Engineering Properties of Medium-to-Fine Sands Injected with Microfine Cement Grout

Abstract

This article investigates the penetrability of microfine cement suspensions prepared with Rheocem 900 with and without superplasticizer additive into various graded fine-to-medium sands into which chemical grout permeation is only possible. Initially, the basic rheological properties such as viscosity, setting time, and stability of microfine cement suspensions are studied. In addition, penetration performance of the suspensions into various graded fine to medium sand specimens under different grouting pressures is examined. Finally, the strength and permeability characteristics of various graded fine-to-medium sand specimens permeated with microfine cement suspensions are studied. It is found that a superplasticizer additive greatly increases the grouting performance of microfine cement and reduces the grouting pressure. Moreover, it is seen that the unconfined compressive strengths of sand specimens permeated with a cement grout without additive are slightly less than those of sand specimens permeated with cement grout and superplasticizer additive. Furthermore, permeability tests on specimens permeated with cement grouts with or without a superplasticizer reveals that all specimens are impermeable (k < 1 × 10−7 m/s).