189

7. C O N T A C T A N D C O N S O L I D A T I O N G R O U T I N G

7 . 1 . S c o p e a n d application of consolidation a n d contact g r o u t i n g

Contact grouting is t h e p r o c e s s o f filling t h e j o i n t o n t h e c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d its foun-

dation. This can b e the interface of a concrete gravity or arch d a m foundation, or the contact joint
b e t w e e n t h e c o n c r e t e l i n i n g o f a t u n n e l a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g r o c k . T h e p u r p o s e o f this k i n d o f g r o u t -
i n g is to a c h i e v e a t i g h t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g r o c k , s o that
t h e y c a n a c t as a s t r u c t u r a l e n t i t y . C o n t a c t g r o u t i n g i n v o l v e s o n l y t h e j o i n t a n d a r o c k z o n e 0 . 5 to
1.0 m t h i c k .

Consolidation grouting i n v o l v e s a r o c k z o n e o f g r e a t e r t h i c k n e s s t h a n c o n t a c t g r o u t i n g b e l o w the

foundation of large concrete structures, or around the lining of tunnels or large excavated under-
g r o u n d s p a c e s . Its p u r p o s e is t o r e e s t a b l i s h o r t o i m p r o v e a n d h o m o g e n i z e t h e d e f o r m a t i o n p r o p e r -
ties o f t h e r o c k v o l u m e b e l o w t h e f o u n d a t i o n surface w h e r e the rock was loosened by excavation
b l a s t i n g , i n t h e z o n e o f h i g h e s t f o u n d a t i o n s t r e s s e s a n d h i g h e s t d e f o r m a b i l i t y . T h e d e p t h of c o n s o l i -
d a t i o n g r o u t i n g d e p e n d s o n t h e r o c k p r o p e r t i e s , t h e s i z e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e l o a d i m p o s e d b y the
structure.

C o n s o l i d a t i o n g r o u t i n g is a l s o c a r r i e d o u t a r o u n d t h e l i n i n g s o f t u n n e l s i n a z o n e w h e r e t h e r o c k
is l o o s e n e d b y b l a s t i n g a n d b y the stress r e l a x a t i o n f o l l o w i n g t h e e x c a v a t i o n a r o u n d t h e t u n n e l . P a r t
o f t h e l o a d o f h y d r o s t a t i c p r e s s u r e o n t h e l i n i n g o f p r e s s u r e t u n n e l s c a n b e t r a n s f e r r e d to the r o c k
s u r r o u n d i n g t h e t u n n e l if its d e f o r m a b i l i t y is l o w , t h u s r e d u c i n g t h e t e n s i l e s t r e s s e s i n the l i n i n g , its
dimensions and reinforcement. T h e deformability of rock around the tunnels perimeter loosened by
b l a s t i n g for e x c a v a t i o n is i n c r e a s e d a d d i t i o n a l l y in a z o n e o f s t r e s s r e l a x a t i o n b y t h e r e d i s t r i b u t i o n
o f g r a v i t a t i o n a l s t r e s s e s in a v o l u m e o f r o c k e q u a l to a b o u t five t i m e s its d i a m e t e r . T h e s e effects are
c a n c e l l e d o r r e d u c e d b y efficient c o n s o l i d a t i o n g r o u t i n g . I n s u c h c o n d i t i o n s c o n s o l i d a t i o n g r o u t i n g
c o n t r i b u t e s t o i m p r o v e t h e l o a d t r a n s f e r f r o m t h e l i n i n g i n t o t h e s u r r o u n d i n g r o c k v o l u m e s o that the
c o s t of l i n i n g is r e d u c e d .

7.2. Contact grouting

T h e o r d e r o f m a g n i U i d e of t h e w i d t h o f fissures a n d c o n t a c t j o i n t s w h i c h h a v e to b e injected in
c o n t a c t g r o u t i n g r a n g e s b e t w e e n s o m e t e n t h s of m i l l i m e t e r s u p t o 10 c m a n d m o r e . T h e r e f o r e , thick
c e m e n t suspensions can b e injected, preferably stable mixes w h i c h d o not lose water and segregate
w h e n s e t t i n g a n d t h u s d o n o t l e a v e a r e a s filled w i t h w a t e r o n l y . F o r filling o n l y s m a l l e r j o i n t s , sus-
p e n s i o n s of 1 C : 0 . 0 2 B : 0 . 8 W a r e s a t i s f a c t o r y , for filling l a r g e r v o i d s t h e u s e o f s a n d in s u s p e n s i o n s