REPORT FINDS SLURRY TRENCH WALL SYSTEM PRACTICAL, ECONOMICAL, AND VERSATILE

The slurry trench method of wall construction, used widely in Europe for a variety of foundation and retaining wall applications, is a practical, economical alternative to other ground support methods. It warrants further study in U.S.A. and should be included as an alternate in appropriate construction contracts, says a report on "The Design and Construction of Diaphragm Walls in Western Europe, 1979." The newly-published report describes the result of a study carried out by the International Road Federation for the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. The slurry trench method, also called the diaphragm wall method, consists of constructing a wall in a narrow fluid-filled trench. As the excavation proceeds, the trench is kept filled with a dense bentonite (clay) slurry which supports the sides of the trench until the slurry is replaced by cast-in-place concrete or precast concrete panels. The report identifies the principal advantages of slurry trench walls as: use of the wall as both temporary ground support and as the permanent wall; ease of construction in narrow confines; excellent barrier to groundwater flow, and a rigid support for open excavations to great depth; and in place off underpinning of adjacent structures. The slurry trench method was found to be an economical alternate for construction of a depressed section of highway where the cut section requires vertical retaining walls. (Author)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/25073860
• Corporate Authors:

  International Road Federation

  525 School Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20024
• Publication Date: 1980-12

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 1-2
• Serial:
  • World Highways/Routes du Monde
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Route One Publishing Limited
  • ISSN: 0964-4598
  • Serial URL: http://www.worldhighways.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bentonite slurry; Cast in place structures; Clay; Construction; Construction management; Diaphragm walls; Precast concrete; Retaining walls; Slurry trenches; State of the art studies; Utilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Bentonite-cement slurry; Slurry trench construction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Research; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330225
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM