First, this article presents a simulation experiment of hydraulic reclamation, and then a vacuum preloading (VP) test using the sedimentary soil obtained by the first experiment. In the VP test, the distribution and variation of different physico-mechanical parameters before and after the treatment were tested. According to the test results, the concept “non-Terzaghi soil” is proposed to explain the inhomogeneity and its mechanism rendered by “seepage separation.” And then a staged VP (SVP) drainage consolidation method has been introduced to improve the inhomogeneity and seepage curtain phenomena around prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) during the consolidation. The test results demonstrate that the clogging problem around PVDs has been prevented and the consolidation efficiency has been promoted after the SVP test. It has been noticed that the cumulative drainage volume and the settlement displacement of SVP test were 27% and 24%, respectively, greater than that of VP test, and the soil tends to be more homogeneous. Moreover, it has been shown that the inhomogeneity degree of the permeability coefficient, unit weight, void ratio, water content, cohesion, internal friction angle, compression modulus, and the soil surface settlement in slurry after the SVP test were 3.10, 1.02, 1.03, 1.09, 2.30, 1.92, 1.19, and 1.02, whereas that after VP test was 397.27, 1.07, 1.40, 1.40, 4.74, 3.00, 1.76, and 1.22. Finally, the mechanism of SVP method has been discussed.

During the consolidation period of vacuum preloading drainage of dredged mud slurry, the clogging behaviors of the filter drainage structural layers and the core boards of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) determine the drainage capacities of PVD. However, currently, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the evaluation criteria for these two clogging behaviors. Therefore, based on typical dredged mud slurry, typical geomembranes, and raw material core boards with different bending forms, relevant macro and micro-scale experimental studies have been carried out in this study. The research results show that (1) with the application of the gradient ratio test method, the clogging behaviors of filter membranes of PVD under graded vacuum preloading can be effectively simulated. Also, in the design of graded vacuum preloading, characteristics of equivalent pore sizes and pore structures should be emphasized to investigate the suitability of filtration and drainage performance of PVD filter membranes. (2) The compressive yield strength of core board grooves is a key factor influencing the reduction rate of flow capacity. The reduction rate of flow capacity and well resistance increment can be used as comprehensive indicators reflecting the clogging behaviors of core boards, while the bending angles and bending rates of core boards can be used as specific technical indicators. (3) The proposed clogging evaluation criteria for PVD are as follows: a filter membrane gradient ratio (GR) > 4.0, a core board bending rate >60% and a core board bending angle < 45°, or a reduction rate of flow capacity of bending drainage board > 90% or well-resistance increment > 9. Also, these criteria can be incorporated into the control indicators for drainage performance of PVD used in such types of foundations.

The fluid transport in porous media is a critical property for oil and gas exploitation, construction engineering, and environmental protection. It is profoundly influenced by pore geometry and mineral properties. Currently, the Kozeny–Carman equation serves as the permeability prediction equation for porous media, established on the circular pores model. However, it fails to fully account for the impact of pore shape and mineral properties of the soil, leading to significant deviations between predicted and measured soil permeability results. In this paper, based on scanning electron microscope image and mercury intrusion porosimetry, the pores were divided into circular pores and narrow slit pores according to the ratios of pore area and circumference. Then, the quantitative expression of the two types of pores and their connectivity and tortuosity were given, and the circular and narrow slit composite pore model was used to describe the soil pore. Subsequently, the electrostatic potential of pore water was calculated by the Poisson–Boltzmann equation to consider the adsorption effect of minerals on pore water. Combined with the Navier–Stokes equation, the permeability prediction equation considering pore geometry, pore connectivity, and tortuosity and mineral properties was established. Finally, the experimental results illustrated that the theoretical prediction results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed permeability prediction equation proves valuable for assessing and predicting the fluid transport in porous media.