CeTeau® Wick Drains
Vertical wick drains are the most economical ground improvement solution for soft soils with a high clay/silt content. Vertical drains are mostly used to shorten the settlement period of soft, water saturated soils. In combination with surcharge or vacuum pressure, this can thus reduce the construction period of a project and avoid post-construction differential settlements. By applying a temporary preload on top of the embankment or fill, the consolidation period can be reduced even more.
The use of Global Synthetics CeTeau® wick drains can be of significant assistance in increasing the speed of consolidation of very soft soils and ultimately increasing the shear strength of the soil such that some engineering structure may be built.
CeTeau® wick drains consist of a specially designed polypropylene core extruded into a unique configuration to transmit maximum water flow on both sides of the core. The core is fully wrapped in a non woven geotextile filter that is ultrasonically welded at the edges to maintain effective filtration.
Product Information: CeTeau® wick drains are inserted into the soil by pushing the product to a predetermined depth at a design spacing distance to increase the drainage paths within the soil to be consolidated. Generally there is a surcharge load applied over the area to be consolidated such that the speed of consolidation is increased.
Benefits of CeTeau® Wick drains:
Increases the strength of the soil
Minimises the long term residual settlement
Limits differential settlements
Can improve soils up to 50 m depth
Relatively low cost
Application
Roads, railways, dikes and airports.
Land reclamation.
Harbor construction.
Urban and industrial sites.
Stabilisation of slopes.
Degassing of landfills.
CeTeau® wick drains have been used extensively throughout Australia for many years. These drains were previously marketed under the Mebra brand name. CeTeau® wick drains have been engineered to withstand the significant initial installation stresses that are imposed upon the drain whilst maintaining the longer term performance characteristics that are required of such products such as efficient filtration and drainage and resistance to buckling.
