Abstract
In this study, the large scaled model test improved by sand drain was carried out to clarify the internal behavior of the three-dimensional consolidation under different secondary consolidation periods. From the results of model test, the void ratio in the undrained side was lager than in the drained side. In addition, the unconfined compressive strength in the long-term consolidated specimen was larger than that in the short-term consolidated one. It was also found that the unconfined compressive strength was larger in the drained side than in the undrained side. These reasons are considered to be due to the large effective stress by quick pore water pressure dissipation by the short drainage distance in the drained side. Furthermore, in order to investigate the three-dimensional consolidation behavior of clay ground improved by the vertical drain method, the numerical analysis obtained from the three-dimensional elasto-viscous consolidation theory proposed by author (2006) were compared with the test results. It was found that during the three-dimensional consolidation process not only vertical displacement but also radial displacement occurs inside the specimen.