A Reassessment of Barron’s Classic Sand-Drain Theory Using a Coupled Hydraulic-Mechanical FEM Analysis

In this paper, the findings presented by Barron (1948) have been corroborated by way of a hydraulic-mechanical coupled finite element analysis. Specifically, the FEM analysis was conducted using a poroelasticity approach in combination with a transient formulation that incorporates Darcy’s law. This study highlights the fact that variations in pore pressure dissipation between the coupled FEM analysis of this study and Barron’s theoretical analysis are minimal. The coupled FEM simulations confirm Barron’s conclusions that, as the well diameter ratio (n) increases, the rate of pore water pressure dissipation decreases. Ultimately, for design purposes, a stress field is also required and consequently, a coupled FEM analysis is necessary. On this basis, results indicate high shear stress concentrations near the upper and lower boundaries, while the mean effective stress decreases from the well bore boundary.