GROUND IMPROVEMENT USING SPECIAL WELL POINT METHOD

Abstract

Ground improvement methods are used to treat soft ground of poor engineering characteristics into good ground suitable for urban development. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Special Well Point (SWP)” method, a ground improvement method utilising vacuum drainage. The evaluation involves comparison of results obtained from the SWP model with that achieved by the conventional vacuum consolidation (VC) model. The study consists of 1g laboratory-scale model tests and 20g centrifuge model tests conducted with the SWP and VC method. Kaolin Clay and clayey-silt material were use in the study. This study will present findings on the effectiveness of using the SWP method to treat soft clayey ground from the 1g laboratory-scale model tests and 20g centrifuge model tests conducted. Encouraging results were obtained and it was evident that the SWP method is effective, and can be extended as a ground improvement method to treat soft clayey grounds.