The Geomix\u00ae process is used to form soil\/cement barrettes in a single bite.<\/p>\n
Continuous walls can be created by a succession of overlapping bites, built following a primary secondary sequence.<\/p>\n
Used without structural reinforcement, the resulting walls can form low permeability barriers or be used for ground improvement purposes, such as slope stabilisation and liquefaction mitigation.<\/p>\n
Temporary or permanent retaining walls can be created when combined with structural reinforcement, usually in the form of metal profiles incorporated into the mix.<\/p>\n
Wall dimensions<\/h3>\n
As with a Hydrofraise\u00ae wall, the wall thickness corresponds to the width of the drums used to create it: these range from 500 mm to 1,200 mm.<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
What are the advantages of this technique?<\/p>\n
<\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>A more economical support of excavation solution beneath groundwater level<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>A patented solution for the construction of permanent retaining structures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>\n
Real-time control of verticality<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>Cut-off walls with lower permeability than slurry walls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>No heavy handling of rebar cages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>No vibration during the process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>Can be used within less than one metre of existing structures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>Saves time as it is often unnecessary to build guide walls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Environmental benefits <\/i>\n
<\/h2><\/div>
\n- Less natural resources consumed,<\/strong> such as water, cement and aggregates, which are replaced by the soil in place.<\/li>\n
- Little or no spoil produced,<\/strong> so less material to remove and less CO2 emitted (linked to transport).<\/li>\n
- Contamination present in the soil is neutralized<\/strong> by treating it in situ with a binder.<\/li>\n
- No displacement of soil (excavation, dredging, etc.),<\/strong> so less risk of pollutants circulating in natural environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
How is the Geomix\u00ae process implemented?<\/p>\n
<\/h2><\/div>
Geomix\u00ae is a 2-phase process.<\/strong><\/p>\nA downward phase to destructure the soil and an upward phase to homogenise the mix. The grout binder can be incorporated during either of these two phases.<\/p>\n
For support of excavation purpose, Geomix\u00ae walls usually incorporate structural reinforcement to counteract the bending forces due to earth pressure. These profiles are inserted into the fresh mix. The soil\/cement material is stressed in compression arches between the profiles. The very low permeability of the material protects the excavation from water ingress through the wall.<\/p>\n
\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Soletanche Bachy\u2019s advantages<\/p>\n
<\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
The combination of our know-how about Deep Soil Mixing technique and Hydrofraise\u00ae technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Recognised expertise in cement grouts and drilling fluids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
In-depth knowledge of the properties of the soil-cement mixture, allowing to offer specific mix designs that are optimised and dedicated to each site<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>The combination of our know-how about Deep Soil Mixing technique and Hydrofraise\u00ae technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/i><\/div>Recognised expertise in cement grouts and drilling fluids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/i><\/div>In-depth knowledge of the properties of the soil-cement mixture, allowing to offer specific mix designs that are optimised and dedicated to each site<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Execution controls and monitoring<\/p>\n
<\/h2><\/div>
Geomix\u00ae walls are checked and monitored at various stages of their construction and at different levels:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Regular monitoring of grout properties and grout design<\/p>\n
\u2013 Real-time rig positioning and real-time verticality controls<\/p>\n
\u2013 A dedicated supervision system embedding the latest data transmission technology, checking simultaneously the mix homogeneity and the quantity of binder incorporated.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Properties of the final material can be checked by sampling the fresh mixture and\/or core drilling<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>