BIOMIMICRY CONSOLIDATION IN
ROADWAYS
PV Divya Bagavathy1, divyaparammeswaran@gmail.com, 7550105453.
PS Harshita2, amritha261997@gmail.com, 8825458710.
ABSTRACT
An artificial method of carrying out consolidation called
as Vacuum consolidation is a technique of applying
vacuum suction to an isolated soil mass to reduce the
atmospheric pressure in it, thus by the way of reducing the
pore water pressure in the soil the effective stress
increased without changing the total stress. Inspired by
biomimicry technologies, improving construction
techniques as well as developing analytical methods for
designing, the technique has become an effective and
economical method for soft ground improvement and
capable to conduct in various site conditions. Researches
are also extended to other application fields such as
acceleration dewatering and consolidation of fluid like
materials. Conducting of numerous vacuum consolidation
projects has been tried in many countries in the world
through the practical experiences are accumulated which
would have significant importance in improving its
efficacy and advancing the technique. This paper
summarizes the biomimicric method of consolidation
technique known as vacuum consolidation method and its
importance on highway.
Keywords: vacuum consolidation, ground improvement,
effective, economical.
I. INTRODUCTION:
Consolidation (settlement) is a process of expulsion of
pore water by application of static load. Vacuum
consolidation (or vacuum preloading) is a soft soil
improvement method widely used in roadways for
preventing settlement of road profile. A biomimicric
method of carrying out consolidation prior to construction
process is called vacuum consolidation
II. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL BASED ON PRE-
LOADING
If the initial vertical effective stress is greater than the
pre consolidated stress then the soil will be under
consolidated soil. It means that the soil is still in the
process of consolidating under a previously applied load.
The soil is not fully consolidated because loading is
sparsely high. This type is called as UNDER
CONSOLIDATED CLAY (UCC). If a clay layer has
never been subjected to pressure more than the existing
one. The load applied presently would be larger than the
pressure the soil has experienced. This type of spoil is
called NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED CLAY (NCC).
Similarly, if a clay layer had ever been subjected to
pressure more than the pressure applied by the existing
structure. Past loading over the structure will be higher
than present when leads to complete consolidation of soil.
This type is termed as OVER CONSOLIDATED CLAY
(OCC).
A technical term called OCR (OVER CONSOLIDATED
RATIO) is used to classify the soil. OCR is defined as the
ratio of pre-consolidation pressure experienced by the soil
due to past loading (historical structure) to the effective
pressure applied at present condition.
OCR=
σC(past)/σˊC(present)
For UCC, OCR˂1
For NCC, OCR=1
For OCC, OCR˃1
Since the OCR ratio for over consolidated clay is greater
than 1, further consolidation of that soil will never happen
again. This concept is adopted for vacuum consolidation.
Keywords: UCC, NCC, OCC, OCR.
III. EFFECT OF CONSOLIDATION IN
ROADWAYS
In recent years, highway of our country grows vigorously
now has become a stimulating domestic demands in the
highway construction, and the important factors that
promote the rapid development of national economy, it
attaches great importance by government at all levels since
our use of highways is extending unceasingly, it is
essential to carry out effective road construction method
to improve the longevity of road ways. Since the county’s
highway network construction extending continuously, it
might inevitably encounter some problems due to soft soil
with high water content, high compressibility, low
permeability, low shear stress characteristics of
compression deformation and shear deformation under
the action of additional stress can produce large
settlement. The following problems often occur:
 Total settlement and subsidence uneven (fig.1)
 The foundation settlement may last even for
years or even longer
 Pavements foundation bearing capacity is low,
pavements smoothness is poor, and even form a
“wave” diseases such as the vehicle jumping,
turbulence, vehicle dumping phenomenon is
very serious.
Keywords: total settlement, wave disease.
IV. CAUSES INFUENCING CONSOLIDATION
Camber: camber is the slope provided to the road surface
in transverse direction to drain off the rain water from the
road surface. Drainage and quick disposal of water from
 the pavement surface by providing cross slope is
considered important because surface water may seep
into the subgrades of soil through pavement which
degrades its stability. If the soil is under or normally
consolidated, application of pressure such as movement of
heavy vehicles may cause stagnant surface water in soil
subgrades to exert up thrust on roadway. This up thrust
pressure causes stripping of bitumen from aggregate. In
the same case, if the soil is over consolidated, this seepage
of surface of water is not possible. Surface water may
drain off or get dried up.
Stress distribution: generally, stress has to be distributed
evenly throughout the subgrades of soil. If water table or
capillary water are present, it may act as an interruption
for stress distribution. This interruption paves way for
uneven settlement. As far India is concerned, roads are
designed for mixed traffic condition. But the number of
vehicles throughout the year differs from the prediction
during construction period. This may cause differential
settlement. Differential settlement occurs when one part is
settled earlier than the other in a same location. If roads
are pre-consolidated, interruptions from water table and
subgrade water are reduced and settlement in soil occurs
evenly.
As a solution for the above mentioned problems, vacuum
consolidation method can be adopted for obtaining over
consolidated soil.
Keywords: camber, drainage, penetrate, interruption,
differential settlement.
VI.
V. VACUUM CONSOLIDATION
Equipment used in vacuum consolidation (fig.2)
Procedure
Vacuum consolidation is a technique of applying vacuum
suction to an isolated soil mass to reduce the atmospheric
pressure in it, thus by the way of reducing the pore water
pressure in the soil. The effective stress is increased
without changing the total stress. Vacuum pressure is an
It is used to prevent air leakage, a beau Drain-S drain, pre-
fabricated from a specially developed (MD88H) vertical
drain, is coupled to a pre-determined length of thyleen
hose. The thyleen hose is installed over the thickness of
the working platform and, depending upon the
groundwater level, pulled through into the sealing clay or
peat layer by half a metre. The length of the hose is
individually developed for each project or project area.
After installation, only the thyleen hoses protrude above
isotropic consolidation pressure applied to a soil deposit,
and the deformation induced is different from that induced
by a surcharge. Vacuum pressure is applied by employing
air tight sheet method with PVD pipes in addition to
embankment and surcharge (preloading). Due to which
atmospheric pressure in the soil gets reduced. Vacuum is
created and the pore water rushes to fill the vacuum. Then
the water is expelled out using pump (fig.3)
An air/water pumping system is installed and creates a
vacuum in the soil below the impervious membrane
equivalent to a depression between 60-80Kpa, depending
on
The pressure is equivalent to that exerted by a 3-4m high
surcharge embankment. This preloading through the
application of an atmospheric pressure creates an isotropic
accelerated consolidation of the compressible soils.
Settlement is then achieved without a surcharge load, in a
greatly reduced time, than in normal.
While the area is under vacuum consolidation, normally
4-6 months, no activity that can puncture the membrane is
allowed on the vacuum area without proper protection.
However heavy plant and filling can usually proceed in the
adjacent areas. Approximately 13cm of consolidation per
day is achieved A monitoring system is usually installed
and operated during the consolidation period to record
settlement, displacement & pressures.
Keywords: settlement, surcharge, displacement, pressure,
4-6months.
CASE STUDY: BEAU DRAIN-S VACCUM
CONSOLIDATION
The function of Beau Drain-S vacuum consolidation is
based on the use of an air-tight hose. In this system,
vertical drainage is only used in the compressible and
sealing layers. The top layers of sand, where there is a risk
of air or excess water inflow, are sealed off from the
system with the aid of a thyleen hose (fig.4).. As a result,
a vacuum can be applied to the drain. The vacuum in the
drain translates into an equivalent (fictitious) vertical load
Why Beau Drain-S?
The Beau Drain-S system is a combination of the normal
beau Drain system and vertical drainage. It was developed
in order to be able to offer customised vacuum drainage
for every surface, however small. The development of a
hybrid of vacuum drainage and conventional vertical
drainage gives the system the advantage over beau Drain
in that it can use the normal drainage switchers. This
means that its field of application is greater, without a
great deal of extra cost. It can be installed anywhere in the
world on every surface and at any depth. The work floor
serves purely for the stability of the cranes.
the installation platform. After the cutting of the hoses to
length, the beau Drain-S drains are connected together into
lines by means of couplings. These lines are connected to
a vacuum pump at the edge of the field via a manifold and
collecting hose.

(fig.4) thyleen hoses inserted into the soil.
Total area to be treated was 62 m2, to the depth of 18m
below the water level. After the water pumped away,
several drains were coupled and the embankment of sand
was placed on the top of the treated area. In total 26 pumps
were placed for a period of 9 months to make sure the
system retain vacuum. In total 3m settlement was
achieved.
Keywords: thyleen hose, surcharge, settlement.
VII. ADVANTAGES OF BEAU DRAIN-S
CONSOLIDATION
o Faster preparation of residential districts for
construction
o Installation of infrastructure (roads, railways
and airports)
o Installation of dikes
o Faster installation of embankments
o Preparation of sites where settlement allowance
is expensive or scarce
o Advantages of the beau Drain-S system:
o Short installation period and clean work site
after installation
o No soil is excavated, thus preventing any
damage as a result of horizontal deformation of
the soil due to relaxation and insufficient filling
o No supply of drainage sand or removal/storage
of removed soil
o The use of beau Drain-S means that a very large
working depth is achievable
o Sand layers can be followed at a safe distance
o The use of vacuum pressure gives rise to an
increase in effective pressure this reduces the
risks of instability in the case of ongoing
embankment creation
o The existing body of soil is used as a sealing
medium, thereby dispensing with the need for a
surface membrane
o The work site becomes available for other
activities immediately after installation and
remains so
o The barrier configurations are adapted to the soil
type to be consolidated and the surface
o Horizontal deformation in the event of ongoing
embankment creation is considerably reduced
o The beau Drain-S system also allows for a
considerable reduction of secular settlements
and settlement differences
Keyword: horizontal deformation, drainage.
VIII. REVENUES AND CHARGES
According to government of India’s ministry of road
transport and highway’s 12th five year plan (2012-
2017), the budget allocation for construction of
national highway (NH) with fully access controlled
facilities are at Rs.11.5 crore per kilometre. Vacuum
consolidation costs Rs.1, 15,381/- per Km which may
be rounded up to Rs2, 50,000/-Including equipment
costs. For repairing national highway approximately
2 crore has to be spent by the Government.
Summation of that cost is greater than that of
implementing vacuum consolidation technique.
Many problems like diverting traffic, traffic
separation, route deviations have to be carried out
while rehabilitation of roads which can be avoided
with the help of this method. Roads can be laid in
places where ponds and lakes have been present in
the past which can be developed into a new
transportation system to connect NH.
Keywords: costs, diverting, repairing, rehabilitation,
NH
IX. CONCLUSION: When highly compressible
normally consolidated clayey (cohesive) soil layers
lie at limited/large depths, large consolidation
settlements are expected as the result of the loads due
to embankment and stress distribution from mixed
traffic conditions in highways. Pre-compression and
provision of vertical drains in soft soil may be used
to minimize post-construction settlement. Pre-
settlement of road is achieved through vacuum
consolidation technique which maintains road profile
in long run
Keyword: pre-consolidation, post construction,
settlement
X. Reference: Chai J-C, Miura N. 1999. Investigation
of factors affecting vertical drain behaviour. Journal
of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental
Engineering 125(2–3): 216-226 Crossref.
Chu J, Yan SW, Yang H. 2000. Soil improvement by the
vacuum preloading method for an oil storage station.
Géotechnique 50(6): 625-632 Crossref, ISI.