Cut-off Wall and its construction

Introduction

The main purpose of inserting a cut-off wall is to reduce seepage. Cut-off walls are used for both environmental and civil projects. in excavation projects, for example, cut-off wall can be used as a barrier around the perimeter of the excavation to prevent groundwater from entering the working area. Cut-off walls are also an effective measures to reduce seepage and uplift pressure in dam structures. cut-off walls can be constructed through several methods such as :

  1. Steel sheet-piling
  2. Concrete diaphragm walls
  3. Grout barriers
  4. Artificial ground freezing

Each method is suitable under certain conditions. Structures which are constructed on permeable foundations might confront with problematic seepage due to the  difference of water levels between upstream and downstream sides of the structures. Seepage has 3 general results: uplift force, seepage discharge and exit gradient.

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