A new incorporative element to modify plastic concrete mechanical characteristics for cut-off wall construction in very soft soil media: Identification of tensile galvanized open-mesh distributer (TGOD) element

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• Tensile galvanized open-mesh distributor (TGOD) element boost deformability. • Incorporation of TGOD element does not result in any strength loss. • TGOD is multi-functional element involved in tensile and frictional mechanisms. Establishing cut-off walls in high deformable foundations or constructing a water-tight diaphragm wall within the clayey-damaged core of earth and rockfill dams requires plastic concrete with a typical higher deformability characteristic to ensure a decent wall’s mechanical performance compatible with the surrounding media. The present study investigates an appropriate method to achieve a proper mix design for the plastic concrete by high deformability and maintaining the required strength. In this regard, different methods in the mix designs were employed to evaluate the plastic concrete cylindrical 100 × 200 mm specimens under unconfined and confined conditions. A series of uniaxial compression tests accompanied by conventional triaxial compression tests were performed. The obtained results led to distinguishing a new multi-functional element named “Tensile Galvanized Open-mesh Distributor (TGOD)” as the most effective element to boost deformability and establish the preferred mix design. The results showed that incorporating the introduced elements fulfilled the needed mechanical specifications for plastic concrete construction within the very soft media and decreased the elastic modulus by more than 50 % compared to the control mix, without any loss in the load-bearing capacity.