Diaphragm wall construction and slurry trench applications in the USA.5F : Ground Engng.V7,N5,Sept.1974,P31–33

Abstract

THE AUTHOR GIVES A REVIEW OF THE USE OF SLURRY TRENCH METHODS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DIAPHRAGM WALLS IN THE USA. AFTER OUTLINING THE HISTORY OF SLURRY TRENCH METHODS AND THE USE OF STABILIZING FLUIDS IN GENERAL, HE LISTS THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD. THESE ARE THE REDUCTION OF GROUND AND SOIL MOVEMENT, THE ELIMINATION OF SOIL DISTURBANCE DURING PILE DRIVING, THE AVAILABILITY OF GREATER WALL STRENGTH AND RIGIDITY, THE ABILITY OF THE WALL TO SUPPLANT THE TEMPORARY SHEETING AND THE PERMANENT SYSTEM AND THE FEASIBILITY OF DEEP EXCAVATIONS. A BRIEF ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF EACH OF THE FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF APPLICATION, NAMELY BORED-PILE-RETAINING WALLS, THE SOLDIER PILE TREMIE CONCRETE WALL (SPTC), CONTINUOUS DIAPHRAGM WALLS AND IMPERVOUS CUT- OFFS (SYSTEMS TO INTERCEPT OR REDUCE SEEPAGE FLOW). THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION IS DISCUSSED WITH A VIEW TO FORCEASTING FUTUTE TRENDS AND A LIST OF THE DEFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DETECTED DURING GENERAL EXCAVATION IS INCLUDED. THESE ARE INADEQUATE STRENGTH DUE TO SEGREGATION OF THE CONCRETE OR CONTAMINATION WITH THE SLURRY DISPLACEMENT DUE TO PARTIAL CAVING OR SLOUGHING, VOIDS OR DISCONTINUITIES CAUSED BY TOO STIFF A CONCRETE MIX AND POOR JOINTS OR A SOFT BOTTOM DUE TO UNCONSOLIDATED MATERIAL CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT. IN CONCLUSION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FLUID SYSTEMS AND TECHNIQUE THAT ARE REQUIRED AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRACTISE IN THE USA AND ELSEWHERE ARE DISCUSSED.