Abstract: Using vacuum preloading shallow drainage consolidation method was used to treat the reclaimed soils by hydraulic filling for an artificial land block in Xiamen. During the preloading process, the ground settlement, excess pore water pressure, groundwater level, lateral deformation on the survey points and the shear strength of the soft soil were tested and monitored. The effect of the preloading was presented by comparing the geotechnical parameters tested before and after the ground improvement. The results indicated that the vacuum preloading method can effectively improve the strength of hydraulic reclaimed land. The physical and mechanical parameters of soils after the treatment are significantly improved with an obvious increase of soil strength and bearing resistance.

Key words: Hydraulic Reclamation, Ground Improvement, Vacuum Preloading, Monitoring