Consolidación por precarga de suelos altamente compresibles en la ciudad de Durán

Abstract

The design and implementation of a methodology employing the preloading technique to enhance soil capacity in the city of Durán. This system promoted soil consolidation and, consequently, increased its bearing capacity. The process was optimized using vertical drains, which are designed to accelerate the expulsion of pore water, thereby reducing consolidation time and improving embankment stability. This method is particularly effective for highly compressible soils, as encountered in our project, and is replicable for similar conditions. The integration of vertical drains not only facilitates stabilization within less than three months in a consistent manner but also reduces the risk of differential settlements that could compromise the integrity of the planned structure. To model soil behavior under the influence of the embankment, Terzaghi’s equations were used, providing a robust theoretical foundation for analyzing soil consolidation. Additionally, the data were validated using PLAXIS software, which supported complex simulations under various loading conditions and terrain geometries. In this context, the Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model was adopted, as it is well-suited for describing the mechanical behavior of granular and cohesive soils in projects of this nature. Through these simulations, it was possible to accurately evaluate the consolidation time and stress profiles within the soil, enabling the approval of embankment design parameters to ensure the safety and durability of the future infrastructure to be constructed on the site. Keywords: soils, drains, consolidation, modeling, infrastructure