Dewatering
Madhav Madhira
Permeability scale
Example of scale effect for permeability
Downward vertical flow-cofferdam
Radial flow
Upward vertical flow
Excavation in sandy soils: a. Sandy Soils & b. Deep wall to increase Head loss
a. Embed cut-off in clay & b.
Excavation in rock like conditions: a. Pumping only & b. Pumping + Grout Cut-off
Base of excavation in competent ground with more permeable stratum at depth
Commissioning and monitoring
Role of deep wells
Ground water lowering technique as a function of soil permeability
Thin cut-off wall: Vibrowall installation sequence
France-Concarneau dry- dock
India-Teesta dam
Typical Drainage Blanket & Filter Applications
Dewatering
Construction below GWT Removal of Water Safe & Stable Open Excavation Long Term Integrity of Structure Major Component of Modern Construction below GL K > 10-4 cm/s
Dewatering
Typically considered contractors responsibility He chooses the method Ensures it operated correctly Specifications therefore:
Typically brief
Emphasis is on assignment of responsibility
Groundwater depth determined:
Thru geotechnical report
Design Alternatives
Shallow Excavations
General Dewatering Techniques
Perimeter trenches Sumps Well point systems Mechanical shields such as sheet piling
Perimeter Trenches
Effective if water migrates laterally If trench can be dug to sufficient depth to drain site Pumping of trenches then may be required
Sump System of Dewatering
Well Points
Well Points
Shallow wells drilled closely together
Around perimeter of excavation site
Ground water is extracted Wells rarely more than 20 feet deep If deeper than 20 feet:
May be placed on series of benches or steps Due to problems trying to lift water from depths
Wells typically spaced 3 to 5 feet apart:
Depending on soil permeability
Wells may or may not be cased
Well Point Dewatering System
Excavation with Temporary Dewatering
Two Step Well Point System Separate Pump Provided for Each Step
Deep Well System
Cased Borehole Using well drilling rig Drilled to lower than required dewatering depth Use of submersible pump
Two Types of Well Point Systems
Jet System And Vacuum System
Jet Well Point System
Jet System:
Has two pipes in well One is in-flow pipe at considerable pressure A venturi system at bottom of well creates a vacuum As water from in-flow pipe passes thru out-flow pipe This vacuum pulls any water in bottom of well into
stream flowing into out-flow pipe
Can be operated in deeper wells than vacuum system due to:
Water in well is mixed with water coming down the in-
flow pipe and pushed to surface through the out-flow pipe
Vacuum Well Point System
Only one pipe extended into well Pump creates a vacuum in manifold and Water is sucked up pipe into manifold Then discharged a distance from excavation Will operate at 20 foot depth or less
Vacuum Dewatering
Electro-Osmosis
Dewatering by Well Pumping
Relief Wells
Foundation Drains
Blanket Drains
Examples of Drains
Interceptor Drains
Filters
Design Criteria for Filters
Cut-Off Methods
Cut-Off Methods 2
Cut-Off Methods 3
Sheet Piling
Sheet Piling
Sections & Interlocks
Examples of Sheet Pile Cutoffs
Examples of Sheet Pile Cut-offs
Mechanical Shields
Caissons Sheet piling
Most common
Cofferdams Slurry trench
Types of Caissons
Watertight Structure:
In which work is performed underwater Area is dewatered
Drilled Caisson:
Deep foundation constructed in place by drilling &
placing concrete
Caisson Watertight Structure
Type of deep foundation Excavation from within permanent structure:
Structure built in place if on land or
Floated in place if on water
When structure in-place:
As excavation from within begins Structure sinks under added or own weight Process continued to required depth
Used for:
Small structures (few feet in diameter)
Large structures (over 100 feet in diameter)
Watertight Caisson Structure
Top of caisson may be sealed Work done within :
Under elevated air pressure Use of compressed air permits un-watering Air pressure greater than water pressure
Watertight Caisson Installation Sequence
If problem sinking: Weight added Lubricants used:
Clay slurry injected
Jetting done in:
Cohesionless soils
Un-watering Caisson
Partially un-watered No seal Seepage from ground Illustration below
Cofferdams
Structures built in place Exclude water & earth from excavation Single walled cofferdam:
Excavation small enough to Permit internal bracing
Double walled sheet piling cofferdams Typical application:
Small bridge piers
Coffer Dam Constructed of Sheet Piling
Single Cofferdam Application
Steel sheet piling enclosure constructed Tremie concrete seal poured Cofferdam un-watered as internal bracing installed Pier construction completed in dry
Cofferdam @ Bridge Repair
Cofferdam @ Bridge Repair
Cofferdam
Cellular Cofferdam
Excavation size precludes cross bracing Typically circular cells at perimeter May be un-watered as soon as enclosure complete
Slurry Trench
Digging narrow deep trench Filling trench with stiff clay slurry May need to dig thru the slurry in soil prone to caving in. In some cases concrete is pumped to bottom of trench then concrete displaces slurry as it rises Other cases slurry is thickened then allowed to dry The clay filled trench forms almost an impenetrable barrier to moisture migration Excavation must be kept back distance from trench
Slurry Trench System
Freezing of Soil for Dewatering
Used only in rare instances due to high costs Involves: Drilling closely spaced holes:
Around perimeter of area to be excavated
Inserting piping Pumping a Super-cooled refrigerant solution thru pipes Two pipes required in each hole
To provide circulation of refrigerant
Technique is very effective as dewatering method
Freezing Soil For Dewatering
If there is a flow of water through the ground to be frozen the freezing time will be increased by reason of the continuing supply of heat energy and, if the flow is large and the water temperature high, freezing may be completely inhibited.
Once the freezing process has begun, monitoring is required to ensure formation of the barrier wall and also to verify when freezing is complete. During the drilling process, temperaturemonitoring pipes are installed to measure the ground temperature. Below are the techniques for temporary support of a tunnel heading by freezing:
Secant Piles
Mixed in Place Pile
Mixed in Place Pile Wall
Predrilling with CFA; H Beams Placed in the Augered Holes
Excavation Before and After Placement of Steel Reinforcement
Shotcreting & After
View of Excavation
View of 7.5 m Deep Excavation
DSM Pattern
DSM Wall
Retaining, Basement & Mixed in Place Pile Walls
Slurry Walls Rigid Support
