Application of bentonite suspension for diaphragm wall under ‘infill’ conditions

In highly urbanized agglomerations investors are forced to develop areas located among densely concentrated elements of the on-ground and underground urban infrastructure. When an ‘infill’ is constructed, the diaphragm wall technology is frequently implemented, in which the excavation of the slurry trench filled with a bentonite suspension is a significant stage. The article discusses the standard-specified requirements for the bentonite suspension used in the construction of the diaphragm wall. It also summarizes the methodology of the laboratory investigation of bentonite-slurry-filled trenches, performed in the conditions of the ‘infill’ construction. The studies covered the clogging of soil, specific gravity and viscosity of the bentonite slurry and the effect of external load on the stability of the trench.