Visual Measurement Device and Experiment of Ground Water Level in Vacuum Preloading

Abstract

Due to the inaccuracy and incapability of the conventional methods of monitoring the groundwater level in vacuum preloading, a visual apparatus of the measuring groundwater level has been designed. The proposed visual apparatus was efficiently developed based on the video camera technology. Utilizing a video camera system, it could be transmitted to the location of the groundwater level in real time to the image receiver. This paper proposes a novel approach using the visual measurement device and assess the conventional methods for performing ground improvement in an area located in Lianyungang, China. The groundwater level, vacuum pressure and the shear strength of soil were recorded during the vacuum consolidation process. Since groundwater level varied in vacuum consolidation, it would be necessary to analyze and assess the variation of shear strength of soil caused by changing the groundwater level. The results showed that the proposed approach is more reliable and intuitive than conventional methods in order to measure the groundwater level under vacuum preloading. Eventually, it is worth mentioning that, the shear strength of soft soil was different at above and below the groundwater level.