Prefabricated Vertical Drains: InfraWick PVD

Description

Introducing InfraWick PVD®: Prefabricated Vertical Drains for Faster Ground Consolidation

InfraWick PVD® is a prefabricated vertical drain system designed to accelerate the consolidation of deep, soft, and compressible soils before construction. Manufactured with a durable plastic core wrapped in a high-permeability nonwoven geotextile filter, it shortens drainage paths and speeds up the dissipation of excess pore water pressure. This helps improve ground strength, reduce settlement time, and support safer, more efficient construction across Australian civil, mining, and infrastructure projects.

Designed for Soft Ground Improvement

On soft clay, silt, and other low-permeability foundation soils, natural consolidation can take an impractically long time. InfraWick PVD® helps solve this by creating vertical drainage pathways that allow trapped water to escape more quickly when surcharge loads are applied. By accelerating consolidation, the system can reduce project delays, improve subgrade performance, and provide a more reliable foundation for embankments, working platforms, and containment structures.

Reliable Drainage Capacity and Filter Performance

InfraWick PVD® combines a polyethylene core with a PET nonwoven filter fabric to deliver dependable discharge performance and filtration. The technical data sheet lists a standard width of 98 ± 1 mm, tensile strength from 2.0 to 2.8 kN per core width depending on type, and longitudinal discharge capacities at 350 kPa ranging from at least 60 to 80 cm³/s. Filter permittivity is at least 5.0 × 10^-3 cm/s, with an apparent opening size of 0.10 mm or less, helping maintain effective water flow while controlling soil intrusion. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Built for Australian Conditions and Project Demands

InfraWick PVD® is suited to Australian ground improvement works where soft foundation conditions can affect construction programs, long-term settlement, and asset performance. It is well suited to road and rail embankments, industrial platforms, tailings ponds, and leach pads where accelerated consolidation is critical to programme certainty and performance. Multiple drain types are available to suit varying discharge and strength requirements, allowing designers to select the most appropriate option for specific geotechnical conditions. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Efficient Installation and Practical Ground Improvement

Once installed using a suitable mandrel and stitcher rig, InfraWick PVD® becomes part of a proven ground improvement method that can be integrated with surcharge preloading and staged construction. This makes it a practical solution for large project footprints and areas where untreated soft soils would otherwise lead to extended waiting times or unacceptable settlement. Final drain type and spacing should always be confirmed by the project designer based on site-specific geotechnical conditions and required consolidation performance. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Typical Applications for InfraWick PVD®

• Embankments: Accelerates settlement beneath road, rail, and civil embankments constructed on soft ground.
• Working Platforms: Improves subgrade conditions for industrial pads, construction platforms, and hardstands.
• Leach Pads: Supports faster consolidation and improved ground stability beneath mining and process areas.
• Tailings Ponds: Helps manage settlement and improve foundation response in soft, compressible soils.
• Ground Improvement Projects: Used wherever faster pore pressure dissipation and improved soil strength are required before construction.

Resources (1)

• Datasheet Download

Technical Guides & Case Studies (0)