Preloading system with partially penetrating vertical drains in marine soft clays in Egypt: 2D and 3D comparative FE study

A large-scale trial embankment provided with partially penetrating prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) was installed in consolidating marine clay deposits at East-Port said industrial zone project Egypt. The constructed a bottom area of 150x150m and height 5.5m to evaluate the efficiency improvement system verify design parameters. An intensive instrumentation built-up including shallow settlement indicators, vibrating wire piezometers, extensometer, inclinometers. Two three-dimensional finite element analyses (FE) were performed study effect preloading PVD deposits. FE models validated showed good agreement field observations terms displacement center, lateral soil deformation beneath toe.