INFLUENCE OF GEOMETRICAL SAND DRAINS ON CONSOLIDATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT CLAYS THROUGH RADIAL FLOW

The main object of the present work is to simulate field oriented geometrical shape vertical sand drains to consolidate soft saturated clay mass with radial pore water pressure dissipation under magnitude of constant pressure. Objective is to determine efficacy of shape viz. circular, band, tripod and plus in accelerating rate of settlement keeping same surface area. The optimum diameter and geometry of sand drain is investigated keeping "n" value equal to 11.04 using 254mm size modified hydraulically pressurized Oedometer.Aim was also to study the efficacy of sand as filler material to know the strain compatibility, rate of development & dissipation of pore water for better economy using isochrones. Simultaneously other related consolidation characteristics were also determined using theoretical solutions developed by the authors. The results show a fair agreement between measured and predicted values for all shapes and size of drains. Out of all vertical sand drains the circular drain proved to be most optimum one in respects of consolidation characteristics.