Techniques
Diaphragm wall
A diaphragm wall is a reinforced concrete wall that is made in situ. The trench is prevented from collapsing during excavation, reinforcing and casting by the use of supporting bentonite slurry. The slurry forms a thick deposit (the cake) on the walls of the trench which balances the inward hydraulic forces and prevents water flow into the trench. A slurry made of polymers can also be used.
Trench stability is maintained by the use of panels of a length not exceeding about 7 m, although this can vary according to the type of soil and the neighbouring ground.
When existing buildings are alongside, the minimum distance between the main surface of the building, including its foundations, and the external panel of the wall being built will be equal to the thickness of the guide-wall.
When a panel has been excavated, the reinforcing cage is lowered into the trench, which is filled with slurry that has been pre-treated to minimise ground particles in suspension.
To make the panels, the trench is then filled with concrete from the bottom up, using tremie pipes.
.The joint between two panels can be constructed in two different ways:
- using a CWS steel formwork section that will provide a sealing system between the panels and will provide guidance for the excavation grab.
- With the hydrofraise, it is possible to bite into in the concrete of the adjacent primary panels, thus making a direct concrete to concrete interlock.
The conventional widths of diaphragm walls are: 0.50 m, 0.60 m, 0,.80 m, 1.00 m, 1.20 m and 1.50 m.
Download the Diaphragm Wall and Barrettes Brochure
Parois moulées & Barrettes va.pdfRéalisations
Climespace Refrigerating PlantWork : REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES AND UNDERPINNING WORKS,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2005 | Location : FRANCE
Special foundations for the construction of a refrigeration plant under the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Harlay car parkWork : UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS ,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1997 | Location : FRANCE
Design and construction of 10-level 295 place underground car park.
Levesque tankWork : SEWERAGE,STORM WATER TANK | Year : 2008 | Location : FRANCE
Construction of a 3,500m3 capacity storage tank.
The Sail Marina BayWork : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2005 | Location : SINGAPORE
An innovative retaining wall and barrette pile foundations for a high rise condominium.
IsséaneWork : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : | Location : FRANCE
Deep foundations works for a household waste treatment plant.
Underground car park Place d ArvieuxWork : UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS ,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2006 2008 | Location : FRANCE
Construction as a main contractor of a cylindrical underground car park comprising 7 basement levels.
Nile City - Cairo Work : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1998-1999 | Location : EGYPT
Retaining wall and foundations for 36-storey property with four basement levels.
Marina bay sandsWork : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2007 | Location : SINGAPORE
Basement retaining walls and foundations for 3 high rise hotels
Oxygene tower, Lyon Work : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2007 2008 | Location : FRANCE
The 115m high Tour Oxygène building backs on to the Part Dieu shopping centre in the heart of the business quarter of Lyon.
Saint-Michel car parkWork : UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS ,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1997 | Location : FRANCE
Design and construction of 6-floor 430 place underground car park.
Culture and Exhibition CentreWork : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1996 | Location : MONACO
A turnkey 17 000 m2 excavation.
Carrefour Romarin - La MadeleineWork : ROAD STRUCTURES | Year : 2006 | Location : FRANCE
Sensitive geotechnical works for the Grand Boulevard roadway drop.
Alexis storm water tankWork : STORM WATER TANK | Year : 2007 | Location : FRANCE
Construction of a 4,500m³ capacity storm water tank.
Concarneau dry dockWork : MARITIME WORK | Year : 2001 | Location : FRANCE
Design and construction as main contractor of dry dock, length 130m, width 27m, depth 10.80m.
Bolchoï TheatreWork : BUILDING,REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES AND UNDERPINNING WORKS | Year : 2006 - 2007 | Location : RUSSIA
Underpinning works to refurbish the Bolshoi Theater and create a major underground part.
Baudoyer car parkWork : UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS ,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1995 | Location : FRANCE
Design and construction of 5-level 320 place underground car park.
McDermott TerminalWork : MARITIME WORK | Year : 2009 | Location : MEXICO
Construction of a terminal for constructing and launching offshore oil platforms
Thu Thiem TunnelWork : ROAD STRUCTURES,TUNNELS | Year : 2005-2006 | Location : VIETNAM
Construction of two cut and cover approaches on both sides of a tunnel under the Saigon river.
Brest - dry dock no1Work : MARITIME WORK | Year : 2006-2008 | Location : FRANCE
Widening and modernisation of Dry Dock N°1 at the Brest Port de Commerce.
C854 Farrer Rd Station & TunnelsWork : METROS | Year : 2006 | Location : SINGAPORE
Retaining walls for a mass transit railway station and cut & cover tunnels.
Zeebrugge gaz terminalWork : SHAFTS | Year : 2005 | Location : BELGIUM
Construction of a circular shaft to take a gas reservoir.
Carré Royal - ReimsWork : REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES AND UNDERPINNING WORKS,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2006 | Location : FRANCE
Facades underpinning and creating a new excavation within the perimeter of the former Galeries Rémoises.
Clarke Quay station and tunnelsWork : METROS,RAILWAY WORKS,TUNNELS | Year : 1997 - 1999 | Location : SINGAPORE
Geotechnical works associated with the construction of a major underground station for the Singapore MRT North East Line.
Grand PalaisWork : REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES AND UNDERPINNING WORKS | Year : 2001 - 2003 | Location : FRANCE
Underpinning the “Grand Palais”, built in 1900 and protected as a National Heritage monument, and creating a new retaining wall for a future underground structure in the main hall.
Toulouse metro, B Line, Contract No 3Work : METROS,RAILWAY WORKS,SHAFTS,TUNNELS | Year : 2001 - 2005 | Location : FRANCE
Construction of 1.1 km of tunnel, an underground station and 2 shafts.
Port 2000 quayside 1 to 4Work : MARITIME WORK | Year : 2001-2005 | Location : FRANCE
Realisation of the first 4 quayside berths for Port 2000 operation (1,602m of length)
Vincom Block BWork : BUILDING,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 2008 | Location : VIETNAM
Diaphragm wall and barrette works for the first six-level basement project in Vietnam.
Provence Opera buildingWork : UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS ,URBAN EXCAVATIONS | Year : 1992 | Location : FRANCE
Heavy duty, composite material ground soil anchors.
El Azhar road tunnelsWork : ROAD STRUCTURES,TUNNELS | Year : 1998-2000 | Location : EGYPT
Construction of two 2.7km tunnels under old Fatimid city and Khan El Khalily working class district.
Rivière des Pluies viaduct - Saint-Denis, La Réunion islandWork : ROAD STRUCTURES | Year : 2006-2007 | Location : FRANCE
Foundations of the viaduct and protection of the embankment works.
Voyage au coeur de l'ingénierie de pointe
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