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Diaphragm Wall: Construction and Design: by Umer Farooq GNDEC, Ludhiana
Diaphragm Wall: Construction and Design: by Umer Farooq GNDEC, Ludhiana
By
Umer farooq
GNDEC, Ludhiana
DIAPHRAGM WALL
Diaphragm walls are concrete or reinforced concrete walls
constructed in slurry-supported, open trenches below
existing ground.
Concrete is placed using the Tremie installation method or
by installing pre-cast concrete panels (known as a pre-cast
diaphragm wall). Diaphragm walls can be constructed to
depths of 150 meters and to widths of 0.5 to 1.50 meters.
Diaphragm wall construction methods are relatively quiet
and cause little or no vibration. Therefore, they are especially
suitable for civil engineering projects in densely-populated
inner city areas.
Due to their ability to keep deformation low and provide low
water permeability, diaphragm walls are also used to retain
excavation pits in the direct vicinity of existing structures.
Which code to use?
IS 14344 : 1996
a) Rigid type
1) Reinforced cement concrete.
b) Flexible type
1) Plastic concrete,
2) Cement bentonite slurry trench, and
3) Earth backfilled slurry trench.
Depending on the function the following kinds of diaphragm walls are
used:
1) Structural walls
2) Load Bearing Elements
3) Cutoff walls
Structural Diaphragm walls: they are used as retaining walls for the
perimeter walls of deep basements and underground parking facilities,
subways, underpasses, etc
Load bearing walls: they are used in place of drilled piers in foundation
of tall buildings, bridge piers, etc
3. As the excavation proceeds, support fluid was added into the excavation to
maintain the stability of the surrounding ground and to prevent a collapse.
This fluid is called “Bentonite”, which is a poser made of a special type of
soluble clay and is mixed at the mixing plant with potable water.
c) The best location for a diaphragm wall within a structure is where the
loads are reasonably balanced on both sides of the wall.
Structural Analysis:
Rigid type of diaphragm wall is to be analyzed either by the
method of beam on elastic foundation or by finite element method
(FEM).
Structural Analysis: