Advances In Diaphragm Wall Construction

Diaphragm walls are reinforced concrete retaining wall structures that are constructed by excavating the ground using slurry supported trenches. Although diaphragm walls have numerous benefits, and are a favourite option of engineers who intend to retain the ground without massive preparatory excavations or who desire to create dry excavated work places, and even though this type of wall has been in use for approximately 40 years in Australia it is the experience of the authors that this technology has not received sufficient exposure, its benefits and its construction process still remains mysterious to the typical geotechnical engineer. In this paper the history of diaphragm walls and the benefits of this wall system will be briefly presented, which will then be followed by a discussion on the how diaphragm walls are constructed and how technology has evolved and advanced throughout the past several decades. Reference to projects will also be presented to further demonstrate local Australian and international achievements.