DAEHAN i.m. offers Bio Verti-Drain®, an eco-friendly biodegradable prefabricated vertical drain designed for soft ground improvement and soil consolidation. Made using biodegradable PBS (Poly Butylene Succinate) and PLA (Poly Lactic Acid), Bio Verti-Drain® provides effective drainage during ground consolidation and is designed to biodegrade under natural soil conditions after completing its required function.
What Is a Biodegradable Prefabricated Vertical Drain?
Biodegradable vertical drains are prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) developed to accelerate pore water dissipation and soil consolidation in soft, saturated ground. Similar to conventional PVDs, they provide additional drainage paths through low-permeability soil. The key difference is that biodegradable PVD materials are designed to break down after completing their required ground improvement function.
Key Features of Bio Verti-Drain®
- Biodegradable PBS and PLA materials:
Uses biodegradable polymer materials designed for environmentally conscious soft ground improvement applications. - Effective drainage performance:
Provides a drainage path that helps dissipate excess pore water pressure and accelerate soil consolidation. - Long functional performance:
Maintains its required performance for approximately three years after installation during the ground consolidation process. - High discharge capacity:
Demonstrated a discharge capacity of not less than 25 cm³/s under a pressure of 300 kPa after 100 days according to ASTM D 6918 testing. - High tensile strength:
Provides tensile strength of more than 2,000 N/full width for installation and ground improvement requirements. - Effective filtration performance:
The filter is designed with a suitable AOS of less than 75 μm to help prevent fine soil particles from entering the drainage channel. - High permeability:
Provides permeability of more than 1 × 10⁻² cm/s to support effective water movement through the drain. - Post-consolidation biodegradation:
Designed to undergo microbiological degradation and hydrolysis after completing its required soil consolidation function.
How Does Bio Verti-Drain® Work?
The basic purpose of Bio Verti-Drain® is to accelerate the consolidation of saturated soft soil while providing a biodegradable drainage solution.
When a load is applied to soft, water-saturated soil, excess pore water pressure develops. Because soft clay has relatively low permeability, natural water dissipation can take a long time. This can result in prolonged settlement and delay the ground improvement process.
Bio Verti-Drain® creates a shorter vertical drainage path through the soft soil. Excess pore water can move toward the drain and discharge through its drainage channel, helping reduce pore water pressure and accelerate consolidation.
During this period, Bio Verti-Drain® maintains its required drainage performance. After the soil consolidation process is completed, the biodegradable materials gradually break down through microbiological degradation and hydrolysis under natural soil conditions.
Why Use Biodegradable PVD Technology for Soft Ground Improvement?
The primary advantage of biodegradable PVD technology is that it combines the ground improvement function of a prefabricated vertical drain with a biodegradable material approach.
Conventional PVDs can remain in the ground after completing their drainage function. Bio Verti-Drain® is designed to biodegrade after the required consolidation period, reducing the concern associated with permanent plastic materials remaining underground.
For projects where sustainable construction and soft ground improvement are both important considerations, biodegradable PVD technology can provide an alternative approach to conventional drainage materials.
Applications of Bio Verti-Drain®
Bio Verti-Drain® can be used for soft ground improvement projects where accelerated soil consolidation and biodegradable drainage materials are required. It is suitable for infrastructure, land development, and other construction projects involving soft, water-saturated ground.
If you’re looking for a biodegradable vertical drain, you can find them at DAEHAN i.m.
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