Embankment

(Preload)

Without Drains

Additional preload

Embankment
(Preload) time (years)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

settlement (mm)
H

With Drains

removal of
preload
Consolidation of compressible Unit 3A, 3B and 4A soils involves the
removal of pore water from the soil. Pore water pressure refers to the
pressure of groundwater held within the gaps (pores) between soil
particles.

Compressible Unit 3A, 3B and 4A soils are also with a low-permeability, Without Drains
and as such the water is not easily squeezed out. Without the use of Wick-
Drain, consolidation settlement in Unit 3A, 3B and 4A can take years, With Drains and without additional preload
because their hydraulic conductivity is extremely low, and this causes the
water to take an exceptionally long time to drain out of the soil. The pore With Drains and additional preload
water has to travel through the soil vertically up, or down, to dissipate and
it can take decades before a new equilibrium between the effective
stress of the soil particles and the pore water pressure is reached.

To facilitate the de-watering process, Wick-Drains are installed into the

soil, providing a conduit for the water flow. The permeability of the soil in
the horizontal direction is often much higher than in the vertical direction.

By installing Wick-Drains the excess pore water will flow horizontally to the
drains and dissipate vertically through the drain. The distance between the
vertical drains will determine the consolidation period.

Therefore, Wick-Drains are provided to accelerate the settlement and thus

reduce the construction period of a project and avoid post-construction
differential settlements.