Consolidation of Sludge Dewatered in Geotextile Tubes under Combined Fill and Vacuum Preloading

Recently, permeable geotextile tubes in conjunction with prefabricated horizontal drains (PHDs) have become increasingly popular for dewatering high water content slurries or sludge. However, how to analyze the consolidation process of sludge tube so as provide a proper design and prediction becomes technical challenge. In this paper, we proposed two-dimensional plain-strain model under combined fill vacuum preloading. A semi-analytical solution was obtained validated through experimental observations. salient finding study is identification critical condition at which optimum efficiency achieved. Consolidation decreases gradually beyond condition, arrives later PHD pave rate element height width ratio increase. Furthermore, analytical method clearly shows preloading affects effect surcharge more pronounced than that same magnitude, owing attenuation leakage.