Groutability of cement-based grout with consideration of viscosity and filtration phenomenon

Abstract

The groutability depends on the properties of the grout, its injection processes, and on the mechanical properties of the soil formation. During the process of pouring cement-based grouting into a porous medium, a variation with time occurs in the viscosity of grout suspension. In addition, the particle filtration phenomenon will limit the expansion of the grouted zone because cement particles are progressively stagnant within the soil matrix. In this paper, a closed-form solution was derived by implementing the mass balance equations and the generalized phenomenological filtration law, which can be used to evaluate the deposition of cement-based grout in the soil matrix. The closed-form solution relevant to a particular spherical flow was modified by a step-wise numerical calculation, considering the variable viscosity caused by a chemical reaction, and the decrease in porosity resulting from grout particle deposition in the soil pores. A series of pilot-scale chamber injection tests was performed to verify that the developed step-wise numerical calculation is able to evaluate the injectable volume of grout and the deposition of grout particles. The results of the chamber injection tests concurred well with that of the step-wise numerical calculation. Based on the filtration phenomenon, a viable approach for estimating the groutability of cement-based grout in a porous medium was also suggested, which might facilitate a new insight in the design of the grouting process. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.