Numerical analysis of electroosmostic consolidation based on coupled electrical field-seepage field-stress field

Based on the mechanical theory of unsaturated porous media, an equation of electroosmostic consolidation theory which considers the coupling of electrical field, seepage field and stress field is derived by applying the principles of charge and mass conservation, stress equilibrium equation, Darcy's law and Ohm's law. The equation is discretized by using the Galerkin method of weighted residuals to get the formulation for finite elements; and then a code is developed. A model test of the electroosmosis combining with vacuum drainage is simulated. The simulated results agree well with the measured ones; it is shown that the proposed theory can predict the development of pore water pressure and displacements quantitatively in the electroosmosis consolidation process.