A Simplified Analysis of Radial Consolidation of PVD-Installed Soft Soil Considering Sand Seam and Well Resistance

The aim of this study is to develop a simple analytical model for consolidation analysis of the system of clay and thin sand layers, considering the effects of the thickness of the thin sand layers and the well resistance factor simultaneously. The developed model is validated through the field data of land reclamation at the Port of Brisbane. The results indicate that as the quantity of the thin sand layer increases, the consolidation rate of subsoil layers increases due to reduction of drainage paths in the consolidation process. The increase in the thickness of the thin sand layer embedded in a thick deposit reduces the consolidation rate due to an increase in the well resistance factor of the vertical drain. The results obtained from the developed model align well with the field data. The maximum deviation in predicted consolidation degree between the cases with and without consideration of the thin sand layer is approximately 10%.