Numerical Evaluation of Electrode Spacing, Applied Voltage, and Intermittent Current on the Field Application of Electro‐Osmotic Consolidation

Electro‐osmotic consolidation was effective to remove water from soft soil with low hydraulic conductivity. However, the design of its field application has traditionally hinged on the empirical knowledge of engineers. To address this, a series of numerical simulations were used to investigate the optimum parameters of electro‐osmotic consolidation field application, including electrode spacings, applied voltages, and the utilization of intermittent current. The results indicated that reducing the spacing between electrodes accelerated the consolidation process but would induce a notable increase in material costs. Increasing the voltage gradient was a more effective strategy for increasing surface settlement compared to merely increasing electrode density. And the application of intermittent current could increase the total discharged water significantly. This study could provide a scientific reference for the field application of electro‐osmotic consolidation.