ABSTRACT
The design philosophy of Electric Vertical Drains (EVDs) is employed as electrodes with drainage abilities. The feasibility of using EVDs as vertical drains needs to be further researched. This paper summarizes the laboratory investigations of the vacuum preloading methods in kaolin clay. These tests consisted of the installation of different vertical drains in the soil. The performance of EVDs was compared to Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs). The vacuum preloading tests indicate that the cumulative water discharge of EVDs and PVDs is similar. The filter membrane and drainage path of EVDs has an obvious improvement on the drainage effect. The energy consumption of vacuum preloadidng by means of EVDs is acceptable.
