Vacuum dewatering and horizontal drainage blankets: a method for layered soil reclamation

This paper reports a study of vacuum dewatering using horizontal geosynthetic drainage blankets as a more economical and effective method of reclamation using layers of dredged material. Laboratory tests were carried out on samples from two different sites in eastern China, Qingdao City and Lianyungang City. The study showed that the method is feasible and results in a significant time saving as the construction of the dyke, dredging of the fill and consolidation can be done in a successive process. Using geosynthetics as the drainage material allows vacuum dewatering in areas where sand is lacking. The strength and stability of the muck is also enhanced by the placement of horizontal geosynthetic drainage blankets.