DIAPHRAGM WALL

As the concrete is poured under drilling fluid using a
tremie pipe from the bottom up, the provisions in
EN1538 standard must be incorporated from the prelimi-
nary design stage, and in particular:
the concrete used must be highly fluid (slump of
around 20cm), and retain its workability for several
hours. Additives are often used.
The following requirements must be met:
- minimum clear spacing of 100mm between the bars
for satisfactory concrete placement.
- Allowance for one or more clear openings in the
cage for the tremie pipe.

Main standards

Eurocode 2: design of concrete structures and national appendix

Eurocode 7: geotechnical design and national appendix
NF P 94-282 standard: design of retaining walls
EN 1538 standard: execution of special geotechnical works: diaphragm walls

6. Precast diaphragm walls

Instead of pouring concrete in a trench in situ, precast reinforced

concrete elements are lowered into the trench. A bentonite cement
slurry is used as the excavation fluid and seals the prefabricated
element in the ground.

The advantage of this process is that it separates the retaining

function (precast reinforced concrete element) from the cut-off
function (bentonite cement).
A groutable water-stop can also
be inserted between the ele-
ments. The only limitation on the
use of precast diaphragm walls is
the lifting capacity of the cranage
on site which needs to be sized
to handle the dimensions and
weight of the precast panel units.

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