Physico - Mechanical Properties Of Improved Soil By Pvd Incorporating Surcharge And Vacuum Preloading: A Case Study In Long Phu, Soc Trang, Vietnam

The soft soil of Long Phu thermal power plant in Soc Trang province of southern Vietnam was treated by the PVD incorporating surcharge and vacuum preloading method. To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, experimental in-situ research combined with laboratory tests were performed on soft soil before and after treatment. Laboratory tests included particle size analysis, physical properties test, consolidation compression tests, undrained unconsolidated compression (UU) and undrained consolidated (CU) triaxial tests. The insitu tests included static penetration tests, static penetration tests with measurement of pore water pressure (piezocone penetration tests), vane shear tests, and standard penetration tests. Based on experimental results, this article evaluated the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of soft soil. The experimental results indicated that the soil after improvement increases shear strength and decreases compression. The relationship between the physico-mechanical properties of soft soil and improved soil was established. It has shown the success of the improvement of soft soil by PVD’ incorporating surcharge and vacuum preloading in Vietnam.