Segmental method for installing wick drains

A segmental wick drain made by:

• obtaining a plurality of mandrels;
• then loading a first mandrel into a drive system;
• then feeding a wick drain through the first mandrel;
• then installing an anchor plate on a first end of the first mandrel;
• then attaching the wick drain to the anchor plate;
• then driving the first end of the first mandrel into the ground, leaving a second end of the first mandrel above ground;
• then cutting the wick drain above the second end of the first mandrel to define a first wick drain segment;
• then loading a second mandrel into the drive system;
• then feeding the wick drain through the second mandrel until the free end protrudes through the first end of the second mandrel;
• then splicing the free end of the wick drain to the cut end of the first wick drain segment;
• then removably coupling the first end of the second mandrel to the second end of the first mandrel by inserting the first end of the second mandrel into a shoe coupler attached to the second end of the first mandrel and then inserting at least one set pin through the shoe coupler to affix the first end of the second mandrel therein;
• and
• then driving the second mandrel into the ground.