Stepwise Loading Method of Electroosmotic Drainage with Low Energy Consumption for Over-wet Subgrade

Abstract:

In order to improve the energy utilization efficiency of electroosmotic drainage in over-wet subgrade， electroosmotic drainage laboratory tests with different loading methods and potential gradients were carried out， and the evolution characteristics of energy consumption coefficient and instantaneous energy consumption coefficient with time and water content were analyzed. Finally， a stepwise loading method with low energy consumption was proposed. The results show that the energy consumption coefficient initially declines and subsequently increases in electroosmotic drainage tests. The negative correlation between the loading potential gradient with the lowest instantaneous energy consumption coefficient and the average moisture content can be expressed by power function. The low energy consumption stepwise loading mode based on the power function can save 54% energy compared with the stable voltage loading at 1.2 V?cm^-1 and 23% energy compared with the traditional stepwise loading.

Key words:subgrade engineering;electroosmotic drainage;energy consumption;potential;stepwise loading