Consolidation theory of homogeneous multilayer treatment by air-boosted vacuum preloading

Air-boosted vacuum preloading, composed of anticlogging vertical drains and an outer booster system, is a new foundation treatment method that is beneficial to accelerating soil consolidation by applying different pressures between soil and vertical drains. Based on the assumption of equal strain, the present paper has simplified the calculation model of the air-boosted vacuum preloading method. Combined with the Newman-Carroll equation, the analytical solution for the consolidation of the double-layer soil foundation is proposed using separation of variables. Moreover, the theoretical solutions of consolidation without well resistance and ideal wells were given, and a chart convenient for engineering practice was acquired. Results show that the setting of well diameter ratio should not be more than 10 in engineering practice. At present, the consolidation theory of air-boosted vacuum preloading is imperfect and only focuses on the reinforcement mechanism of single-layer foundation. Therefore, it is of great significance to perfect the consolidation theory of air-boosted vacuum preloading with multiple layers.