Ground improvement by vacuum consolidation - a review

This paper presents a review of literature related to the vacuum consolidation ground improvement technique, focusing on issues affecting efficiency of performance and the application of the technique in peaty ground. Although it is now widely considered to be effective for reducing post-construction settlement, studies on vacuum consolidation in peat have, to date, mostly been limited to field trials. This paper offers an overview of the development and theory behind the technique. Issues affecting the efficiency of vacuum systems and recent advances in predicting the ground response to vacuum preloading are described. The application of the technique in peaty soils is investigated; an overview is also provided of some geotechnical properties that distinguish peat from soft mineral soils, highlighting lessons learned from relevant case studies.