Numerical Modeling of Mumbai Marine Clay Improved with Prefabricated Vertical Drain

This study presents a numerical modeling of marine clay improved by prefabricated vertical drains (PVD). PVDs have been installed at 1.2 m c/c in triangular pattern to 12 m depth. The height of preloading is 4.3 m. Hardening soil model has been employed to simulate the behavior of the soft marine clay in the PLAXIS 2D. The inputs of this constitutive model have been derived from well-established laboratory tests and co-relations based on natural moisture content. Smear zone two times the equivalent diameter of the PVD has been considered. The numerical model is calibrated with field settlements through modification of only the vertical permeability. The predicted settlement agreed well with the measured one. But the excess pore pressure and lateral displacements predicted show some differences. The contributing factors for these discrepancies have been discussed. This study reveals that the natural moisture content is a reliable parameter for assessing the soft soil behavior.