement and backcalculated the coefficient of horizontal consolidation for these two particular location. Thereafter, by using back-calculated coefficient of horizontal consolidation, FEA were performed to predict the time rate settlement and compared against field settlement results. From the time rate settlement curves generated by FEM, the ultimate settlements were predicted using Asaoka’s method. The ultimate settlement predicted from FEM is slightly lower compared to actual field settlement monitoring result, but the degree of consolidation settlement achieved were higher.