Development and experiment study on seawater-based slurry for subsea tunnels in slurry shield tunneling

In the construction of subsea tunnels by slurry shield tunneling method, the salt-resisting slurry which can satisfy both environmental and practical application is required. The intrusion of seawater can significantly decrease the physical stability of freshwater-based slurry. In this study, the HPMC, Na₂CO₃ and TFLS were selected as the additives to develop seawater-based Na-bentonite slurry. The effect of seawater content on the deterioration of the slurry colloid ratio and funnel viscosity before and after the addition of different additive contents was investigated by slurry mixing ratio and particle size analysis. In addition, the degradation mechanism of Na-bentonite slurry and the anti-deterioration mechanism of slurry with different additives in seawater environment were revealed respectively by permeability tests and SEM tests. The test results indicated that the Na-bentonite slurry significantly segregate when the seawater content is more than 30 %. To control the viscosity of slurry in the reasonable range, Na₂CO₃ is determined as the hydrolytic agent of HPMC, which can turn the molecular chain of HPMC gradually stretched from tight curl. And the optimum amount of Na₂CO₃ is 0.03 %. TFLS was validated as a stable dispersant for Na-bentonite slurry when the content is 3 %. The hydrolysates -SO₃H, Fe3+ and Ti4+ can form complexes with the cations in seawater and bentonites respectively. The interaction between the complexes ensures that the TFLS slurry can maintain an appropriate colloidal ratio. Both the results of permeability tests and SEM tests showed that the salt resistance ability and the application performance of HPMC is superior to HPMC+Na₂CO₃, and superior to TFLS. The research results and findings could provide references for the preparation of slurry for the subsea slurry shield tunneling.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138646
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061824037887
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09500618
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Yang, Yinzun
  • Yuan, Dajun
  • Jin, Dalong
  • Yi, Yongqiang
• Publication Date: 2024-11-15

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 138646
• Serial:
  • Construction and Building Materials
  • Volume: 451
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0950-0618
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09500618?sdc=1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Seawater; Shield tunneling method; Slurry; Underwater tunnels
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01939188
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 11 2024 10:39AM