Construction of Diaphragm Wall

Presentation by: Gagan Goswami

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Content

Introduction Application Category of Diaphragm Wall Construction Procedure

Introduction
Diaphragm Wall is generally reinforced concrete wall constructed in the ground using Underslurry technique which was developed in Europe. The technique involves excavating a narrow trench that is kept full of an engineered fluid of slurry. Walls of thickness between 300 and 1200 mm can be formed in this way up to a depths of 45 meters.
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Conceptual sketch showing the RCC Diaphragm Wall

Diaphragm wall-Application

Commonly used in congested areas -Can be Installed in close proximity to existing structure Practically suited for deep basements Used in conjunction with Top Down construction technique

Schematic section of Diaphragm Wall showing typical use

Schematic section of Diaphragm Wall showing typical use

Schematic section of Diaphragm Wall showing typical use

Schematic section of Diaphragm Wall showing typical use

Anchoring of Diaphragm Wall using Anchor Slab

Anchor Slab

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Anchoring of Diaphragm Wall using Anchor Blocks

Diaphragm Wall

Anchor Bars Anchor Blocks

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Important Conditions Dictate the use of Diaphragm Wall

Very unstable soil profiles below the water table Limited construction time Where deeper than normal cantilever support may be required

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Positive facades of Diaphragm Wall

Can be Installed to considerable depth Formation of walls with substantial thickness Flexible system in plan layout Easily incorporated into Permanent works Designable to carry vertical loads Construction time of Basement can be lowered considerably. Economic and Positive solution for large deep basement in saturated and unstable soil profiles. Can be used for seepage control in Dams. Noise levels limited to engine noise only. No vibration during installation.
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Negative Facades of Diaphragm Wall

Not economical for small, shallow Basements

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Category of Diaphragm wall

1) 2) 3)

In Situ Cement Bentonite Vertical Wall In Situ RCC Vertical Wall Precast RCC Vertical Wall

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In Situ Cement Bentonite Vertical Wall

Provides water tight barrier Used to prevent seepage/water loss from Natural reservoir and Dams

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In Situ RCC Vertical Wall

Underground Structural element Used for Retention systems and Permanent foundation walls Deep groundwater barriers

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Procedure
Diaphragm Wall construction begins with the trench being excavated in discontinuous sections or panels. Stop-ends are placed vertically at each end of primary panel to form joints for adjacent secondary panel or closing panels. Panels are usually 4 to 6 meters long. Stop-ends are used to form the joints between adjacent panels and a water bar can be incorporated across these joints.
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Construction Method

S econdary

P rim ary

S econdary

S econdary

S econdary

C losing

S econdary

Construction Joint form ed by Circular Stopend Pipe

Construction Joint

Schem atic D iagramShow ing Construction Joint betw een A djucent Panels

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Construction Method

S econdary

P rim ary

S econdary

S econdary

S econdary

C losing

S econdary

Construction Joint form ed by Flat Stop end

Construction Joint

Schem atic D iagramShow ing Construction Joint betw een A djucent Panels

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Different Shapes of Diaphragm Wall Panel

T-Shape Panel

L-Shape Panel
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Different stages of construction activities

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Diaphragm Wall Construction Site

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Construction Procedure

Stage-1: Stage-2: Stage-3: Stage-4: Stage-5: Stage-6: Stage-7: Stage-8:

Fixing of Alignment Guide wall Construction Trenching Trench Cleaning Stop ends fixing Reinforcement Cage lowering Placing of Concrete Withdrawal of Stop ends
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Guide Wall Construction

Guide Wall is constructed to fix the alignment of Diaphragm Wall in the field

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Guide Wall Construction

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Trenching Equipments

Hydraulic Grab Kelly-mounted or Cable-hung cam buckets

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Kelly-mounted Hydraulic Grab

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Cable-hung cam bucket

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Trenching Process

Trenching usually carried out under bentonite slurry Bentonite Slurry Key component. -This Slurry acts as shoring to prevent collapse by hydraulic pressure and thyrotrophic property.

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Bentonite Slurry

Used as a support fluid The bentonite suspension used in bore holes is basically a clay of montmorillonite group having exchangeable sodium cations (Na+). The action of bentonite in stabilizing the sides of bore holes is primarily due to the thixotropic property of bentonite suspension. The bentonite suspension when undisturbed forms a jelly which when agitated becomes a fluid again.
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Functions of Bentonite

In case of granular soils, the bentonite suspension penetrates into the sides under positive pressure and after a while forms a jelly. The bentonite suspension gets deposited on the sides of the hole resulting in the formation of a filter cake in contact with soil against which the fluid pressure acts. 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.
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Factors affecting stability of Trench

Level of the supporting fluid

-Level of the bentonite slurry should be maintained preferably at least 1.5m above the ground water level to avoid problem of instability.

Density and Viscosity of supporting fluid Loss of shear strength with time Suction effect during trenching

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Specification of Bentonite (as per IS:2911-Part1:Sec2)

Liquid limit :

300 to 450 % (in accordance with IS:2720-part V )

Sand content : Less than 7 % Density: 1.12 Marsh viscosity : About 37 second, tested by
Marsh cone

Swelling index: Swelling index at least 2 times

of dry volume.

pH value :

Less than 11.5

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Tests and compliance values for support fluid prepared from bentonite (as per IS9556-1980)
Property Test method As supplied to the bore Before concreting

Density Viscosity Shear strength pH

Mud balance Marsh cone Shearometer / Vane shear apparatus Digital pH meter

1.041.10g/ml 30 - 90 seconds 1.4 to 10 N/sq.m 9.5-12

<1.15g/ml

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Schematic Diagram of Bentonite Setup

Storage tanks
Settling Circulation Fresh

T3

T2 Mud Pump

T1

Mixer

Diaphragm Wall Construction area

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Bentonite Setup

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Preparation of Bentonite Slurry

Bentonite slurry made by passing dry powder through water jet. A conical hopper is used with bottom nozzle through which water is pumped under pressure. The bentonite powder is poured directly from top and when it falls down the hopper, it gets agitated in the water. After getting circulated, the mixed bentonite thus falls in the tank.

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Trench Cleaning

Joints of adjacent panels to be cleaned to obtain watertight bond Loose materials to be lifted by suitable air lifting method

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Fixing of Stop ends

Stop ends to be fixed at the proper position keeping it truly vertical Distance between two Stop ends to be fixed as per prefixed Panel Layout

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Reinforcement Cage
Excavation of panel is followed by placing of steel reinforcement cage in center of the panel.

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Reinforcement Cage fabrication

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Reinforcement Cage shifting

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Lowering of reinforcement cage in the excavated panel

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Resting of reinforcement cage in the excavated panel

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Different stages of construction

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Placing of Concrete

Placing of concrete having slump 150mm to 190mm by tremmie method Concrete to be placed through a top metal hopper and into a rigid leak proof tremmie pipe (2 sets), sufficiently large enough to permit free flow of concrete. Initially there should be a suitable plug at the bottom of metal hopper, which will not discharge concrete until sufficient concrete accumulate in the metal hopper. concrete displaces the slurry from bottom and rises in such a manner that mixing of concrete with slurry does not occurs
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Placing Concrete

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Placing of Concrete

Pouring shall be continued till it accumulates in vertical Tremmie pipe up to top of funnel. Tremmie pipe shall be raised so as to release the concrete in a single continuous flow. Concrete to be discharged in the trench without any lateral movement of Tremmie pipe.
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Placing of Concrete

Caution - Bottom end of Tremmie pipe must remains immersed in concrete. Operation to be continued till good concrete reaches 300mm above the cut-off level of Diaphragm Wall. This concrete above cut-off shall be removed when green Chipping of concrete is not to be permitted. Length of Tremmie pipe shall be reduced by removal of Tremmie segment stage by stage.
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Withdrawal of Stop ends

Withdrawal of Stop ends just after the Initial setting of concrete. If retarders are not added, Stop End Pipes shall be moved up & down not later than 45 minutes from the time of placing of concrete.

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Contact Details
Gagan Goswami Cell-+919662506595 Address HERITAGE INFRASPACE INDIA PVT. LTD F-36,Sukh Shine, Opposite to Himalaya Mall Drive In Road, Ahmadabad, Gujarat ,India

E mail- info@diaphragmwallconstruction.com,gagangoswami@yahoo.co.in Website- www.diaphragmwallconstruction.com

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