Wick Drain

Evaluating Wick Drain Performance in Virginia SoilsSusan E. BurnsUniversity of Virginia

Graduate and Undergraduate Research AssistantsMatthew J. Cline M.S. Civil Engineering, 2002J. Matthew WrightB.S. Civil Engineering, 2001

Prefabricated Vertical Drain StudyLiterature Review / Soil CharacterizationDamage Testing (complete June 01)90 CrimpLateral Pressure Test (start May 01)Consolidation (start June 01)

Prefabricated Vertical Drain Cores

PVD Properties*All fabric and cores made from polypropylene **Amerdrain ASTM D 4632; Mebra-Drain ASTM D 638 *** ASTM D4716

PropertyAmerdrain407Amerdrain407FAmerdrain607Amerdrain417Mebra-DrainMD-7407Typar 3407-1Mebra-DrainMD-88CoreCorrugatedCorrugatedCorrugatedDimpleCorrugatedFinWeight (oz/yd2)42.56443.9Grab Tensile Strength (lbs)14565250145130130Puncture Strength (lbs)505080504040Trapezoidal Tear (lbs)7070100706056AOS (US Sieve)80>2007080100120Core Tensile Strength (lbs)**200200200200180180Discharge Capacity (gpm)***1.61.61.61.61.71.9

Wick Drains Used in Crimp Testing

Vertical Discharge Capacity - HydraulicVertical water flowConstant head 1 kPa (1.45 psi)Measure flowrate through wickCrimp with a 90 bend, measure flowrateMeasure flowrate through empty heat shrinkFlowFlow

Vertical Discharge PVD MethodologyPVDs encased in heat shrink tubingUniformity criticalInsert wick into heat shrinkClamp into aluminum plates, with spacersHeat aluminum to shrink tubing

PVD Discharge Capacities (mL/s)

Run 1Run 2Run 3Run 4AverageFlow Reduction(%)Standard DeviationAmerdrain407240249244223278Amerdrain407F260220229240347Amerdrain607287290311281202Amerdrain417310255247262278Mebra-DrainMD-7407Typar 3407-1371290263316318Mebra-DrainMD-88447345404451173Blank692692457-No flowNo flow

90 Crimp Test Results

Chart1

0.3130.1870.3720.189

0.3770.3320.4210.225

0.170.2170.2250.191

0.2970.1990.3870.202

0.38163972290.2150.2560.386

0.19076005960.1670.2020.124

CorrugatedHigh StrengthFabric

Fin

Corrugated

CorrugatedLow StrengthFabric

Corrugated

Dimple

HS 1

HS 1

HS 2

HS 3

Flow Reduction (%)

Matt Wright

Height (in)40

Head (psi)1.44

Analyst:Matt Wright

UNCRIMPED

Drain TypeMean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationMean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationFlow Reduction (%)

Ameridrain 607222.52.23E-046.87172.61.73E-043.8122.4%

Ameridrain 407115.81.16E-042.0286.28.62E-052.2325.6%

Ameridrain 407-F150.21.50E-042.1156.85.68E-051.5662.2%

MebraDrain-7407256.42.56E-045.32194.31.94E-044.2424.2%

MebraDrain-88391.23.91E-0410.88283.82.84E-043.5827.5%

UNCRIMPEDRolling Crimp

Drain TypeMean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationMean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationFlow Reduction (%)

Ameridrain 407-F150.21.50E-042.11150.911.51E-041.920%

MebraDrain-88391.23.91E-0410.88135.231.35E-041.1765.40%

Matt Cline 1

Height (in)40

Head (psi)1.44

Analyst:Matt Cline

Note:This test was performed using a different heat shrink jacket for each wick tested.

UNCRIMPED

Wick DrainCore TypeCost/ft ($)Mean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationMean Flow Rate (mL/s)Standard DeviationFlow Reduction

Ameridrain 607Corrugated0.20163.01.63E-041.2151.01.51E-042.47.4%


Ameridrain 407-FCorrugated0.15151.11.51E-044.357.85.78E-051.861.8%

Ameridrain 417DimpledNA231.72.32E-042.3118.31.18E-041.749.0%

MebraDrain-7407Corrugated0.10198.31.98E-044.598.89.88E-053.350.2%

MebraDrain-88H shaped Channels0.11328.13.28E-047.3306.43.06E-044.86.6%

UNCRIMPEDCURVE TEST


Ameridrain 607Corrugated0.20163.01.63E-041.2NA

Ameridrain 407Corrugated0.15115.81.16E-042.0NA

Ameridrain 407-FCorrugated0.15151.11.51E-044.3152.61.53E-043.3-1.0%


MebraDrain-7407Corrugated0.10198.31.98E-044.5NA

MebraDrain-88H shaped Channels0.11328.13.28E-047.3116.11.16E-042.964.6%***

Matt Cline:This drain is more rigid and crimps as is curves, causing the high flow reduction.

Matt Cline:No Reduction in Flow When Curved Slightly.

Matt Cline (2)

Height (in)40

Head (psi)1.44

Analyst:Matt Cline

Note:This test was performed using the same heat shrink jacket for each wick tested.

UNCRIMPED








MebraDrain-88 ReplicateH shaped Channels0.11447.34.47E-044.6362.03.62E-042.019.1%

BlankNone692.06.92E-0411.3

Matt Cline (3)

Height (in)40

Head (psi)1.44

Analyst:Matt Cline

Note:This test was performed using the same heat shrink jacket for each wick tested.

UNCRIMPED





Ameridrain 407-F ReplicateCorrugated0.15220.82.21E-043.4123.31.23E-042.844.2%




BlankNone692.06.92E-0411.3

Graph

Mixed

HS 1HS 1HS 2HS 325.6%

Amerdrain 40731.3%18.7%37.2%18.90%26.5%9.24%8.00%61.8%

Amerdrain 407-F37.7%33.2%42.1%22.50%33.9%8.41%7.28%7.4%

Amerdrain 60717.0%21.7%22.5%19.10%20.1%2.51%2.18%49.0%

Amerdrain 41729.7%19.9%38.7%20.20%27.1%8.96%7.76%50.2%

MebraDrain 740738.2%21.5%25.6%38.60%31.0%8.73%7.56%6.6%

MebraDrain 8819.1%16.7%20.2%12.40%17.1%3.45%2.99%33.4%

28.8%22.0%31.1%22.0%0.2361030848

0.09030468110.05816442210.09369898610.0882286801

Flow Red

Cost

0.1529.1%

0.1537.7%

0.0929.4%

0.2020.4%

0.1228.4%

0.1218.7%

Graph

CorrugatedHigh StrengthFabric

Fin

Corrugated

CorrugatedLow StrengthFabric

Corrugated

Dimple

HS 1

HS 1

HS 2

HS 3

Flow Reduction (%)

Horizontal Discharge CapacityConforms to ASTM D4716 Measure lateral discharge through wick Compact soils; apply range of stresses

Measure discharge under increasing lateral stress

Lateral Stress Test

Soil TypesFour soils to be tested:Woodrow Wilson Bridge Interbedded sand and clayWest PointSoft clay with organicsCraney IslandMarine claySandy siltHigh shear strength, high permeability

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Soil Characterization

Craney Island Soil Characterization

ConclusionsFin & corrugated high strength fabric performed best in crimp testCorrugated & dimple core perform similarlyCorrugated low strength fabric had highest flow reductionUsing same core, fabric strength influenced flow reduction, with strongest fabric showing the least reduction

Wick Drain

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