Abstract
The characteristics of vacuum consolidation are discussed first. Then, the effect of geosynthetics drains (GDs) installation depth and middle sand layer under vacuum consolidation are investigated. For two-way drainage ground condition, an equation for calculating the optimum GD installation depth has been derived. In case there is a middle sand layer within a clayey deposit, to prevent the leakage of vacuum pressure from the sand layer, one of the methods is to put air-tighten seals on the GD passing the sand layer. An equation for determining the penetration length of the seal into the adjacent clayey layers has been provided also. Finally, two-dimensional (2D) finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of GD installation depth and the middle sand layer.
