Consolidation Analysis for Soft Clay Reinforced by a Granular Column with Non-Darcian Flow

Abstract

The relationship between flow speed and pore pressure gradient does not follow the classical Darcy’s law for seepage within high-permeability and low-permeability media. Thus, considering the non-Darcian flow described by exponential relation in soft clay and Forchheimer equation in granular column, the governing equation for the axisymmetric model of composite ground is established. A finite-difference scheme with central and phantom nodes is used to obtain the numerical solution. Then, the effects of two kinds of non-Darcian flow and geometrical parameters on the consolidation behaviors are drawn from the parametric study. The consolidation rate of surrounding soil by considering the exponential flow is less than that of Darcian flow in the same case. The consolidation rate of the granular column calculated by the Forchheimer equation is less than that of Darcian flow. Moreover, increasing the area replacement ratio is recommended to reduce these effects of non-Darcian flow.