• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.41-48
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• 2005

The gravitational consolidation behavior of the dredged ground with horizontal drains is analyzed using a finite difference program developed for self-weight consolidation analysis with horizontal drains. The influence of area and direction of horizontal drains on the consolidation time and settlement is analyzed. Various field conditions such as the non-treated ground below horizontal drain installed ground, the accumulation of drained water at the end of horizontal drains, are also included in the analyses. It was found that a slight decrease of consolidation time is resulted in the twice increase of the sectional area of drains. Installing drains vertically can reduce the consolidation time more significantly than installing drains horizontally. The analyses showed quantitatively that the non-treated ground below the horizontal drain installed ground has much influence on long term consolidation settlement, and the accumulation of hydraulic head at the end of horizontal drains results in the increase of consolidation time and insufficient consolidation.