Direct evaluation of effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains in liquefiable sand

Wen Jong Chang, Ellen M. Rathje, Kenneth H. Stokoe, Brady R. Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A dynamic full scale testing program was performed to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains as a liquefaction countermeasure. The testing program involved a new in situ liquefaction testing technique, which uses a large hydraulic vibrator to generate waves propagating through an embedded instrumentation area to measure the coupled soil-pore water response. The effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains is assessed experimentally by comparing the pore pressure generation, pore pressure dissipation, and settlement from two reconstituted soil specimens; one without a drain in place and the other with a single drain installed. Because the prefabricated drain was installed during the specimen preparation process, no accompanying densification during installation occurred. Therefore, the effect of drainage alone was evaluated. The testing results show that the drainage provided by prefabricated drains can significantly reduce pore pressure generation, accelerate post-shaking pore pressure dissipation, and limit associated settlement. The outcome also shows that the new developed in situ liquefaction testing technique can be an alternative to quantitatively evaluate the effects of various liquefaction remediation techniques.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)723-731
Number of pages9
JournalSoil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Volume24
Issue number9-10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004 Oct

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Soil Science

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