ABSTRACT
These laboratory data were used as soil parameters in the simulation programs that were used to develop ANN models as described in section 5.3 and for the RIJPING program to simulate drying behaviour of this very soft clay which is described in section 6.5. 6.3 Ripening Fugro carried out the investigation of dewatering by evaporative drying in the laboratory and at the ripening fields under the supervision of Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute, Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management. The period of investigation was between October 2001 and September 2002. The investigation started in summer when the evaporation rate is higher than the
precipitation. The dredged material was dumped at the ripening area since October 2001. The material was formed into bunds as shown in Figure 6.3 when it was strong enough. The average height of bunds was 1.5 m. A trench between the bunds assisted in dewatering the soil masses in the bunds by providing rapid drainage of precipitation. The precipitation flows through the desiccation cracks, into the trenches, and is removed. From time to time a hydraulic excavator was used to agitate the material for acceleration of the drying process.
