ASS IG NME NT 4 GG k omG

DIAPHRAGM WAL L:

D i a p hr a g m w a l l i s a n u n d e r g r o u n d w a l l c o n s t r u c t e d f r o m t h e

ground level to support excavation sides from lateral earth pressure

a nd wa ter pree s pressure and to provide wate r tightness to the

u n d e r g r o u nd s t r u c t u r e .

Diaphragm Wall-Application

1) C ommonly used in congested areas.

2) C an be installed in close proximity to existing structure.

3) Practically suited for deep basements.

4) Used in conjunction with “Top Down” construction technique.

C o n s t r u c t io n o f D i a p h r a g m W a l l

1) Diaphragm wall is generally reinforced concrete wall

constructed in the ground using under slurry technique which

w a s d e v e l o p e d in E u r o p e . t h e H y d r o f r a i s e o r s i m i l a r

2) T h e t e c h n i q u e in v o l v e s e x c a v a t i n g a n a r r o w t r e n c h t h a t i s k e p t

full of an engineered fluid of slurry.

3) Walls of thickness between 300 and 1200 mm can be formed in

this way up to a depth of 45 meters.

Features:

1. As a cut-off provision to support deep excavation.

2. As a retaining wall.

2. As a retaining wall.

3. It is also used as a permanent basement wall for facili tat ing Top-

down construction method.

4. Typical wall thickness varies between 0.6 to 1.5m. a

5 . P a n e l w id t h v a r i e s f r o m 2 . 5 m t o a b o u t 6 . 5 m o r e v e n m o r e

depending on various conditions. a

T ype s of diap hr agm wall

Depending on the use of construction materials there are the

following types of diaphragm walls:

a) Rigid type

1) R e i n f o r c e d c e m e nt c o n c r e t e .

b) Flexible type

1) Plastic concrete,

2) C ement bentonite slurry trench, and there

3) Earth backfilled slurry trench.

C o n s t r u c t io n p r o c e s s :

a) C onstruct the guide wall. a

b) Excavation to form the diaphragm wall trench. a

c) Support the trench cutting using bentonite slurry.

d) Installation of stop ends and cage. a

e) Concreting. a

Equipment used:

1) Trench Cutter a

2) M e c h a n i c a l H y d r a u li c g r a b a
 3) R everse Mud Circulation R ig a

G u i d e w a ll i n s t a l l a t i o n

(a) Guide wall is two parallel

concrete beams constructed

along the side of the wall as a

guide to the clamshell which is

used for the excavation of the

diaphragm wall trenches.

(b) Typically, 1-1.5 meter

deep. a

TRENCH EXCAVAT ION:

1) In normal soil condition excavation is done using a

c l a m s h e l l or g r a b s u s p e n d e d b y c a b l e s t o a c r a n e . a

2) Excavation support a

3) The sides inside the trench cut can collapse easily.

Slurry used

4) B entonite slurry is used to protect the sides of soil.

5) Bentonite is a specially selected fine clay, when added to

w a t e r , f o r ms a n i m p e r v i o u s c a k e l i k e s l u r r y w i t h v e r y l a r g e v i s c o s i t y .

6) The slurry will produce a great lateral pressure sufficient

enough to retain the vertical soil. a

Placement of reinforcement and concrete:

1) R einforcement C age

2) R e i n f o r c e m e n t i s i n se r t e d i n t h e f o r m o f a s t e e l c a g e , b u t

may be required to lap a few sections in order to reach the required

length.

3) Concreting placing a

4) Placing of concrete is done using tremie pipes to avoid

the segregation of concrete.

5) As Concrete being poured down, bentonite will be

displaced due to its lower density than concrete. a

 6) B e n t o n i t e i s t h e n c ol l e c t e d a n d r e u s e d .

BE NTONITE S LURRY

1) Used as a support fluid

2) T h e b e n t o n i t e s u s p e ns i o n u s e d i n b o r e h o l e s i s b a s i c a l l y a

c l a y o f m o n t mo r i l l o n i t e g r o u p h a v i n g e x c h a n g e a b l e s o d i u m i o n s

cations (Na+).

3) The action of bentonite in stabilizing the sides of bore

holes is primari ly due to the thixotrop ic property of bentonite

suspension. Bentonite

4) T h e b e n t o n i t e s u s p e ns i o n w h e n u n d i s t u r b e d f o r m s a j e l l y

which whe n agitate d bec omes a fluid aga in.

Functions of Bentonite

1) In case of granular soils, the bentonite suspension

penetrates into the sides under positive pressure and after a while

forms a jelly.

2) T h e b e n t o n i t e s u s p e ns i o n g e t s d e p o s i t e d o n t h e s i d e s o f t h e

hole resulting in the formation of a filter cake in contact with soil

a gainst whic h the liquid fluid pre ssure a cts.

3) In case of impervious clay, the bentonite does not penetrate

into the soil, but deposits only a thin film on the surface of the

hole.

E X E C U T IO N O F D I A P H R A G M W A L L S W I T H H Y D R O F R A I S E

Definition of hydrofraise

A hydrofraise is a reverse circulat ion excavation tool which consists

of a heavy steel frame with two drive gears attached to its bottom

e nd, whic h rota te in opposite dire ction round horiz ontal a xes. C utter

wheels area mounted onto the drive gears. C utter wheels area

mounted onto the

As they rotate, the soil beneath the cutter is continuously removed,

broken up, mixed with the bentonite slurry in the trench and moved

towards the opening of the suction box.

The slurry charged with soil or rock particles is pumped by a

centrifugal pump which is located right above the cutter wheels

through a ring main of hose pipes to a desanding plant where it is

cleaned and returned into the trench.

Main applications of the hydrofraise

The hydrofraise is used for the construction of diaphragm and cut-off

walls in difficul t conditions: excavation of rock and hard layers of

s o i l , d e e p pa n e l s a n d s t r i c t t o l e r a n c e s .

Equipment

The equipment re quire d for the e xec ution of diaphragm wa lls with

hydrofraise is composed by the excavation machine (hydrofraise)

and the slurry plant; its main functions are:

Hydrofraise

1) Excavation of the soil.

2) Pumping of the mix soil-support slurry from the trench to the

slurry plant. Cutte r whe els

3) Cleaning of the bottom of the excavation.

4) R eplacement of the support slurry before concreting.

S l u r r y p l an t

1) P r o d u c t i o n a n d s t or a g e o f t h e s u p p o r t s l u r r y .

2) P u m p i n g o f t h e S up p o r t s l u r r y f r o m t h e s l u r r y p l a n t t o t h e

trench.
 3) S e p a r a t i o n o f t h e mi x s o i l - s u p p o r t s l u r r y c r e a t e d b y t h e

hydrofraise.

4) Trea tment of the wa ste slurry.

C o n s t r u c t io n m e t h o d

The exe cution of diaphragm wa lls with hydrofra ise is ba sed on the

reverse circulation technique.

The excavation is carried out by milling soil by means of two drums

fitted with tungsten carbide cutters, rotating in opposite directions.

steel frame with two

Particles of soil, suspended in the support fluid, are pumped off the

t r e n c h b y ut i l i z i n g a s u c t i o n p u m p a n d d e l i v e r e d t o t h e d e s c a n t i n g

p l a n t t h r o ug h t h e p i p e l i n e s .

At the plant the particles of soil are removed from the bentonite

s u s p e n s i o n, w h i c h i s r e c y c l e d i n t o t h e s t o r a g e t a n k s .

Pr e-cast Con cr ete Diap hr agm Wall

1. H a v e s o m e a pp l i c a t i o n s w i t h i n - s i t u c o n c r e t e d i a p h r a g m w a l l s .

2. Lack in design flexibility.

3. T h e p a n e l o r po s t p a n e l u n i t s a r e i n s t a l l e d i n a t r e n c h f i l l e d w i t h a

special mixture of bentonite and cement with a retarder to control

t h e s e t t i n g t i me .
 4. This mixture ensure s that the joints be twee n the wa ll c omponents

are effectively sealed.

5. To provide stability, the panels of posts are tied to the retained

earth with ground anchors.

Advantages of diaphragm wall:

1) T h e p r o c e s s o f c o n s tr u c t i n g t h e w a l l i s r e l a t i v e l y q u i e t &

has small vibration.

2) Can be constructed to a great depth. a

3) The wa ll provides tempora ry supports during exc ava tion

hence expensive work of steelwork is eliminated. a

4) Good water cut-off.

5) No dewatering is necessary.

6) Serves both as external work for the basement and

foundation for superstructure. a

7) S u i t a b l e f o r d e e p ba s e m e n t . I t c a n b e u p t o 5 0 m d e p t h .

Common -

8) C ommonly used in congested areas.

9) Installed in close proximity to existing structu re. a

10) Suitable for unstable soil profiles below water table.

11) Limited construction time. a

12) Designable to carry vertical loads.

13) Minimize the settlement of adjacent building. a

Disadvantages of diaphragm wall:

1) The cost is higher than conventional methods.

2) S pec ial Equipme nt is ne ce ssary.

3) Larger space is required at site for the special eupi

equipment.

Komal Ganpat Tawde sr. no.64 sem. 7 btech G