Factors Influencing PVD Performance in Soft Clay Consolidation

Soft clay consolidation is an important aspect to be considered for large construction projects undertaken in or near coastal areas. Pre-fabricated Vertical Drain or PVD has gained considerable importance in accelerating soft clay consolidation for major civil engineering construction projects worldwide, as it is economical with proven efficiency. However, there is still some confusion and uncertainty in selecting the right type of PVD for a particular project as well as the design procedure to be adopted. As a result, specification for PVD in many cases are made without considering many factors which may influence the performance of such drains for a project. This paper considers the PVD design theory and evaluates various parameters which influence PVD performance such as soil, soil disturbance due to installation, PVD materials, etc., and recommends a procedure for PVD design and selection of PVD and installation method for a project.