This blog is a part of the series: Your Guide for Soil Improvement with PLAXIS Prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) are essential tools in geotechnical engineering, particularly for improving the properties of soft soils. By facilitating drainage and accelerating consolidation, PVDs play a critical role in the stability and settlement of soil. The use of PLAXIS for modelling drains allows engineers to predict and analyse their behaviour effectively. This article will guide you through the process of modelling PVDs in PLAXIS, covering key aspects such as geometry setup, material properties, boundary conditions, and result interpretation. What Are Prefabricated Vertical Drains? PVDs are geosynthetic materials installed vertically into soft soils to accelerate the consolidation process by providing efficient drainage paths for excess pore water pressure. This technology is commonly used in large-scale infrastructure projects, where rapid settlement and soil stabilization are critical. Why Model PVDs in PLAXIS? Numerical modelling of PVDs using PLAXIS offers several benefits. It helps engineers understand the behaviour of PVD-improved subsoil, predicts settlement, monitors pore pressure dissipation, and ensures overall stability. Moreover, the efficiency of PVDs can be significantly enhanced by applying techniques like vacuum consolidation, which can also be modelled in PLAXIS. Key Steps in PVD Modelling