Distributed temperature sensing applied during diaphragm wall construction

Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) can be used to monitor the production process of diaphragm walls. DTS is able to differentiate between already present or fresh bentonite suspensions during refreshing of the bentonite slurry in the trench. During concrete casting, DTS is able to differentiate between the bentonite suspension and concrete...

To detect anomalies in diaphragm walls

Diaphragm walls are potentially ideal retaining walls for deep excavations in densely built-up areas, as they cause no vibrations during their construction and provide structural elements with high strength and stiffness. In the recent past, however, several projects using diaphragm walls as soil and water retaining elements have encountered...

Detection of Anomalies in Diaphragm Walls

If a calamity with a retaining wall occurs, the impact on surrounding buildings and infrastructure is at least an order of magnitude more severe than without the calamity. In 2005 and 2006 major leaks in the retaining walls of underground stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam occurred. After these cases had been thoroughly studied it was concluded...

Concrete Flow in Diaphragm Wall Panels: A Full-Scale In-Situ Test

Flow processes, taking place during the concreting of diaphragm wall panels (D-wall panels), are of great importance for the quality of the wall. During this phase, the bentonite, present in the excavated trench, should be completely replaced by concrete in a controlled way. In literature several cases are described in which this process...

Detection of Anomalies in Diaphragm Walls

If a calamity with a retaining wall occurs, the impact on surrounding buildings and infrastructure is at least an order of magnitude more severe than without the calamity. In 2005 and 2006 major leaks in the retaining walls of underground stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam occurred. After these cases had been thoroughly studied it was concluded...

Concrete Flow in Diaphragm Wall Panels: A Full-Scale In-Situ Test

Flow processes, taking place during the concreting of diaphragm wall panels (D-wall panels), are of great importance for the quality of the wall. During this phase, the bentonite, present in the excavated trench, should be completely replaced by concrete in a controlled way. In literature several cases are described in which this process...

Concrete Flow in Diaphragm Wall Panels: A Full-Scale In-Situ Test

Flow processes, taking place during the concreting of diaphragm wall panels (D-wall panels), are of great importance for the quality of the wall. During this phase, the bentonite, present in the excavated trench, should be completely replaced by concrete in a controlled way. In literature several cases are described in which this process...

Risk Management for the Underground Car Park Kruisplein

In the preparation and construction stages of the underground car park beneath Kruisplein with diaphragm walls, risk management played an important role. After a description of the structure and the construction, the preventive measures that were invented and carried out are summarised. These relate to the organisation of the project ...

Risk Evolution during the Design of the Adaptation of a Railway Bridge Foundation

During a design process the risk profile of a project continuously evolves. Often a project progresses through a diamond shaped risk envelope. The initial concept is simple, but during the engineering process several risks are defined and mitigated, making the design increasingly complex. With additional investigations and calculations, some of...

The feasibility of removable prefab diaphragm walls

A diaphragm wall is a cast in-situ reinforced concrete retaining wall applied in, among others, quay walls. The main advantages of this type of retaining wall are that it can be made in almost every preferred length and that it can resist high structural loads. However, there are several disadvantages: sufficient concrete cover on the...

Probabilistic analysis of soil: Diaphragm wall friction used for value engineering of deep excavation, north/south metro Amsterdam

The excavation of deep building pits often requires a check against failure by uplift of low permeability ground layers below excavation level. Whenever the weight of these soil layers is less than the pore-water pressure underneath, measures to resist buoyancy are to be considered. The measures most commonly adopted include: decreasing the...