• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.145-155
• /
• 1997

The large scaled field test by prefabricated vertical drains was performed to evaluate the superiority of vertical discharge capacity for drain materials through compare and analyze the time-settlement behavior with drain spacing and the compression index and consolidation coefficient obtained by laboratory experiments and field monitoring system. 1. The relation of measurement settlement($S_m$) versus design settlement($S_t$) and measurement consolidation ratio($U_m$) versus design consolidation ratio($U_t$) were shown $S_m=(1.0{\sim}1.1)S_t$, $U_m=(1.13{\sim}1.17)U_t$ at 1.0m drain spacing and $S_m=(0.7{\sim}0.8)S_t$, $U_m=(0.92{\sim}0.99)U_t$ at l.5m drain spacing, respectively. 2. The relation of field compressing index($C_{cfield}$) and virgin compression index($V_{cclab.}$) was shown $C_{cfield}=(1.0{\sim}1.2)V_{cclab.}$, But it was nearly same value when considered the error with determination method of virgin compression index and prediction method of total settlement. 3. Field consolidation coefficient was larger than laboratory consolidation coefficient, and the consolidation coefficient ratio($C_h/C_v$) were $C_h=(2.4{\sim}3.0)C_v$. $C_h=(3.5{\sim}4.3)C_v$ at 1.0m and 1.5m drain spacing and increased with increasing of drain spacing. 4. The evaluation of vertical discharge capacity with drain spacing from the results of the consolidation coefficient ratio showed largely superior in case the Mebra drain and Amer drain than other drain materials at 1.0m and 1.5m drain spacing, while the values showed nearly same value in case same drain spacing.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.51-61
• /
• 2011

Spatial estimation of the thickness and depth of the geological profile has been regarded as an important procedure for the design of soft ground. A minimum variance criterion, which has often been used in traditional kriging techniques, does not always guarantee the optima1 estimates for the decision-making process in geotechnical engineering. In this study, a geostatistica; framework is used to determine the optimal thickness of the consolidation layer and the optimal area that needs the adoption of prefabricated vertical drains via indicator kriging and loss function. From the exemplary problem, different optimal estimates can be obtained depending on the loss function chosen. The design procedure and method considering the minimum expected loss presented in this paper can be used in the decision-making process for geotechnical engineering design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.129-141
• /
• 2021

The vacuum preloading method has been used in many countries for soil improvement and land reclamation. However, the treatment time is long and the improvement effect is poor for the straight-line vacuum preloading method. To alleviate such problems, a novel combined air booster and straight-line vacuum preloading method for shallow ground treatment is proposed in this study. Two types of traditional vacuum preloading and combined air booster and straight-line vacuum preloading tests were conducted and monitored in the field. In both tests, the depth of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) is 4.5m, the distance between PVDs is 0.8m, and the vacuum preloading time is 60 days. The prominent difference between the two methods is when the preloading time is 45 days, the injection pressure of 250 kPa is adopted for combined air booster and straight-line vacuum preloading test to inject air into the ground. Based on the monitoring data, this paper systematically studied the mechanical parameters, hydraulic conductivity, pore water pressure, settlement and subsoil bearing capacity, as determined by the vane shear strength, to demonstrate that the air-pressurizing system can improve the consolidation. The consolidation time decreased by 15 days, the pore water pressure decreased to 60.49%, and the settlement and vane shear strengths increased by 45.31% and 6.29%, respectively, at the surface. These results demonstrate the validity of the combined air booster and straight-line vacuum preloading method. Compared with the traditional vacuum preloading, the combined air booster and straight-line vacuum preloading method has better reinforcement effect. In addition, an estimation method for evaluating the average degree of consolidation and an empirical formula for evaluating the subsoil bearing capacity are proposed to assist in engineering decision making.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2008

This paper describes the performance of ground improvement project using prefabricated vertical drains of condition, in which approximately 10m dredged fill overlies original soft foundation layer in the coastal area composed of soft marine clay with high water content and high compressibility. From field monitoring results, excessive ground settlement compared with predicted settlement in design stage developed during the following one year. In order to predict the final consolidation behavior, recalculation of consolidation settlements and back analysis using observed settlements were conducted. Field monitoring results of surface settlements were evaluated, and then corrected because large shear deformation occurred by construction events in the early stages of consolidation. To predict the consolidation behavior, material functions and in-situ conditions from laboratory consolidation test were re-analyzed. Using these results, height of additional embankment is estimated to satisfy residual settlement limit and maintain an adequate ground elevation. The recalculated time-settlement curve has been compared with field monitoring results after additional surcharge was applied. It might be used for verification of recalculated results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2009.09a
• /
• pp.133-144
• /
• 2009

Incheon Bridge, 18.4 km long sea-crossing bridge, will be opened to the traffic in October 2009 and this will be the new landmark of the gearing up north-east Asia as well as the largest & longest bridge of Korea. Incheon Bridge is the integrated set of several special featured bridges including a magnificent cable-stayed girder bridge which has a main span of 800 m width to cross the navigation channel in and out of the Port of Incheon. Incheon Bridge is making an epoch of long-span bridge designs thanks to the fully application of the AASHTO LRFD (load & resistance factor design) to both the superstructures and the substructures. A state-of-the-art of the geotechnologies which were applied to the Incheon Bridge construction project is introduced. The most Large-diameter drilled shafts were penetrated into the bedrock to support the colossal superstructures. The bearing capacity and deformational characteristics of the foundations were verified through the world's largest static pile load test. 8 full-scale pilot piles were tested in both offshore site and onshore area prior to the commencement of constructions. Compressible load beyond 30,000 tonf pressed a single 3 m diameter foundation pile by means of bi-directional loading method including the Osterberg cell techniques. Detailed site investigation to characterize the subsurface properties had been carried out. Geotextile tubes, tied sheet pile walls, and trestles were utilized to overcome the very large tidal difference between ebb and flow at the foreshore site. 44 circular-cell type dolphins surround the piers near the navigation channel to protect the bridge against the collision with aberrant vessels. Each dolphin structure consists of the flat sheet piled wall and infilled aggregates to absorb the collision impact. Geo-centrifugal tests were performed to evaluate the behavior of the dolphin in the seabed and to verify the numerical model for the design. Rip-rap embankments on the seabed are expected to prevent the scouring of the foundation. Prefabricated vertical drains, sand compaction piles, deep cement mixings, horizontal natural-fiber drains, and other subsidiary methods were used to improve the soft ground for the site of abutments, toll plazas, and access roads. Light-weight backfill using EPS blocks helps to reduce the earth pressure behind the abutment on the soft ground. Some kinds of reinforced earth like as MSE using geosynthetics were utilized for the ring wall of the abutment. Soil steel bridges made of corrugated steel plates and engineered backfills were constructed for the open-cut tunnel and the culvert. Diverse experiences of advanced designs and constructions from the Incheon Bridge project have been propagated by relevant engineers and it is strongly expected that significant achievements in geotechnical engineering through this project will contribute to the national development of the longspan bridge technologies remarkably.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.27-37
• /
• 2016

Although many studies on the Granular Compaction Pile (GCP) have been done by many researchers, the GCP design has not been systematically done due to the absence of the rational design methodology. As the GCP design has been mostly done by engineers' own experiences, some failure cases have been reported to occur. For this reason, it is very difficult to confirm definite causes of the failure and establish the prevention plans for the failure. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the optimal mixing ratio of gravel and sand, the effects of the internal friction angle of the GCP on the stress concentration ratio and the vertical and horizontal settlements. In order to analyze the behavior of the soft ground reinforced with the GCP depending on the different design parameters such as the stress concentration ratio and the internal friction angle, a number of finite element (FE) analyses were performed. From the direct shear test, the optimal mixing ratio of gravel to sand was found to be 70:30. Based on the numerical analyses, as the internal friction angle increased, the stress concentration ratio increased and it converged to a constant value. In addition, the larger the internal friction angle, the smaller the settlements. Consequently, the use of the optimal mixing ratio of gravel and sand can lead to reducing both the lateral flow and the heaving phenomenon.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.39-47
• /
• 2000

A large scale field test of prefabricated vertical drains is performed to analyze the effect of parameters of the very soft clay at a test site. Compression index and the coefficient of horizontal consolidation obtained by back-analysis from the settlement data were compared with those obtained by means of laboratory tests. The Hyperbolic, Asaoka's and The Curve fitting methods are used to estimate final settlements and coefficients of consolidation. 1. Final settlement predicted with the Hyperbolic method was the largest, and the settlements predicted with the Asaoka's and the Curve fitting methods were nearly the same range, and it was concluded that smear effect has to be considered on design in the case that spacing of drains is small 2. The relationships of the measured consolidation ratio (Urn) and the designed consolidation ratio($U_t$) were showed as $U_m$ = (1.13~1.17)$U_t$, $U_m$ = (1.07~1.20)$U_t$, $U_m$ = (1.13~1.17)$U_t$ on the Hyperbolic, Asaoka's and the Curve fitting methods, respectively. The relations on the Asaoka's and the Curve fitting methods were nearly the same range. 3. The relationships of the field compression index($C_{cfield}$) and virgin compression index($V_{cclab}$) were showed as $C_{cfield}$ = (1.26~1.45)$V_{cclab}$, $C_{cfield}$ = (1.08~1.15) $V_{cclab}$, $C_{cfield}$ = (1.04~1.21)$V_{cclab}$, on the Hyperbolic, Asaoka's and the Curve fitting methods, respectively. 4. The ratio ($C_h/C_v$) of the coefficient of vertical consolidation and the coefficient of horizontal consolidation that is obtained by back-analysis from the settlement data was $C_h$=(0.7~0.9)$C_v$, $C_h$=(0.9~1.5)$C_v$, $C_h$=(2.4~3.0)$C_v$ on the Hyperbolic, Asaoka's and the Curve fitting methods, respectively. 5. It was concluded that the exact consolidation coefficient must be determined after the final settlement is predicted again when the consolidation is finished, because the field consolidation coefficient is decreased as the time allowed to be alone is increased.