Evaluating Wick Drain Performance in

Virginia Soils

Susan E. Burns
University of Virginia

Graduate and Undergraduate Research

Assistants
Matthew J. Cline
M.S. Civil Engineering, 2002

J. Matthew Wright
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2001

Prefabricated Vertical Drain Study

Literature Review / Soil Characterization

Damage Testing (complete June 01)
90 Crimp

Lateral Pressure Test (start May 01)

Consolidation (start June 01)

Prefabricated Vertical Drain Cores

PVD Properties
Property

Amerdrain
407

Amerdrain
407F

Amerdrain
607

Amerdrai
n
417

Mebra-Drain
MD-7407
Typar 3407-1

Mebra-Drain
MD-88

Core

Corrugate
d

Corrugate
d

Corrugate
d

Dimple

Corrugated

Fin

2.5

3.9

Grab Tensile
Strength (lbs)

145

65

250

145

130

130

Puncture
Strength (lbs)

50

50

80

50

40

40

Trapezoidal Tear
(lbs)

70

70

100

70

60

56

AOS (US Sieve)

80

>200

70

80

100

120

Core Tensile
Strength (lbs)**

200

200

200

200

180

180

Discharge
Capacity (gpm)***

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.9

Weight (oz/yd2)

*All fabric and cores made from polypropylene

**Amerdrain ASTM D 4632; Mebra-Drain ASTM D 638
*** ASTM D4716

Wick Drains
Used in
Crimp Testing

Vertical Discharge Capacity - Hydraulic

Vertical water flow

Constant head 1 kPa (1.45 psi)
Measure flowrate through wick
Crimp with a 90 bend, measure flowrate
Measure flowrate through empty heat shrink

Flow

Flow

Vertical Discharge PVD Methodology

PVDs encased in heat shrink tubing

Uniformity critical
Insert wick into heat shrink
Clamp into aluminum plates, with spacers
Heat aluminum to shrink tubing

PVD Discharge Capacities (mL/s)

Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

Run 4

Average
Flow
Reduction
(%)

Standard
Deviation

Amerdrain
407

240

249

244

223

27

Amerdrain
407F

260

220

229

240

34

Amerdrain
607

287

290

311

281

20

Amerdrain
417

310

255

247

262

27

Mebra-Drain
MD-7407
Typar 3407-1

371

290

263

316

31

Mebra-Drain
MD-88

447

345

404

451

17

Blank

692

692

457

No flow

No flow

90 Crimp Test Results

60%
HS 1

Flow Reduction (%)

40%

30%

HS 1

Corrugated
Low Strength
Fabric

50%

HS 2

Corrugated

Dimple

HS 3

Corrugated

Corrugated
High Strength
Fabric

Fin

20%

10%

0%
Amerdrain 407 Amerdrain 407- Amerdrain 607 Amerdrain 417
F

MebraDrain
7407

MebraDrain 88

Horizontal Discharge Capacity

Conforms to ASTM D4716

Measure lateral discharge through wick
Compact soils; apply range of stresses
Measure discharge under increasing lateral
stress

Lateral Stress Test

Soil Types

Four soils to be tested:

Woodrow Wilson Bridge
Interbedded sand and clay
West Point
Soft clay with organics
Craney Island
Marine clay
Sandy silt
High shear strength, high permeability

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Soil

Characterization

Craney Island Soil Characterization

Conclusions

Fin & corrugated high strength fabric

performed best in crimp test
Corrugated & dimple core perform similarly
Corrugated low strength fabric had highest
flow reduction
Using same core, fabric strength influenced
flow reduction, with strongest fabric showing
the least reduction