Wick Drains in Vietnam

The installation of PVDs involves the use of a hollow steel mandrel encasing the wick drain material. The mandrel is driven into the ground by an excavator carrier and secured in place with a steel anchor. After the mandrel is driven into place, the wick is looped through the steel anchor and secured. The wick drain is then installed to the desired depth.

The wick drains were installed on five foot centers and were connected to horizontal strip drains that provided atmospheric relief. The wick drains had to be pre-drilled to penetrate shallow fill materials. The outermost rows of wick drains had to extend between one third and half of the height of the embankment.

Another common type of wick drains is the prefabricated vertical drain. The core of a prefabricated wick drain is made of geotextile fabric with a maximum water flow capacity. The fabric serves as a filter, absorbing water and preventing it from flowing back into the adjacent soil.

Prefabricated vertical drains in vietnam are usually used for soil stabilisation. These drains have a plastic core encased in geotextile and are usually coupled with surcharging, a method of pre-loading soft soils. The surcharged water is then drained away by the drain. This method reduces the time required for the soil to consolidate and accelerates the primary settlement.

The installation process for prefabricated vertical drains is hassle-free and fast. This method allows the wick drain to dewater pore water and improve the soil. The geotextiles used in prefabricated vertical drains are biodegradable, and also reduce the risk of soil erosion. A vertical wick drain provides short drainage paths for pore water, which helps speed up the consolidation process.

US WICK DRAIN is a Leland, NC-based company that recently completed the largest marine barge wick drain installation project in history. The project is part of a new port facility in Norfolk Virginia and was completed with the use of APE wick drain installation machines. With this project, US WICK DRAIN will be working with APE for the next phase of the Craney Island port.