General Guidelines For Design and Construction of Concrete Diaphram (Slurry) Walls

PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

OF
CONCRETE DIAPHRAGM (SLURRY) WALLS
DECEMBER 2008 Revision 0

Design Guide Slurry Wall
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

OF
I. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1
II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................2

A. Selection Process.............................................................................................................2
1. Description of Concrete Diaphragm Walls (Slurry Walls) ............................................2
a. Conventional Reinforced Concrete Diaphragm (CRC) Walls ...................................2
b. Soldier Pile and Tremie Concrete (SPTC) Walls. .....................................................2
2. Other Types of Concrete Diaphragm Walls..................................................................2
a. Pre-Cast Panels ........................................................................................................2
b. Post Tensioned Walls...............................................................................................3
3. Applications for Slurry Walls ......................................................................................3
a. Groundwater Control ...............................................................................................3
b. Increased Stiffness ...................................................................................................3
4. Advantages/Disadvantages of Slurry Walls..................................................................3
5. Temporary vs. Permanent Slurry Walls........................................................................4
6. Comparison of CRC and SPTC Walls ..........................................................................5
a. Conventional Reinforced Concrete (CRC) Walls .....................................................5
b. SPTC Walls .............................................................................................................5
B. Site Investigations ...........................................................................................................5
1. Groundwater Conditions ..............................................................................................6
2. Soil and Rock Data ......................................................................................................6
3. Existing Foundation Conditions.. .................................................................................7
4. Utilities........................................................................................................................7
5. Contamination .............................................................................................................7
III. DESIGN OF SLURRY WALLS ...................................................................................8

A. Design Analysis...............................................................................................................8
1. Earth Pressures ............................................................................................................8
a. Temporary Earth Pressure........................................................................................8
b. Earth Pressures on Permanent Structures..................................................................9
2. Groundwater Modeling................................................................................................9
a. Temporary Conditions .............................................................................................9
b. Permanent Slurry Wall Structure............................................................................10
3. Global and Basal Stability in Cohesive Soils..............................................................10
B. Design Considerations ...................................................................................................10
1. Coordination between Disciplines..............................................................................10
a. Temporary Conditions ...........................................................................................11
b. Permanent Slurry Walls .........................................................................................11
2. Waterproofing for Permanent Structures....................................................................11
3. Penetrations for both Permanent and Temporary Walls. .............................................11
4. Construction Tolerances ............................................................................................12
5. Invert Slab/Floor/Roof Connections...........................................................................12
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6. Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up .........................................................................................12

7. Slurry Wall Seepage Criteria......................................................................................13
a. Permanent Slurry Walls .........................................................................................13
b. Temporary and Permanent Support Walls ..............................................................14
8. Water Collection/Disposal .........................................................................................14
9. Panel Length..............................................................................................................14
10. Wall Deformations ....................................................................................................15
a. Permanent Structures .............................................................................................15
b. Temporary Conditions ...........................................................................................15
c. Estimating Wall Deformation.................................................................................15
11. Buoyancy of Structure ...............................................................................................15
a. Permanent Structures .............................................................................................15
b. Temporary Conditions. ..........................................................................................15
12. Horizontal Loading....................................................................................................16
a. Soil ........................................................................................................................16
b. Groundwater..........................................................................................................16
c. Seismic ..................................................................................................................16
d. Surcharge Loads ....................................................................................................17
e. Unbalanced Loading ..............................................................................................17
13. Vertical Loading ........................................................................................................18
a. Soil Loading ..........................................................................................................18
b. Uplift Loading .......................................................................................................18
c. Air-rights Loading .................................................................................................18
d. Tiebacks ................................................................................................................18
e. Decking Loads.......................................................................................................19
14. Bracing ......................................................................................................................19
a. Cross Lot ...............................................................................................................19
b. Top-Down Construction.........................................................................................19
c. Tiebacks ................................................................................................................19
d. Slurry Wall Embedment.........................................................................................20
C. Design Details ...............................................................................................................20
1. Keyways....................................................................................................................21
2. Endstops....................................................................................................................21
a. Temporary Endstops ..............................................................................................21
b. Permanent Endstops...............................................................................................21
3. Reinforcement ...........................................................................................................22
a. Minimum Cover ....................................................................................................22
b. Reinforcing Spacing...............................................................................................22
c. Epoxy Coated Reinforcement.................................................................................23
d. Reinforcing Cage Sizes ..........................................................................................23
e. Reinforcing Bar Sizes ............................................................................................23
f. General Structural Design ......................................................................................23
g. Permanent Structural Connections .........................................................................24
4. Soldier Piles...............................................................................................................25
a. Minimum Cover ....................................................................................................25
b. General Structural Design. .....................................................................................25
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c. Permanent Structural Connections .........................................................................25

5. Concrete ....................................................................................................................26
IV. SLURRY WALL CONSTRUCTION .........................................................................27

A. Slurry Selection .............................................................................................................27
1. Bentonite ...................................................................................................................27
2. Polymer. ....................................................................................................................27
B. Slurry Properties............................................................................................................27
1. Bentonite ...................................................................................................................27
2. Polymer .....................................................................................................................29
C. Pretrenching/Guidewalls................................................................................................29
D. Panel Excavation ...........................................................................................................29
1. Equipment Type ........................................................................................................29
2. Panel Sequencing.......................................................................................................30
3. Panel Verticality ........................................................................................................31
E. Joint Cleaning................................................................................................................31
F. Endstop Placement/Removal .........................................................................................31
G. Desanding .....................................................................................................................32
H. Steel Placement .............................................................................................................32
I. Concrete Placement .......................................................................................................33
1. Slump ........................................................................................................................33
2. Tremie Requirements.................................................................................................33
3. Laitance Removal at Top of Wall...............................................................................35
J. Corrective Measures ......................................................................................................35
1. General Comments ....................................................................................................35
2. Work Plan..................................................................................................................35
3. Definition of Defects .................................................................................................36
a. Leakage .................................................................................................................36
b. Out of Tolerance ....................................................................................................36
c. Structural Integrity.................................................................................................36
K. Inspection ......................................................................................................................36
1. Responsibilities..........................................................................................................36
2. Supervising Engineer Qualifications ..........................................................................37
3. Field Staff Qualifications ...........................................................................................37
4. Record Keeping .........................................................................................................37
V. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT .........................................................................39
VI. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................40
VII BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLURRY WALL REFERENCES .........................................41
VIII. PHOTOS......................................................................................................................42
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IX. APPENDICES .............................................................................................................43

Appendix A Comparison Table for Various Wall Types
Appendix B Sample Design Details
Appendix C Sample Slurry Panel Inspection Log
Appendix D Sample Standard Specification
Appendix E Listing of PB Slurry Wall Projects
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I. INTRODUCTION
This guide was developed to assist designers in evaluating the suitability of concrete
diaphragm walls (slurry walls) for earth support for project application, to provide an
understanding of common construction issues, and provide guidance on construction
inspection requirements. The objective of this guide is to help designers confirm that
major items associated with the design and construction of slurry walls have been
addressed on their project and to provide guidance for field inspection staff. The guide
includes lessons learned from numerous slurry wall projects designed and/or overseen by
PB. The designer is not bound to follow these guidelines, but should refer to these
guidelines on projects that may use slurry walls.
Although this guide is considered comprehensive, it is likely that each project will have
its own site specific issues that may not be addressed in this document. Since additional
experience will be gained and technologies will evolve, the suggestions and direction
provided herein should be confirmed for current relevancy.
For each project application it is essential that this guide not be considered a replacement
for proper quality control/quality assurance procedures. Rather it should be considered
an additional tool for the designer and field inspectors.
These guidelines were developed under the supervision of Ray Castelli and Bob
Rawnsley. It is requested that any comments or errors be sent to either
[email protected] or [email protected] .
December 2008 Page 1 of 43

II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. Selection Process
1. Description of Concrete Diaphragm Walls (Slurry Walls): This guide is
limited specifically to issues associated with Conventional Reinforced
Concrete Diaphragm Walls and Soldier Pile and Tremie Concrete Walls, both
as described below.
a. Conventional Reinforced Concrete Diaphragm (CRC) Walls: The most
common type of slurry wall is the Conventional Reinforced Concrete
Diaphragm Wall. In this type of wall the reinforcing cage is designed to
span vertically with no structural continuity between adjacent panels.
Temporary endstops are generally used to form the ends of panels in lieu
of permanent soldier piles. Internal steel members or secondary
reinforcement bars may be provided within the main reinforcing to
provide internal beams which act as wales or additional reinforcing around
openings. Wall widths of 18 inches to 48 inches are typical, with 36 inch
wide walls being the most common. Wider walls are available, but are not
as common.
b. Soldier Pile and Tremie Concrete (SPTC) Walls: Soldier Pile and Tremie
Concrete Walls are walls primarily reinforced with vertical wide flange
steel sections. Reinforcing cages can be installed between the steel soldier
piles to provide additional stiffness or to permit a wider spacing of soldier
piles. SPTC walls tend to be stiffer than CRC walls and sometimes better
facilitate construction of moment connections within the excavation.
SPTC walls also provide significant construction benefits when working
in restricted headroom areas. Wall widths are similar to the CRC wall.
With Reinforcing Cages: When reinforcing cages are incorporated
into a SPTC wall, the cage is designed to span horizontally,
transferring load to the soldier piles. This permits a wider spacing of
soldier piles and decreases the number of steel soldier piles and
corresponding panel joints.
Without Reinforcing Cages: SPTC walls can also be constructed
without a reinforcing cage. A common spacing of the soldier piles for
this condition is on the order 4 to 6 feet on-center.
2. Other Types of Concrete Diaphragm Walls: Two other types of concrete
diaphragm walls are Pre-cast Panels and Post Tensioned Panels. Pre-Cast
Panels and Post Tensioned Panels are considered specialty walls and are
therefore, only discussed briefly below. They require detailed investigation
prior to confirming their use is appropriate for a specific project.
a. Pre-Cast Panels: This type of wall includes the use of pre-cast panels set in
slow-set cement slurry. The benefit of this type of wall is an excellent
finish surface and the potential for a more positive watertight joint with
the use of rubber waterstops at panel joints. Similar to the traditional cast-

in-place slurry wall, watertightness is subject to workmanship and long

term deformations. Other disadvantages of pre-cast panels include cost,
transportation and handling size limitations.
b. Post Tensioned Walls: Post tensioned slurry walls are simply traditional
slurry walls with post tensioning tendons installed vertically for the entire
length of wall. Post tensioning increases bending resistance, permitting
wider spacing between bracing levels. Added cost and more complicated
construction procedures are disadvantages.
3. Applications for Slurry Walls: Slurry walls are used at sites where one or both
of the following requirements or site conditions exist:
a. Groundwater Control: Slurry walls are used at sites where a relatively
watertight excavation support wall is required. This situation may occur
when: 1) groundwater lowering outside the excavation may lead to
potentially damaging settlement of nearby structures or other facilities, 2)
dewatering of the site is not practical, i.e., adjacent to an open body of
water, and 3) where seepage gradients initiated by dewatering options may
risk migration of an existing contamination plume. With penetration into
an underlying stratum of low permeability, or with sufficient penetration
below the bottom of excavation, a slurry wall may provide an effective
barrier preventing or limiting potentially damaging groundwater
drawdown from occurring outside the excavation and provide a stable and
relatively dry excavation.
b. Increased Stiffness: Slurry walls are commonly used in urban settings

where it is required to minimize ground displacements outside of the
excavation to decrease the risk of damage to existing structures and other
facilities, and to eliminate the need for underpinning of nearby structures.
Although stiffness of the support system is primarily controlled by the
spacing of the bracing, slurry walls are considered relatively rigid as
compared to steel sheeting or soldier pile and lagging excavation support
systems.
4. Advantages/Disadvantages of Slurry Walls
Slurry walls have many benefits, including:

The ability to be installed in low headroom conditions.
The ability to be installed through stiff/dense soils and rock.
The ability to support large vertical loads.
The ability to resist high bending moments.
Advantages of using slurry walls include:
Slurry walls provide a watertight system (in comparison to soldier pile
and lagging support systems)
Slurry walls can be used for both the permanent and temporary support.

Slurry walls permit the use of top-down construction techniques which

shortens the duration of surface disruption and permits early
construction of above grade works.
Slurry walls are stiffer than other types of walls.
Slurry walls often eliminate the need for underpinning existing
structures.
Disadvantages of using slurry walls include:
Higher cost, when used for temporary support only.
The need for specialty equipment and contractor.
Slurry walls require a large lay down area for staging, cage assembly,
slurry desanding, spoil storage, cranes, and slurry plant.
Other watertight wall systems, including steel sheeting, secant pile walls and
tangent pile walls, all provide reasonable groundwater control and are
considered acceptable alternatives of support for the typical excavation in
regard to groundwater control. However, where unusually strict groundwater
control requirements exist, or where a very stiff excavation support system is
needed, slurry walls are the preferred system. Selection of the wall system,
however, should also consider local practice and client preference.
A summary table of the various attributes of different wall systems is provided

in Appendix A.
5. Temporary vs. Permanent Slurry Wall: The primary reasons for incorporating
the slurry wall into the permanent structure design is cost and site constraints
(eg. constricted right-of-way in urban areas). In making the decision to
incorporate the slurry wall into the permanent structure, the designer should
assess the overall performance criteria of the project. Of primary importance
is the anticipated watertightness of the permanent wall and the long term
effects seepage may have on the structures architectural finishes, mechanical
and electrical systems, structural integrity of the completed structure, and long
term maintenance concerns. Watertightness performance criteria for the
permanent structure may dictate if slurry walls are an acceptable choice as a
permanent wall. Slurry walls are generally considered to provide acceptable
permanent groundwater control for structures such as transportation tunnels,
underground garages and most building basements. Slurry walls are not
always completely watertight and some long term seepage should be planned
for. Watertightness of slurry walls is generally governed by two items: soil
permeability and workmanship during slurry wall construction. A secondary
cause of leakage is the lack of a positive waterproofing membrane on the
exterior face of the slurry wall, allowing seepage to develop over the life of
the structure. Such seepage may result from deformation of the slurry wall
caused by future excavation or new loads adjacent to the slurry wall or due to
thermal deformations from air temperature change; thermal deformations are
particularly a concern in highway tunnels where air exchange is frequent. For
structures that require a true watertight support wall, such as research

facilities, electric vaults, etc., it may be prudent to consider slurry walls for
temporary support only.
6. Comparison of CRC and SPTC Walls

a. Conventional Reinforced Concrete (CRC) Walls: CRC walls are the most
commonly used type of slurry wall. Following are the primary advantages
of CRC walls over SPTC walls.
Panel Joints: When properly constructed, the concrete to concrete
interface between CRC panels has been observed to provide a better
seal against groundwater inflow than the concrete to soldier pile
interface of SPTC walls. In addition, CRC panels have typical joint
spacing in the range of 9 to 25 feet whereas SPTC walls may have
spacing on the order of 4 to 6 feet between soldier piles. Therefore
CRC walls greatly reduce the number of potential leak locations.
Corrosion: The absence of structural steel at panels joints in CRC

walls eliminates the concern for long term corrosion at the panel joints
should leaks develop over the life of the structure. Invert slabs and
roof connections provide a second source of leakage. In CRC walls
these connections are usually made with steel reinforcing, providing
some structural redundancy which reduces the impact of corrosion if
leaks develop. Corrosion at localized, high capacity connections of
SPTC walls is a significant issue.
b. SPTC Walls: SPTC walls provide the following advantages over
conventional reinforced concrete walls:
Site Constraints: Site constraints that may influence a choice between
SPTC and CRC walls include lay down area and vertical headroom.
The relative ease of splicing soldier piles provides SPTC walls with a
clear advantage in areas of restricted headroom. Although reinforcing
cages can also be spliced during lowering into the trench, it is less
practical and more time consuming than splicing soldier piles, and
therefore should generally be considered in isolated cases only.
Construction and hoisting of the reinforcing cages for a CRC wall
require significantly more lay down area than SPTC walls.
Structural Requirements: Structural requirements may dictate the need

to use SPTC walls in lieu of CRC walls. SPTC walls can be designed
to provide greater stiffness than typical CRC walls and may
accommodate larger vertical wall spans, horizontal loads and moments
associated with deep excavations and long roof/ invert spans.
B. Site Investigations
Geotechnical subsurface investigations for slurry wall projects include the same
elements common to foundation and retaining wall structures. Reference is made
to FHWA Manual on Subsurface Investigations (1997) for a general description

and procedures for geotechnical subsurface investigations. A typical investigation

program might include test borings drilled at approximately 100 to 200 feet on
center along the proposed slurry wall alignment. In instances where subsurface
conditions are expected to vary significantly, more closely spaced borings may be
warranted to permit a more precise estimate of reinforcing cage and soldier pile
lengths prior to panel excavation. Depths of borings should initially be estimated
to extend at least to a depth equivalent to 1.5 times the depth of proposed
excavation or 10 feet into rock, whichever is shallower. For instances where end
bearing is critical, borings may be drilled at each panel location before or during
slurry wall construction to confirm top of rock elevation and the quality of the
rock. However, in most cases the added cost of drilling at each panel location is
not justified as top of rock and rock quality can normally be confirmed in the field
during panel excavation. Following is a brief description of specific parameters
that are applicable to the construction and temporary design of slurry walls:
1. Groundwater Conditions: In assessing groundwater conditions, of primary
importance are groundwater elevations, pressure, artesian pressure and salinity
in each soil stratum along the entire alignment. This information is necessary
to:
Determine minimum slurry elevation during slurry wall excavation to
avoid groundwater infiltration into the slurry trench that could
destabilize the trench excavation.
Establish temporary groundwater pressures.
Analyze the potential for seepage beneath the slurry wall.
To allow the contractor to determine the appropriate type of slurry.
To permit the contractor to determine if additives are required for the
slurry mix.
2. Soil and Rock Data: In addition to clearly identifying the type, density and
stiffness of each soil stratum anticipated to be encountered, the investigation
program is used to obtain soil samples for laboratory testing. Grain size,
permeability of granular soils, and strength of cohesive soils are important soil
properties necessary for evaluating soil performance during panel excavation,
slurry mix design, estimating rates of excavation, determining design earth
pressures and estimating wall, ground, and existing building deformations.
These data are also useful in assessing the potential for base instability and
groundwater drawdown outside the site resulting from seepage beneath the
wall.
In soils suspected of containing boulders/cobbles a detailed assessment should
be made of the likelihood of encountering these materials. This assessment
may be performed by in depth research of local case histories and field
investigations such as localized test pits and continuous roto-sonic sampling.
Rock strength, mineralogy, and rock quality designation (RQD) data are all
valuable parameters for aiding the contractor in selecting its preferred method
and equipment for rock excavation. For walls requiring embedment to rock, it

is important that an adequate top of rock profile be established along the

slurry wall alignment.
3. Existing Foundation Conditions: The contractor needs to assess the impacts
of existing structure foundations on slurry trench stability, surcharge loads,
and clearances for guidewall and slurry wall construction. Research of
existing building foundation records complimented with test pit explorations
should be performed. Demolished structures that once occupied the site
should be included in this research to better assess the likelihood of the
contractor encountering obstructions. Obstructions are a major concern to the
slurry wall contractor and should be fully addressed in the design and contract
documents, with special attention given to the method of payment for removal
of obstructions.
4. Utilities: Research of existing and abandoned utilities complimented with test

pits to accurately locate sensitive utilities and utilities located in the
immediate vicinity of proposed slurry wall work should be performed.
Abandoned utilities interfering with the slurry trench should be removed and
capped. When feasible, existing utilities should be relocated. When
relocating utilities outside of the slurry wall limits, consideration should be
given to the potential adverse impacts of slurry wall excavation and future
slurry wall deformation.
On occasion, utility relocation may not be an option and the utility is required
to be supported in place. This situation is known to have occurred on at least
two PB projects, Shot Tower Station in Baltimore, and Post Office Square in
Boston, both cases involved slurry wall interference with a high voltage
electric line. Different solutions were used for each case.
For Shot Tower Station, slurry wall construction was terminated on each side
of the utility. Jet grouting with soldier pile and lagging was then used to fill
the gap. Following completion of general excavation, the gap was infilled
with a cast-in-place concrete wall.
For the Post Office Square project, slurry wall excavation was performed on
each side of the utility with a cable bucket. Following excavation of these
initial slots, it was possible to slide the bucket laterally beneath the utility to
remove the remaining small column of soil. Two steel reinforcing cages were
installed, one on either side of the utility. The unreinforced concrete between
the cages was considered similar to a typical panel joint.
5. Contamination: In areas of suspected contamination, an environmental

assessment of the contaminants known or suspected to be present should be
provided to the slurry wall contractor for slurry mix design and determining
any special requirements for material handling and disposal.

III. DESIGN OF SLURRY WALLS

A. Design Analysis
The design analysis of slurry walls can be divided into two components,
temporary/short term conditions and permanent/long term conditions. There are
many options and procedures for analyzing slurry walls, as with all earth support
systems, and it is not the intent of this guide to dictate the method to be used.
Rather, it is intended to provide general direction as to what level/type of analyses
might be appropriate.
1. Earth Pressures: For many cases, employing traditional earth pressure design
and empirical correlations for wall and ground deformations are appropriate
for slurry wall design. The tributary area method, continuous beam method,
and beam on elastic foundation method are all considered acceptable methods.
In congested urban settings, slurry wall deformations are critical and often
warrant more sophisticated analyses. Numerical analyses require detailed
knowledge of soil properties and groundwater conditions, and must assume a
detailed sequence of construction. Numerical analyses require significant
experience in the collecting, processing and evaluation of data. If a structure
requires numerical analyses, all work related to the analysis should be planned
and performed under the supervision of a person with extensive experience in
the modeling of underground structures. It is common practice to compare the
results of each numerical analysis with empirical data to confirm the results
are reasonable. Projects that warrant a numerical analysis will also likely
warrant a sophisticated monitoring program to confirm the
accuracy/assumptions of the analysis. For a more thorough presentation of
design procedures, refer to the FHWA manual on Earth Retaining
Structures (Munfakh et al, 1999)
a. Temporary Earth Pressure: Temporary earth pressures are those that
would be anticipated during excavation and in the period of time
following completion of excavation to completion of the structure and
backfilling within the excavation. Where the slurry wall forms part of the
final structure, the final structure should be checked for the temporary
earth pressures. Temporary earth pressures are generally based on active
earth pressures for cantilever and single brace levels, and on empirical
(trapezoidal) pressures diagrams for excavations with multiple levels of
bracing. When providing temporary earth support criteria, it is suggested
a determination regarding the allocation of risk be made. Two approaches
may be considered including: 1) risk almost entirely with the contractor, 2)
shared risk between the contractor and designer. The determination as to
the level of direction the designer will provide to the contractor is project
specific and should be determined by the projects management team.
In the first approach, the contract documents should clearly indicate that
the contractor is solely responsible for the design, construction and
performance of the temporary earth support system. The designer may

modify this slightly by providing minimum design criteria that the project
is willing to accept, such as minimum earth and groundwater pressures,
maximum spacing of bracing, etc. However, the contractor is solely
responsible for determining if more conservative design parameters are
appropriate.
The second approach is more common when deformations are a major
concern. In this case the contract documents provide strict direction
regarding design parameters to be used, such as required earth and
groundwater pressures, maximum strut spacing and required strut levels,
excavation restrictions, crack control, permissible deformations, etc. The
contractor then designs its earth support system to accommodate the
specified parameters.
Regardless of the level of direction provided to the contractor, the designer
should confirm the buildability of the project by checking the adequacy
of the slurry wall to perform as intended under at least one assumed
sequence of construction. As part of the temporary condition check, the
designer should confirm that additional steel reinforcing required for the
assumed construction sequencing can be reasonably added to the slurry
wall without impeding the flow of concrete.
b. Earth Pressures on Permanent Structures: For permanent slurry wall

structures, long-term loads are commonly based on triangularly distributed
at-rest soil pressures, groundwater pressures (normal and flood), seismic
and surcharge loads (from traffic and buildings). It is common to assume
seismic loads do not act in combination with flood conditions. On
occasion, earth pressures other than at-rest may be appropriate; therefore,
under difficult soil conditions, such as very soft cohesive deposits, earth
pressures should be reviewed by senior staff experienced in the design of
underground structures. Consideration should also be given to potential
unbalanced lateral loading due to future excavation on one side of the
completed structure.
2. Groundwater Modeling: For the most part, groundwater modeling is primarily

required for temporary (construction) conditions, with only a few issues
associated with permanent slurry wall structures.
a. Temporary Conditions: For deep excavations, theoretical hydrostatic

pressure acting on the toe of the wall may be found to be of such a
magnitude as to make stability difficult to achieve. In this case, it may be
warranted to perform a groundwater flow analysis to obtain more realistic
estimates of groundwater pressures acting on the wall. Reduction in water
pressure commonly occurs as a result of flow beneath the wall into the
dewatered excavation. Due to the many assumptions required for a
groundwater flow analysis, it is recommended that piezometers be
installed behind the wall and in front of the wall to confirm the accuracy
of the analyses.

A second condition which may warrant a seepage analysis is deep

excavations in granular material below groundwater level. In this case,
excessive groundwater gradients beneath and in front of the wall could
result in a quick condition and instability of the base of the excavation.
The groundwater flow beneath the slurry wall should be checked to
confirm the bottom of excavation is stable under all stages of construction.
Methods for reducing groundwater gradients include:
Increasing the depth of slurry wall to increase the flow path.
Extend the wall to an impermeable stratum to cut off flow; in this case,
it is necessary to check uplift pressures acting on the bottom of the
impermeable stratum within the limits of the general excavation, to
confirm adequate resistance to uplift.
When the slurry wall is terminated in highly permeable rock,
consideration should be given to grouting the rock beneath the slurry
wall.
A temporary pressure relief system may be necessary to relieve uplift
pressure beneath the invert slab during the construction period until the
final structure and backfill have sufficient weight to resist this uplift
load.
b. Permanent Slurry Wall Structure: On occasion, design conditions of a
project may justify the use of a permanent pressure relieved base slab.
The benefit of this design element is the reduction of invert slab thickness
with a corresponding decrease in excavation depth. A pressure relief
system can also be used to eliminate permanent tiedown anchors to resist
uplift loads. Long term pumping can have significant impacts on existing
structures via groundwater drawdown. The use of a permanent pressure
relief system also adds long-term operating and maintenance costs. The
choice to employ a permanent relief system requires in depth analysis and
review by senior staff familiar with groundwater behavior.
3. Global and Basal Stability in Cohesive Soils: Global and basal stability are
issues only for the temporary condition. These analyses are essential when
planning an excavation in deep soft to medium stiff cohesive soil deposits.
Due to the possible catastrophic results of a global or basal failure, design of
excavations in such soil deposits should be supervised by a person with
extension experience in the behavior of excavations.
Instability of the excavation base due to excessive seepage gradients in
granular soils must be evaluated and addressed as discussed in Section
III.A.2.a.
B. Design Considerations
1. Coordination between Disciplines: Proper design of a slurry wall requires
close coordination between all design disciplines and an understanding of the
characteristics of slurry walls and soil-structure interaction.

a. Temporary Conditions: In addition to coordinating contract requirements

regarding responsibility for design of temporary support elements, such as
spacing and type of bracing, temporary conditions also require
coordination of issues such as construction staging, traffic management,
temporary access/egress to businesses, utility relocations, construction
ventilation, etc.
b. Permanent Slurry Walls: Slurry walls used for permanent support may not
provide the same watertightness as traditional cast-in-place concrete
structures with external waterproofing. Finish items, including lighting,
electrical, ventilation, fireproofing, tile, drainage etc. need to be selected
based on realistic assumptions of the performance of the completed slurry
wall. To avoid direct exposure to moisture, finish items should not abut
directly against the slurry wall. Where items are attached to the wall, the
attachments are suggested to be corrosion resistant, capable of
accommodating the irregular finish of slurry walls and adaptable to permit
modifications in the event a wall panel is constructed out of specified
tolerance.
2. Waterproofing for Permanent Structures: Leaking of slurry walls may occur
at four typical locations, including: panel joints, connection to invert/base
slab, connection to roof slab, and penetrations. In addition, leaks may occur
within the panel due to the presence of inclusions, such as fragments of
Styrofoam that were not fully removed during excavation, soil inclusions, and
cold joints. Waterproofing details for penetrations, roof connections, and base
slab connections are addressed in PBs waterproofing guidelines, Guidelines
for the Design of Waterproofing Systems for Underground Structures.
Waterproofing of slurry walls is considered a means and methods issue, and
the responsibility for providing a slurry wall meeting specified watertightness
criteria should therefore be left to the contractor. With proper workmanship,
forming of panel joints, cleaning of panel joints, slurry properties, and
concrete placement, excellent watertightness can be achieved. Although
specialty water stops are available, they too are highly dependent on
workmanship; therefore, it is suggested that the decision to use these devices
to meet contract performance requirements be left to the contractor.
3. Penetrations for both Permanent and Temporary Walls: Utility penetrations
are to be coordinated to permit the slurry wall designer to make
accommodations in its design, such as adding steel reinforcing around the
penetration. Common practice is to install steel sleeves attached to the
reinforcing cage; the sleeves are sealed at each end to prevent concrete
intrusion. For SPTC walls without reinforcing, utility penetrations are
typically cored during general site excavation. Whenever possible, block-outs
and/or penetrations in a slurry wall should be rounded to allow the flow of
slurry and concrete around the penetration to minimize the risk of trapping
soil and/or creating bentonite pockets.

Less common but significantly larger penetrations include break-outs for

tunnel boring machines (TBMs). For conditions such as this, constructing
the slurry panel with fiber reinforcement at the proposed penetration location
is an option to permit passage of the TBM.
4. Construction Tolerances: Tolerances must be compatible with the neat line of
the structure. Generally accepted slurry wall tolerances are as follows:
For panel excavation, vertical tolerances of 1:80, 1:100 and 1:200 are
often specified. 1:100 is the most common and meets the criteria of
most projects. 1:80 is typically used for temporary walls and/or for
subsurface conditions where significant boulders and/or obstructions
are present. A tolerance of 1:200 will likely require the use of a
hydromill. A tolerance of 1:200 may be required to maintain slurry
wall continuity at panel joints for very deep slurry wall excavations or
to provide required finished structure clearances for structures located
in urban settings with right of way restrictions.
For endstops, a vertical tolerance of 1:200 in a direction parallel to the
panel alignment is commonly specified. In the direction normal to the
panel alignment, endstops will follow the verticality of the trench
excavation.
Location of keyways, penetrations, beam pockets etc.: plus or minus 3
inches vertically and horizontally.
Vertical tolerance of steel reinforcing cage: plus or minus 2 inches;
soldier piles: plus or minus 1 inch.
Horizontal tolerance of steel reinforcing cage: plus or minus 2 inches
parallel to panel alignment and plus or minus 1 inch normal to the
panel.
Horizontal tolerance of soldier pile: plus or minus 1 inch in all
directions.
Twist of soldier piles should not exceed plus or minus 5 degrees.
Concrete protrusions are generally limited to 3 to 4 inches.
5. Invert Slab/Floor/Roof Connections: Early in the design process the designer

should carefully consider structural requirements for invert, floor, and roof
connections. The anticipated structural loads occurring at these connections
may dictate the type of slurry wall to be constructed, SPTC or CRC. SPTC
walls with welded structural connections may provide additional moment
capacity but are more vulnerable to long term corrosion.
6. Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: Slurry walls provide the flexibility for the designer
to have a choice between traditional bottom-up construction and top-down
construction. Bottom-up construction is the preferred method as it is less
costly. However, certain site constraints may make top-down construction a
prudent choice. Top-down construction may be appropriate in constricted

work sites where the area enclosed by the slurry wall is used as the
construction lay down area. This method of construction also provides
schedule benefit since it allows initiation of above grade construction
simultaneously with below grade work.
In top-down construction, slurry walls are installed along with interior

columns, if necessary, using load bearing elements and/or drilled shafts. The
structure roof is then installed and the soil is mined in vertical lifts as bracing
levels or floor slabs are installed. For parking garages, the permanent parking
levels, typically at 10 foot vertical spacing, act as both permanent and
temporary support. Alternatively, for transportation tunnels or similar
structures, tiebacks can be installed beneath the roof as temporary supports.
Internal cross lot bracing is not typically used in top-down construction as the
installation and removal of struts and wales in the confined mined space is
difficult.
Top-down construction requires the slurry wall to be part of the permanent
structure. Examples of PBs top-down construction projects include: the Post
Office Square Underground Garage, the Beth Israel Clinical Center, the North
Station Parking Garage, and the MBTA Harvard Square Station. All four sites
were located in urban settings with little or no lay down space and close to or
immediately adjacent to existing buildings.
7. Slurry Wall Seepage Criteria: The designer should clearly communicate to
the owner that slurry walls seldom provide the same level of watertightness as
that achieved in traditional cast-in-place below grade structures which include
external waterproofing membranes. Slurry wall seepage criteria should be
carefully considered early in the design phase and acceptable criteria agreed
upon between the owner and designer. In general, slurry walls constructed in
soils with low permeability such as clays, tight tills and dense silts can be
expected to meet strict seepage criteria; however, sands and gravels are more
problematic.
a. Permanent Slurry Walls: Following are two samples of watertightness
criteria; the first is from a project constructed primarily in outwash
deposits and the second from a project primarily in clay. The ultimate
decision on permanent permissible leakage requires agreement
between the project owner and senior management, this agreement is
to be made in the conceptual stages of the project.
Project primarily in permeable ground conditions:
Leakage rate of 0.15 gpm for 100 lineal feet of wall, 0.01 gpm for a leak in
10 feet of wall, and 0.005 gpm for any single leak.
Project primarily in clayey soils:
The term watertight is defined to mean that no running water from the
wall nor the formation of droplets on the wall surface is permitted. The

formation of moist patches allowing water to evaporate from the surface is

acceptable.
b. Temporary and Permanent Support Walls: For all slurry walls,

watertightness criteria may be based on permissible drawdown outside the
excavation to avoid settlement and damage to existing facilities. Standard
practice permits a nominal drop in water levels of 2 feet during
construction as measured at observation wells. Groundwater levels are
generally expected to return to or close to pre-construction levels
following completion of the structure. However, this criterion needs to be
assessed for each specific project. In some instances, no groundwater
drawdown can be permitted beyond historic fluctuations, such as in the
case where migration of a contaminated groundwater plume may occur.
In this instance, criteria similar to the permanent condition, permitting no
droplets, may be appropriate for the temporary condition as well.
8. Water Collection/Disposal: Regardless of the seepage criteria agreed to, long

term leakage is a potential issue for all slurry walls used for permanent
structures due to the lack of an external waterproofing membrane and the
possibility that long term deformations can re-open previously sealed leaks
and joints. Water collection and disposal for slurry wall leakage should be
designed into the project whenever a slurry wall is used as part of the final
structure. This is typically performed by forming collection troughs, typically
2 deep by 4 wide, along the top of slab at the slurry wall face to collect
water running down the face of wall. The water trough may have periodic
drains to collect the water or, in the case of tunnels with ballasted track,
periodic troughs perpendicular to the slurry wall can be provided to divert the
water into the ballast/track drainage system. Where drains are used, they
should be oversized to minimize clogging, and provisions made for
maintenance and cleanout of the drains.
9. Panel Length: Panel lengths are typically on the order of 9 to 25 feet. The
primary considerations in choosing panel lengths are soil conditions, and the
risk of damage to existing property should panel collapse occur. The longer
the panel length, the greater the risk of collapse. Under average subsurface
conditions, panel lengths of 15 to 20 feet are typical. In areas immediately
adjacent to buildings or in loose sands it may be prudent to limit panel
lengths, with 9 foot lengths not uncommon. Panels excavated in medium to
stiff clay can typically support panel lengths up to 25 feet. Regardless of the
initial panel length assumed in design, flexibility should be built into the
design to allow panel length revisions based on field observations and to
accommodate the contractors selected means and methods. In critical areas,
it is acceptable to require the contractor to excavate non-production test panels
to better assess the appropriate panel length.

10. Wall Deformations

a. Permanent Structures: When incorporating the slurry wall into the
permanent structure, consideration should be given to slurry wall
deformations that will occur during general site excavation. These
deformations are in addition to the specified slurry wall construction
tolerances noted previously. The designer should be conservative in the
assessment of potential slurry wall encroachment to accommodate the
realistic possibility that some panels will be constructed out of tolerance
and deformations may exceed estimates. Deformations may also alter the
distribution of shear and bending moments within the wall, further
emphasizing the need to conservatively estimate deformations.
b. Temporary Conditions: Slurry wall deformations for the construction
condition are primarily a concern in regard to damage to existing facilities
such as buildings and utilities. Where permanent interior cast-in-place
walls are to be cast directly against the interior face of the slurry wall, care
must be taken to ensure the slurry wall does not encroach into the design
envelope of the permanent cast-in-place wall, similar to the care taken for
the permanent wall encroachment concerns.
c. Estimating Wall Deformation: Wall deformation can be estimated using
empirical data or by numerical methods as noted previously in Section
III.A.1 of this guide. The magnitude of wall deformation is dependent on
many factors, including ground conditions, wall stiffness, spacing of
bracing levels, timeliness of installation of the bracing system, and the
magnitude of preloading applied to the bracing system. Wall deformation
is particularly a concern in soft to medium stiff cohesive soils with low
factor of safety against base stability; see FHWA manual on Earth
Retaining Structures (Munfakh et al, 1999).
11. Buoyancy of Structure
a. Permanent Structures: Under permanent loading conditions, a minimum
factor of safety of buoyancy of 1.1 is recommended for long term normal
groundwater elevation, overburden soil and dead weight of structure
(including slurry wall). For flood conditions, a minimum factor of safety
of 1.05 is recommended. The use of adhesion and friction along the
sidewalls is discouraged and should only be considered after review by
senior designers with significant experience in the design and behavior of
underground structures.
b. Temporary Conditions: When evaluating buoyancy of the underground
structure during construction, the dead weight of slurry wall and the other
completed structural items can be assumed to resist buoyancy forces.
Generally, soil friction or adhesion on the sides of the slurry wall should
be ignored due to the need of vertical deformation to mobilize resistance.

An overall minimum factor of safety against buoyancy of 1.1 for normal

groundwater level and 1.05 for flood condition is recommended.
12. Horizontal Loading

a. Soil: Design earth pressures should generally be determined in accordance
with procedures outlined in FHWA manual on Earth Retaining
Structures (Munfakh, et al, 1999). In determining design earth pressures,
caution should be exercised to avoid over conservatism in selecting design
parameters since this approach may add unnecessary cost to the slurry
wall.
b. Groundwater
Permanent Conditions: Both flood and normal groundwater elevations
should be considered in the permanent design. Loadings from flood
condition are not typically assumed to occur simultaneously with seismic
loads; however, this should be confirmed on a project by project basis.
Permanent slurry wall structures are generally designed for the full
hydrostatic pressure, even if the final structure is provided with a
permanent under drain.
Temporary Conditions: Since flood conditions are usually assumed to
occur on the order of once every 100 years, designing temporary earth
support systems to accommodate flood conditions may not always be
warranted. In some instances, allowing the excavation to flood will prove
to be less costly than designing for maximum flood levels; for this case
design of the temporary excavation support walls may be based on the
maximum groundwater elevation permitted during construction.
When appropriate, and when demonstrated by appropriate seepage
analysis, design groundwater acting on the lower portion of the slurry wall
may be adjusted to reflect anticipated seepage beneath the wall. When a
reduction in pressure is assumed, instrumentation monitoring is suggested
to confirm the analysis.
c. Seismic
Temporary Conditions: Including seismic in the temporary condition is a
regional issue and/or a risk decision to be made by the owner and/or
contractor or dictated by applicable codes. Combining seismic and flood
conditions loads is a decision specific to each project. These issues should
be addressed separately for each project.
The inclusion of seismic lateral loading is almost always included in the
permanent wall design. When the permanent wall is used as part of a
boat section (i.e. U-section) structure, the dynamic earth pressure method
using Mononobe-Okabe theory can be used to account for the seismic
effects. The Mononobe-Okabe method assumes that the wall structure

moves and/or tilts sufficiently so that a yielding active earth wedge forms
behind the wall. For a slurry wall to be incorporated into a more rigid
underground box structure with transverse walls (or shear walls), the
Mononobe-Okabe method may under estimate the dynamic earth pressure.
An example of such a structure is a volume basement structure resting on
very stiff/hard medium and rigidly braced across by transverse shear wall
diaphragms. In this case another theoretical form of dynamic earth
pressure derived by Wood (1973) should be considered.
When a slurry wall is used to form an underground running tunnel

structure (such as a cut-and-cover tunnel), seismic design using the
displacement-governed method is more appropriate than the force
governed method (such as dynamic earth pressure methods discussed
above). The primary and most damaging seismic effect a buried box type
tunnel will experience during earthquakes is transverse racking
deformations (sidesway motion) due to shear distortions of the ground.
Therefore, the design should ensure that the tunnel structure has adequate
capacity to accommodate the ground displacement rather than resist it; by
taking into consideration the soil-structure interaction effect.
If liquefaction is identified at the site, its effects should be considered in
the seismic design. These effects may include increased lateral earth
pressures, post-liquefaction settlements, liquefaction-induced lateral
spread and uplift pressures. Ground improvement may be warranted in
some cases. These issues should be addressed on a project specific basis.
d. Surcharge Loads: Traffic and construction surcharge loads are generally of

such a magnitude that they will not have a significant impact on the slurry
wall and bracing system except possibly near the top of wall. In urban
settings, building surcharge loads can be significant. It is important to
gather as much information on building foundations, building loads and
building structural design early in the design process as protecting existing
structures and satisfying property owners concerns over potential building
damage can have significant scheduling and cost implications to the
project, and will likely dictate earth support methods.
e. Unbalanced Loading
Temporary Conditions: In some settings, it is possible to have unbalanced
loadings during temporary conditions. Some examples of unbalanced
loading include different surcharge loads, sloping ground and sometimes
differing groundwater elevations across the site.
Permanent Conditions: In addition to the unbalanced loadings that may
occur under temporary conditions, consideration should be given to
designing the permanent structure to accommodate adjacent excavations
for future development. This issue is a project specific decision that should
be made by the owner. Frequently, public owners will want to
accommodate future development and will dictate that the design of the

permanent structure assume a future excavation to some specified depth,

whereas private developers will likely not accommodate future excavation
but will assume the future developer will be responsible for protecting the
slurry wall structure.
13. Vertical Loading

a. Soil Loading: Vertical soil loadings for the permanent below grade
structure with a roof elevation at depth can be significant. Large soil loads
combined with long roof spans create large shear and moment at the roof
to slurry wall connection. An early estimation of roof loadings is critical
in concept design when structure types and cost estimates are first being
prepared.
b. Uplift Loading: Similar to the vertical soil loading discussed above, for
deep inverts, uplift water pressure acting on the permanent invert needs to
be assessed early in the project as these loads will likely be transferred to
the slurry wall and may dictate the type of slurry wall to be used, the
design of the invert slab, the depth of excavation to accommodate the
invert slab, and the connection of the invert slab to the slurry wall.
c. Air-rights Loading: In designing permanent slurry walls for this future
loading, it is necessary to consider the verticality of the slurry wall in its
capacity to support the axial loads that will be applied. It is suggested that
for design purposes, assume that the wall has been constructed to
verticality in the range of half its specified criteria, i.e. assume a verticality
of approximately 1:100 for a wall specified to be constructed to 1:200.
The magnitude of the air-rights loads to be considered in the design is
provided by the owner.
d. Tiebacks
Temporary Conditions: Tiebacks are installed at a slight angle, typically
10 to 20 degrees from horizontal, and occasionally up to 30 degrees. When
tiebacks are anticipated to be used, supervision by an engineer with
experience in tieback design is necessary to determine the resulting
vertical load on the wall and the potential for slurry wall settlement which
would result in relaxation of the tiebacks with corresponding increased
lateral deformations.
Permanent Structures: Tiebacks for permanent lateral support of
permanent slurry wall structures should generally be avoided due to
concerns of corrosion, permanent right-of-way easements and future
disturbance to the tiebacks due to adjacent site development. When used
for temporary support during construction staging, these tiebacks are
typically de-tensioned as the invert slab, floors, and roof are placed.
Should tiebacks be used for permanent support of permanent slurry wall
structures, vertical load concerns are similar as the temporary condition.

e. Decking Loads: In urban settings, it is often beneficial to design a

temporary decking system, supported on the slurry wall, to maintain
vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and to provide construction access. These
loads should be considered in the design of the slurry wall.
14. Bracing
a. Cross Lot: Cross lot bracing is the most common and preferred method
for temporary support. Cross lot bracing is typically pre-loaded to 50% of
the maximum design load anticipated to occur at each strut for the entire
construction period. In some instances, where deformations are a critical
concern, higher preloads may be considered. Excavations exceeding
widths on the order of 65 feet may require intermediate temporary pile
support to produce acceptable sizes. For SPTC walls it is typical practice
to attach the wales directly to the soldier piles. For conventional
reinforced slurry walls, bearing plates are attached to the face of the
reinforcing cage, struts can either bear directly on the plates or exterior
wales may be attached to the plates. Elimination of exterior wales is
possible by including reinforcing beams within the slurry panel cage;
however, this method is not generally preferred as the steel congestion
may inhibit concrete flow and makes tremie pipe installation difficult.
Temporary design of the slurry wall to accommodate bracing is generally
the responsibility of the contractor.
b. Top-Down Construction: When considering top-down construction, the

slurry wall is designed as part of the permanent structure. The preferred
bracing system for top down construction is employment of the permanent
structure slabs as excavation proceeds, this works well for parking
structures which typically have parking levels on the order of 10 foot
spacing which correlates closely with the typical spacing of temporary
bracing systems of 12 to 15 feet. However, transit structures frequently
have permanent vertical wall spans in excess of what is required for
temporary support. When temporary bracing is required for top-down,
tiebacks are the most accommodating to the excavation environment, but
their use may be precluded by right-of-way constraints and soil and
groundwater conditions. The mining procedure with low head room
makes the use/installation of cross lot bracing difficult.
c. Tiebacks
Temporary Conditions: As completion of the permanent structure
progresses, temporary tiebacks are detensioned and the slurry wall
penetrations are sealed. It is suggested that slurry wall penetrations
provided for tiebacks use threaded steel sleeves; this permits easy
installation of permanent steel caps for sealing. For temporary conditions,
the contractor is generally responsible for determining the quantity of
additional reinforcing steel to be added to the slurry panel to accommodate
the tieback loads.

Permanent Conditions: Tiebacks are not the preferred choice of earth

support for permanent slurry walls due to the necessity of penetrating the
wall and further compromising the watertightness. In addition to the
design considerations given to temporary tiebacks, permanent easements
are required as well as long term corrosion protection for the anchors.
Since permanent tiebacks extend several inches beyond the interior face of
the slurry wall and these heads may be a continued source of leakage, the
negative impact permanent anchors may have on the completed structure
should be assessed. When permanent tiebacks are to be used, the designer
is responsible for determining the additional steel to be added to the slurry
panel to accommodate the tieback loads.
General Issues: The following issues should be addressed for use of
tiebacks:
Position and details of block-outs in the slurry wall panels for tieback
installation.
Potential for water inflow and ground loss through the tieback sleeve
during tieback installation.
Temporary and permanent easements for tiebacks.
Provisions for adding tiebacks if proof tests identify any deficient
tiebacks.
Pre-load and lock-off loads.
Slurry wall depth of embedment to accommodate the vertical
component of tieback loads.
d. Slurry Wall Embedment: Extending the slurry wall into dense soils or
rock can provide significant resistance to vertical loads and lateral
deformations, and should be considered when the dense soils or rock are at
or relatively close to the bottom of excavation. However, where deep
deposits of soft soils extend below the proposed excavation, extending the
slurry wall is of little benefit in reducing lateral wall deformations.
Extending the wall may be done for reasons other than providing lateral
resistance, such as groundwater cutoff and vertical bearing. As one of the
main reasons in selecting a slurry wall is control of groundwater,
extending the wall into an underlying impermeable stratum is common
practice. Common depths of embedment for groundwater cutoff are on
the order of 5 feet into clays and the width of panel into rock, i.e. a 3 foot
panel would extend a minimum of 3 feet into rock. The same depth of
minimum wall embedment into rock applies for the condition where end
bearing is required.
C. Design Details: This section provides general guidance for various structural
design details associated with slurry walls. Appendix B provides illustrative
sketches of details used successfully on previous projects.

1. Keyways: Keyways are typically formed by attaching high density Styrofoam

with plywood covering to the outside of reinforcing steel. The keyway should
be oversized to accommodate setting tolerances. The depth of keyway is
commonly set to a depth of approximately 3 inches. The keyway recess
should not be considered to provide any structural capacity in the structural
design of the invert slab, beams, roof, and floor to wall connections as the
quality and as-built depth of keyways frequently do not meet design criteria.
2. Endstops
a. Temporary Endstops: Temporary endstops are used with the Conventional
Reinforced Concrete slurry wall. Two common types of endstops include
circular piles and specialty designed V nosed endstops. The intent of the
temporary endstop is to provide a concrete to concrete interlock between
panels to assist in groundwater control. No panel to panel structural
capacity is assumed to be transferred through the unreinforced joint.
Removal of the endstops begins prior to initial concrete set. The
unreinforced panel joint eliminates the concern of long term corrosion
should leaks occur at the panel joints; this benefit, combined with
construction difficulties associated with permanent endstops, makes
temporary endstops preferred over permanent endstops for slurry walls
that are to be part of the permanent structure. It should be noted that
technologies are continually advancing in temporary endstops and there
are various endstops that are designed to specifically address
watertightness at the panel joints by being capable of leaving a waterstop
in place at the panel joints. However, it is suggested that the means and
methods of meeting watertightness criteria be the responsibility of the
Contractor.
It is common practice when excavating with a hydromill to eliminate the
temporary endstop. This is possible as the hydromill is capable of
grinding the edge of the completed panel, providing a roughened surface
in place of a formed key.
b. Permanent Endstops: Permanent endstops are synonymous with SPTC

walls. Of primary concern with permanent endstops is removal of
overpour concrete from the unexcavated side of the pile. Various
contractor methods exist to control this problem, the most common of
which is to fill the web area with Styrofoam held in place with plywood
and metal banding, similar to a keyway blockout. The banding, plywood
and Styrofoam is then removed during the excavation of the adjacent
panel. The failure to prevent intrusion of concrete overpour into the web
has a significant adverse impact which is a major detriment to permanent
endstops. The means and methods of preventing concrete intrusion should
be left entirely to the contractor; only review of the submitted means and
methods should be performed by the engineer. Any method used,
however, must be reliable and suitable for the intended purpose. In
instances where the slurry wall design requires the installation of

embedded items, these items should be located as far as practical from the
panel joint such that panel joint cleaning is not compromised and the flow
of concrete at the panel joint is not impaired.
3. Reinforcement
a. Minimum Cover: For steel reinforcing, minimum concrete cover for each
face is 3 inches.
b. Reinforcing Spacing: Common spacing is a minimum of 12 inches on
center for horizontal steel and 6 to 9 inches for vertical ( for SPTC walls,
where the reinforcing spans horizontally, the typical spacing can be
reversed). Control of dimensions, reinforcement placement and concrete
placement is more difficult for slurry walls then for conventionally formed
concrete. Therefore, although reinforcement requirements should be in
general accordance with ACI 318 for reinforced concrete (unless another
code governs the project) the minimum spacing between reinforcing
should be more generous than what is allowed by ACI 318 to permit flow
of the tremie concrete through and around the steel reinforcement. At this
time there is not a national code for slurry wall reinforcing spacing.
However, both the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway
Bridges and the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications provide
reinforcement spacing criteria for drilled shafts constructed by the slurry
method. The AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges
requires the following for drilled shafts: The minimum clear distance
between parallel bars in a layer should be at least 3 times the bar
diameter, or 3 times the maximum size of the coarse aggregate, or 1-1/2
inches, whichever is largest. If reinforcing bars are bundled, the spacing
limits should be calculated based on an equivalent bar diameter, i.e. the
unit of bundled bars are treated as a single bar of a diameter derived from
the equivalent total area. While the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design
currently requires: a minimum clear space between reinforcing of 5 times
the maximum aggregate size or 5 inches whichever is greater. Recent
research is suggesting a minimum reinforcing clear spacing of 10 times
the maximum aggregate size may be appropriate for tremie concrete. A
pending revision to the AASHTO LRFD specification will increase the
minimum space between reinforcing from 5 to 10 times the maximum
aggregate size. In their 1999 Edition of the manual on Drilled Shafts:
Construction Procedures and Design Methods, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) suggests a minimum clear spacing between
reinforcing bars of 5 times the size of the largest coarse aggregate, or 3
inches, whichever is larger. However, the pending update to this FHWA
manual will be consistent with the new AASHTO LRFD specification
noted above.
Based on AASHTO requirements and past PB experience it is suggested
that for slurry walls, the designer strive for a minimum clearance between

reinforcing of 10 times the maximum aggregate size and not less than 5
times the maximum aggregate size or 5 inches, whichever is greatest.
Spacing of stirrups should be planned to accommodate the installation of

tremie pipes.
As with typical reinforced concrete, welding of bars is not generally
accepted as quality control is difficult and the procedure is expensive.
Welding also increases the rigidity of the cage; under most conditions, it is
preferred to have a flexible cage for hoisting since a rigid cage is more
susceptible to permanent distortion.
c. Epoxy Coated Reinforcement: Epoxy coating has been employed in the

construction of slurry walls. However, the usefulness of epoxy is
questionable. Epoxy bars are prone to chipping during assembly, hoisting,
setting, and concrete placement, especially at dowel bend outs at slab
connections. Epoxy coated bars do not bond to concrete and the need to
protect against chlorides is typically not needed in slurry walls. Therefore,
it is suggested that epoxy coated reinforcement not be used in slurry walls.
Should a project owner insist on its use, epoxy coated reinforcing is
acceptable but one needs to be aware of its limited effectiveness.
d. Reinforcing Cage Sizes: Reinforcing cages are to be sized to

accommodate previously noted setting tolerances plus an additional 3
inches for cover. Reinforcing should be stopped approximately 6 to 12
inches above the bottom of the trench to accommodate any unevenness
that may exist along the bottom of trench.
At panel joints, additional clearance is required to accommodate setting
tolerance of the endstops. As noted previously, endstop verticality
tolerance is approximately 1: 200; therefore plus or minus 6 inches for a
depth of 100 feet. Combining the 6 inch setting tolerance with the
required minimum concrete cover of 3 inches requires the reinforcing cage
to be terminated 9 inches from the theoretical panel joint resulting in 18
inches of unreinforced concrete between adjacent panels.
e. Reinforcing Bar Sizes: Essentially all bar sizes are acceptable for slurry
wall construction. However, Grade 60 #7 bars are typical for horizontal
steel and Grade 60, #9 to #11 bars are typical for vertical steel. For
reinforcing cages to be incorporated into an SPTC wall, the horizontal and
vertical bar sizes are reversed as the cage transfers loads horizontally.
f. General Structural Design: A conventional reinforced wall is reinforced in
two directions and spans vertically between supports (temporary bracing
members or permanent floors). It is considered good practice to compile
moment and shear envelopes along the entire height of the wall using
results from an assumed staged excavation analysis and, in the case of a

permanent slurry wall, from frame analysis for the final loading
conditions.
The structural design involves sizing of the vertical reinforcing for flexure,
checking shear, and designing shear reinforcement and stirrups, when
needed. In addition, crack control and wall deflection are considered,
especially when the slurry wall is part of the permanent structure.
Combined axial load and bending require checking if the slurry wall will
be supporting vertical loads.
Generally, ACI 318 is applicable for the design of slurry walls; however,
project requirements may dictate the use of AASHTO or local building
codes. Since quality control is difficult for slurry walls, such as control of
dimensions, reinforcement placement, and concrete quality, a more
conservative approach to design and detailing is suggested. As an
example, when calculating the effective depth of structure, d, in addition
to concrete cover and rebar size, slurry wall excavation tolerances should
be considered.
g. Permanent Structural Connections: As part of the permanent structure, the
slurry wall must support slabs and beams. Depending on requirements for
structural behavior, hinged, partially hinged or fixed connections can
theoretically be used. However, partially hinged connections are not
considered practical for slurry wall design. The designer should carefully
consider the use and location of each type of joint. For linear structures,
such as cut and cover tunnels, only the roof or invert slab is typically
rigidly connected. For box-like structures, such as underground garages,
all slab to slurry wall connections may be pinned as the perpendicular
slurry walls provide lateral stability.
Fixed connections transmit the moment and shear from the end of the floor
into the slurry wall, often resulting in heavy/congested reinforcing.
Hinged connections only transmit shear force from the slab to the slurry
wall and are generally simpler to construct than a fixed joint; however,
bending moment at midspan of the slab is greatly increased and should be
considered in the design development phase of the structure.
CRC slurry wall to cast-in-place slab connections: For pinned connections,
bend-out bars are generally used. Since the bend-out bars will be cold bent
in the field their size is limited to #4 or #5, Grade 40 rather than the Grade
60 which is used for the main reinforcing. Fixed connections typically
require the use of threaded rebar couplers.
CRC slurry wall to steel beam connections: This detail requires the use of
embedded steel plates (usually with the use of welded shear studs) in the
face of the slurry wall. Following general excavation, the embedded plate
is exposed and connection angles are welded to it, the steel beam is then

bolted to the angle. If forces permit, single plate shear connections are a
simple method of connection, for moment connections, the beams flanges
can be directly welded to the embedded plate or top and bottom
connection plates can be used. Appendix B provides connection details
successfully used on PB projects.
4. Soldier Piles
a. Minimum Cover: For SPTC walls, the minimum recommended cover for
corrosion protection is 3 inches. For designs where the soldier pile is
essentially the same width as the theoretical trench excavation, the
exposed interior soldier pile flange should be sealed for protection from
corrosion; a design decision regarding the need to provide corrosion
protection for the exterior flange should be made following an assessment
of subsurface conditions to determine if the soldier pile is subject to long
term corrosion. On PBs Baltimore Metro Shot Tower Station, corrosion
protection was provided by applying polyamine epoxy to the interior
flange of each pile during general excavation. On the Central Artery
project, Bridgecoat 8100 (CCS) was applied to the interior flange during
excavation. Individual soldier piles should be set on the bottom of
excavation, similar to an endstop, to prevent movement during concrete
placement. If soldier piles are laced in pairs, preventing horizontal
movement, the piles can be terminated 6 to12 inches above the bottom of
excavation to accommodate any unevenness that may exist along the
trench bottom.
b. General Structural Design: With SPTC slurry walls, the concrete spans
horizontally between the steel piles that provide resistance in the vertical
direction. Therefore, the horizontal reinforcing has to be sized to resist
moment and shear for lateral pressures. Usually it is assumed the wall is a
series of simple spans between the soldier piles. Reinforcing may be
omitted if the flexural, shear, compression and bending stresses are less
than the concrete cracking strength and the permissible stresses allowed by
ACI for plain concrete. The design of the steel piles is in accordance with
the AISC Manual for Steel Construction.
c. Permanent Structural Connections: Connections, fixed, hinged or partially

hinged, are similar as those provided for the conventional reinforced slurry
wall.
SPTC slurry wall to steel beam connection: Typical structural steel beam
to steel column connections can be used in this case. Simple shear
connections or high capacity moment connections can both be achieved.
The steel beam is connected to the pile with field welded angles and top
and bottom plates, or the beam can be directly welded to the soldier pile.
SPTC slurry wall to cast-in-place slab connections: These connections are
usually used for moment transferring joints between unreinforced SPTC

walls and reinforced concrete slabs. Short segments of structural steel

shapes are welded to the steel soldier pile and embedded in the reinforced
slab.
When required, splicing of soldier piles is commonly performed by
bolting as field conditions and time constraints are not typically conducive
to welding.
Appendix B provides illustrations of connection details successfully used
on PB projects.
5. Concrete: To accommodate tremie placement and removal of endstops,
concrete mix designs have a high slump, typically 7 to 9 inches at the time of
placement, and may include retarders and plasticizers. Aggregate size is
typically ; however, in panels where steel congestion is relatively high,
3/8 aggregate is commonly used. To accommodate endstop removal prior to
concrete set, pour size/panel sizes are often determined to allow completion of
concrete placement in 4 hours. Concrete placement commonly occurs at
about 40 cubic yards per hour per tremie pipe. Common concrete strengths
are 4,000 and 5,000 psi. It is common practice to provide a concrete mix in
the specifications; however, similar to bentonite slurries, contractors will have
their preference for concrete mixes to accommodate their chosen means and
methods of construction to meet required performance criteria. Modifications
to the design mix should be permitted provided there is no compromise in the
final structural performance requirements of the concrete. All concrete mixes
should be evaluated at the start of slurry wall construction for compliance with
project performance requirements.

IV. SLURRY WALL CONSTRUCTION

This section provides guidance on various topics related to the construction of slurry
walls.
A. Slurry Selection
1. Bentonite: Bentonite slurry is the preferred type of slurry for providing trench
stability and should be used in all cases unless there are site restraints that
dictate otherwise. In addition to better trench stability, bentonite is believed
to provide some level of increased watertightness in comparison to polymer
slurry. Although bentonite is not considered as a waterproofing membrane, it
does provide a watertightness barrier on the external surface of the slurry wall,
after the tremie concrete is placed. The slurry wall utilizes whatever filter
cake is formed on the side walls of the excavated trench which provides some
ability in sealing minor seepage. When clean gravels are expected to be
encountered, trench instability should be anticipated as the relatively large
voids prevent the formation of an effective filter cake.
As noted previously, the behavior of bentonite slurries can be affected by
contaminants. Of particular concern is brackish or salt water. When salt
water is encountered, the contractor will likely be required to mix additives in
with the slurry to maintain the require slurry parameters. Attapulgite clay has
been found to be more effective in this environment than bentonite, but is not
as readily available.
2. Polymer: Polymer slurries provide economical benefits in comparison to
bentonite, primarily savings in desanding, disposal, and decreased staging
area. However, polymer slurries are not considered an equal replacement to
bentonite in regard to trench stability and water sealing capability. Polymer
slurries are not recommended for slurry walls unless specific site constraints
require their use. Such site constraints might include lack of an on site or off
site staging area of sufficient size to accommodate a slurry plant. Subsurface
materials most acceptable for polymer use are medium to stiff clays, very
dense impermeable tills and rock. The likelihood of collapsing trenches is
substantial when polymers are used in soft organic silts and loose cohesionless
soils. Based on PB experience, polymer slurries are not currently suggested
for granular soils.
B. Slurry Properties
1. Bentonite: The bentonite slurry is primarily a contractors means and
methods for constructing the slurry wall, provided the slurry conforms to
specified performance requirements. As such, latitude needs to be provided to
allow revisions to specified bentonite properties based on actual field
observations. Properties that may require revisions in the field typically
include density and viscosity. In general, just prior to steel placement, a
viscosity on the order of 45 seconds and density less than 72 pcf are preferred,

and a sand content of less than 5% and a pH between 7 and 11 are required.
Schedule conflicts, risk of damage to adjacent structures, or sloughing of the
trench may require judgment modifications to the slurry properties and, in
some instances concrete placement under less than ideal conditions is
warranted in the interest of minimizing risk to adjacent facilities. Testing of
the bentonite is performed frequently with the results reported to the engineer.
The most important test is prior to the placement of steel into the trench; this
test should be witnessed by the engineers on site representative, and consists
of testing a slurry sample obtained within 12 inches of the bottom of trench.
Below is a suggested general guideline. Slurry properties and testing
procedures are per American Petroleum Industry Standards, API - 13Aand
13B-1.
Density:
Fresh: 65 to 68 pcf,
During excavation: less than 78 pcf (Although a minimum of 64 pcf is
commonly specified, the actual minimum value is that which is required to
maintain trench stability)
Prior to steel placement: less than 72 pcf (72 pcf is preferred; however, if
necessary, a maximum value of 80 pcf is within the limits of practice)
Viscosity:
Fresh: 30 to 45 sec,
During excavation: 30 to 70 sec,
Prior to concreting: 30 to 45 sec. (45 seconds is reasonable for most soils;
however, values as high as 70 seconds may be required for some soil
types, such as gravels)
Sand content:
Prior to concreting: less than 5%,
Where end bearing is critical: less than 3%
pH: 7 to 11
Fluid loss: less than 25cc
Slurry is continuously pumped into the panel trench as excavation proceeds,

and the slurry is maintained at a level not less than 4 feet above groundwater
level. In instances where the groundwater level is at, near, or above ground
surface, the ground surface can be raised to permit constructing the guidewalls
at a higher elevation to maintain the required bentonite level above
groundwater. Following excavation, the slurry is continuously pumped from
the bottom of trench, processed/cleaned by passing through a desanding unit
and returned to the top of trench. This process continues until the slurry
properties are in accordance with the specifications noted for prior to steel
placement.

During concrete placement, the slurry is pumped from the top of trench to
storage tanks as the concrete is placed. Cleaning of the slurry becomes more
difficult and time consuming with each use; the contractor will determine the
appropriate time to dispose and replace slurry, provided the slurry continues to
meet specification requirements and provides the necessary trench stability.
Bentonite slurries are not to be disposed of in drains or other public
utilities/waterways; they are required to be transported to approved handling
facilities.
2. Polymer: Use of polymer slurries is site specific. Generally, the use of

polymer slurry should be precluded in the project specifications unless the
engineer is satisfied that it is appropriate for the anticipated ground conditions,
currently polymer is not suggested for granular soils. If polymer slurries are
being considered for a project, an in depth review of polymer slurry should be
performed. The contractor should be required to submit case histories of
successful performance of the proposed polymer slurry. The polymer slurry
should be prepared and used in accordance with the manufacturer of the
polymer. The contractor should excavate a test panel (non-production) to
assess the performance of the polymer. The contractor must also adjust the
polymer slurry, as necessary, to maintain trench stability and comply with all
other specified performance requirements.
C. Pretrenching/Guidewalls: Pretrenching allows for the removal of shallow

obstructions and soils unsuitable for guidewall bearing. In urban areas,
pretrenching typically extends at least to the bottom of miscellaneous fill and is
intended to remove possible obstructions in the fill. Pretrenching is backfilled
with either compacted structural fill or flowable lean mix, the strength to be
determined by the contractor. Guidewalls are typically 3 to 4 feet deep, the inside
face of the guidewall is set along the theoretical inside face of the slurry wall, and
the distance between inside and outside face of guidewall is typically 2 inches
wider than the slurry wall design width. It is considered good practice for the
guidewalls to be reinforced, with the reinforcing continuous through guidewall
joints. Guidewall design is a means and methods item that should be the
responsibility of the contractor. (See Section VIII, Photos 1 and 2.)
D. Panel Excavation
1. Equipment Type: The contractor is responsible for selecting the method of
excavation. All methods of excavation are capable of excavating panels to
depths in excess of 300 feet. However, typical panel depths range from 50 to
130 feet. For excavations greater than 130 feet, in-depth research and review
by senior staff is suggested. The three types of excavation equipment that are
commonly used are discussed below.
Cable suspended clam bucket: This is the most common and versatile method
of excavation. The primary concern with the use of cable suspended clam
buckets is control of verticality. Clam buckets, in combination with chiseling,
can excavate soft to moderate rock and can accommodate excavation of the

full range of soil types, and obstructions. Hard rock excavation is difficult
and usually limited to a nominal penetration, a few feet, to achieve end
bearing or groundwater cutoff. The rig can be modified for low headroom of
less than 20 feet. (See Section VIII, Photos 3 and 4.)
Rigid Kelly Bar Rig: The rigid Kelly bar is generally slower than the cable
suspended method, but verticality is generally considered to be better for
shallow walls, less than about 50 feet. They come equipped with either cable
or hydraulically actuated buckets. A separate crane for rock chiseling is often
required; rock excavation is similar to a cable suspended rig. (See Section
VIII, Photo 5.)
Hydromill: Hydromills are primarily used for excavation in sands and rock.
They are not typically preferred for clays as the cuttings tend to clog the spoil
return lines, and the mixing of the clay particles and bentonite slurry requires
frequent slurry replacement. Excavation of rock with compressive strengths in
the range of 15,000 psi is reported; however, if significant excavation of hard
rock is anticipated, the designer should consult with specialty contractors to
confirm the reasonableness of the planned construction. The equipment can
be modified for low headroom, less than 20 feet, making it suitable for urban
conditions. (See Section VIII, Photo 6.)
The hydromill has several major advantages over the cable suspended clam
bucket and the rigid Kelly bar rig, including:
Efficient removal of spoil since spoil is discharged simultaneously with
trench excavation.
Provides the best verticality for deep walls as the cutter head is equipped
with instrumentation to continuously monitor verticality and permits
adjustments to be made by the operator.
Contains spoil and can pump spoil to remote locations making it very
suitable for urban settings.
2. Panel Sequencing: A typical slurry wall would include primary, secondary

and follow-up panels (sometimes referred to as sequential panels). Primary
panels are the first panels excavated and include the use of two endstops.
Primary panels are installed in an alternating sequence, usually leaving at least
two unexcavated panel widths between open trench excavations. Once the
primary panels achieve adequate concrete strength, the secondary or follow-up
panels are excavated. Secondary panels are excavated between two completed
panels and have no endstops. Follow-up panels are excavated adjacent to one
completed panel and require one endstop.
To avoid undermining of constructed panels, particularly in granular soils,

slurry panel design and construction sequencing should be such that secondary
and follow up panels do not require excavating below the bottom of the
primary panels. In some instances where subsurface profiles vary, unforeseen
conditions may result in a violation of this criterion; however, this is most

likely to occur where the panels are to be founded in rock which is a condition
that should not result in undermining.
3. Panel Verticality: Slurry wall verticality is generally accepted to range from

1:80 to 1:200. 1:100 is considered achievable with all methods of excavation
in typical soil conditions. For verticality between 1:100 and 1:200, a
hydromill should be considered.
As noted previously, hydromills are typically equipped with automated
monitoring devices located in the cutter head assembly. These devices
provide continuous verticality data back to the cab where the operator can
make the necessary adjustments. The cutter wheels for the hydromill can be
titled or operated at different speeds and the boom adjusted to maintain
alignment of the excavation.
Verticality measurements with cable suspended clam buckets are typically
made manually at a specified interval by: 1) attaching plumb lines to the
center of each side of the bucket, 2) lowering the open bucket to the bottom of
excavation, 3) plumbing the lines, and 4) measuring the distance from inside
face of guidewall to plumb line. A testing interval of 20 feet is considered
reasonable.
With rigid Kelly bars, the verticality of the bar is checked with the use of
levels.
E. Joint Cleaning: Following excavation of secondary or follow-up panels, the

existing concrete joint or permanent endstop of the adjacent panel must be
cleaned. Cleaning of the joint is critical for minimizing water intrusion through
the completed wall. The contractor submits its proposed means and methods for
joint cleaning for review and acceptance by the engineer. It is critical that this
procedure be observed by the engineers on site representative and documentation
provided by the contractors quality control inspector that each joint is clear of all
material. A typical cleaning tool may consist of a weighted W section with an
attachment fitting the shape of the panel joint. The tool is raised and lowered by a
service crane and any change of alignment or slack in the crane cable indicates the
joint is not clean. Lowering of the excavation bucket with a specially designed
attachment conforming to the shape of the panel joint is also a method commonly
used for joint cleaning.
F. Endstop Placement/Removal: During installation, endstops frequently scrape the

sides of the excavation and cause vibrations, both of which can result in
significant amounts of soil to accumulate on the trench bottom. Therefore, it is
preferred that endstops be installed following completion of excavation but prior
to final cleaning of the trench bottom. Endstops should be firmly seated in the
bottom of excavation; this is generally accomplished by simply allowing the
endstop to free fall for the last few feet. The verticality is checked with the use of
levels. Once verticality is confirmed, the top of endstop is firmly attached to the
guidewall to prevent movement during concrete placement. For low headroom
conditions, endstops can be assembled in sections.

Depending on the size of pour and properties of the concrete mix, removal of
temporary endstops may commence prior to completion of the tremie concrete
operation, generally about two hours after the start of pour. Removal needs to
begin prior to the initial setting of the concrete but after the concrete has adequate
stiffness so as not to deform upon endstop removal. The decision to start endstop
removal is at the discretion of the contractor. A typical method a contractor may
use to confirm proper concrete stiffness for endstop removal is to set aside a
sample of concrete at the start of concrete placement; the stiffness of the sample
is periodically observed by the contractor throughout the pour. The engineers site
representative should document the start of pour, start of endstop removal, end of
pour and completion of endstop removal. Should any difficulties be noted, they
should be recorded and the contractors procedures adjusted accordingly. (See
Section VIII, Photos 7 and 8.)
G. Desanding: Desanding is a process that can be ongoing from the time excavation
is complete up to the time the reinforcing is ready for lowering. Desanders may
be large stationary plants or small portable systems for sites with limited space.
Once the contractor has determined that desanding is complete, he will obtain a
sample of slurry from approximately the bottom 12 inches of the excavation. The
sample should be obtained and tested in the presence of the engineers
representative. Following acceptance of the test but prior to removing the
desanding equipment, the contractor together with the engineers site
representative should sound the bottom of excavation for cleanliness. Sounding
should be performed at a minimum of three locations; near each end of the trench
and at the center of trench. Soundings are typically performed with a weighted
tape; when end bearing resistance is of particular importance, buoyancy neutral
rods can be used. (See Section VIII, Photos 9 and 10.)
H. Steel Placement: Prior to setting the steel reinforcing cage or soldier piles, the
engineers representative shall have finished inspection of the completed steel
assembly to confirm it is consistent with approved shop drawings. The steel
should be marked clearly indicating inside face to ensure proper orientation in the
trench. To minimize the risk of caking of bentonite to the steel, concrete
placement commonly commences within 2 hours after placement of the steel is
completed. If this criterion is violated, the steel is often removed and cleaned.
Cleaning is typically performed by simply spraying with a hose; power washing is
not normally required. After cleaning the steel and trench bottom, the steel is
reinserted. On occasion, project requirements may dictate the need to
significantly exceed the 2 hour guide, in such cases it is suggested that mitigative
measures be specified and senior construction staff be involved to develop the
appropriate time restraints. To help locate the reinforcing cage in the center of the
excavation, concrete spacers are attached to both faces of the steel; typically 4
inch wide concrete blocks or 4 inch wide concrete rollers are tied to the steel.
Concrete block spacers should have tapered or rounded ends to minimize the
scrapping of soil from the sides of the excavation which may cause some minor
amount of spoil to accumulate on the trench bottom. Spacers are generally
located at about 10 feet on center horizontally, with a minimum of two, and about

20 feet on center vertically. Spacers are usually attached as the cage is lowered
into the trench. Spacers are not typically used when setting soldier piles.
Plumbness of soldier piles is confirmed by checking verticality above grade with
the use of levels and assuming the pile stiffness is sufficient to maintain
verticality with depth.
Once the steel is in place; it is hung from the top of the guidewall, often with the
use of steel angles attached to extended vertical bars for reinforcing cages and
rigid steel frames for soldier piles. The angles/frames are anchored to the
guidewall to prevent horizontal movement during concrete placement.
Blockouts for keyways, instrumentation items and all embedments are built into
the cage prior to hoisting. Their inclusion and proper location should be
confirmed during the general inspection of the reinforcing cage.
Welding of cages is generally not accepted as it increases the rigidity of the cage
and can cause permanent deformation of the cage during hoisting. Hoisting of the
cage is a dangerous procedure and inspectors should keep a safe distance during
this process. On occasion, due to the flexing of the cage, some reinforcing
loosens and falls; the inspector should note this and the reinforcing bars re-
installed during the lowering of the cage. (See Section VIII, Photos 11 through
17.)
I. Concrete Placement
1. Slump: Concrete commonly has a slump between 7 to 9 inches at the time of
placement. The frequency of samples may vary from project to project, but a
frequency of one set of cylinders per 50 cubic yards of concrete is common.
Slump tests are typically performed for each set of cylinders. Concrete
placement is typically planned to be completed within 4 hours to maintain
concrete fluidity throughout the pour.
2. Tremie Requirements: The tremie pipes shall have a suitable plug for the
initial pour to prevent mixing of the concrete and bentonite slurry. Tremie
pipes range in size from 6 to 10 inches in diameter, but 10 inches is the
recommended minimum diameter. Flows from tremie pipes are assumed to
travel horizontally up to 8 feet; therefore, one tremie may be used for panels
up to 15 feet wide. For T panels and corner panels, one pipe is to be used
for each leg. For SPTC walls, one tremie pipe is to be used between each pair
of soldier piles. When multiple tremie pipes are used, the concrete placement
should be coordinated to maintain a uniform level of concrete within the panel
at all times.
Concrete placement is typically required to commence within 4 hours of

completion of slurry and bottom cleaning and 2 hours after steel placement.
However, in constricted sites, such as low headroom conditions where
splicing of the steel is required, significant relaxation to these time constraints
is necessary. On occasion, placement of concrete may take place as late as 24

hours after final cleaning. Under such circumstances, it is suggested that

mitigative measures be specified and senior construction staff be involved in
developing appropriate time constraints.
If a trench is located in a critical area where trench collapse would likely
result in damage to an adjacent structure, the trench should not be permitted to
remain open for an extended period of time. When excavating adjacent to an
existing structure, it is a common practice that once the slurry trench
excavation is deeper than an existing structures foundation, the panel
construction continues uninterrupted until concrete placement is complete. If
the panel construction must be ceased, the trench should be backfilled with
crushed stone or lean concrete mix and re-excavated when conditions permit.
During placement of the concrete the engineers representative should verify

the contractor is taking measurements to confirm the concrete rise is
approximately level as each truck or pair of trucks have completed concrete
placement.
On occasion, delays in concrete placement will occur, such as from plant

breakdown or truck delays. Should this occur the contractor should provide a
remedy. Options may include completing the panel with a cold joint and
repairing the panel during general excavation or excavating the concrete prior
to cure and removing the steel.
Should the contractor lose the concrete seal of the tremie while placing the the
concrete and it is determined that stopping the pour and excavating the
concrete and steel is not an option, there are alternatives to permit the pour to
continue. One method is for the contractor to re-insert a new tremie with a
closed valve at the end with charged concrete in the tremie pipe. A second
alternative is for the contractor to re-install the tremie pipe and then bail the
slurry from the tremie pipe until only concrete remains. Should either of these
options be employed, the panel should be noted in the field records and the
condition of the panel monitored closely during general excavation.
On occasion, site constraints require the use of concrete pumps. In such cases
the diameter of the pump line should not be less than 5 inches. When site
conditions necessitate the use of concrete pumps, it is suggested that the
assumed typical 8 foot horizontal flow of concrete be decreased to maintain a
level concrete rise and flushing of the panel joints. On past projects, PB has
successfully used a 4 foot horizontal flow with 5 inch pump lines. Pump lines
should be added if measurements suggest concrete rise is not uniform.
Tremie pipes are to be water tight and remain a minimum of 10 feet into the
concrete. The exception to this is pouring the top 10 feet or so of panel at
which time the head differential makes concrete flow difficult, requiring a
reduced embedment to about 5 feet. (See Section VIII, Photo 18.)

3. Laitance Removal at Top of Wall: It is common for the top portion of

concrete to have had some mixing with the bentonite slurry. Generally, the
mixing is assumed to be within the top 6 to 12 inches, but may extend to
greater depth. If the top of wall requires full structural integrity, it is common
practice to chip the top 12 inches of concrete after the concrete has fully
cured, or to over pour the panel approximately 12 inches beyond the required
height. The depth of laitance and magnitude of concrete overpour should be
evaluated at the start of each slurry wall project, and should be adjusted as
necessary to obtain sound concrete up to the design top of wall elevation.
Removal of laitance is commonly performed with the use of high impact
hammers, hydraulic concrete crushers or chipping hammers. However, high
impact hammers have been reported to have loosened the concrete to soldier
pile bond in SPTC walls, resulting in some water seepage.
J. Corrective Measures
1. General Comments: Due to the nature of slurry walls, essentially all projects
should be expected to include panels not constructed in accordance with the
specifications or design, and some corrective measures should be anticipated.
Cleaning of the slurry wall is required and is suggested to be done as general
site excavation progresses. All soil and bentonite laitance should be removed
by power washing, sand blasting, or other methods accepted by the engineer.
All bentonite and soil inclusions should be removed. The wall cleaning is an
essential step in determining if corrective measures are necessary.
Defects should be identified as general site excavation progresses. An
implementation schedule indicating at what stage of construction slurry wall
repairs are to be made should be kept by the on site representative, the
contractor and the engineer. As each slurry wall defect is identified by either
the contractor or the engineers representative, the defect should be added to
the implementation schedule. The repair procedure should be prepared by the
contractor and submitted for approval by the engineer. The engineer is to
determine at what stage of construction the repair is to be completed and this
information added to the implementation schedule along with the date of
repair completion. All observed defects should be documented and evaluated
by the engineer as they are exposed. The contractor is ultimately responsible
for ensuring all defects are noted, developing corrective measures, and
implementing corrective measures to the satisfaction of the engineer.
Appropriate corrective measures should be implemented in a timely fashion as
warranted by the nature and extent of the defect and its impact on the
performance of the slurry wall during and following construction activities.
2. Work Plan: For typical defects, the contractor should include anticipated
corrective measures as part of its work plan submitted prior to the
commencement of slurry wall work. As defects are exposed during
excavation, the contractor should propose an appropriate repair based on the
typical corrective measures identified in the work plan, or other measures as

appropriate. The contractor should submit the proposed corrective measures

to the engineer for review and approval.
3. Definition of Defects: Defects are considered to be any item that could

potentially have an adverse impact on the intended performance of the slurry
wall. Protrusions are not considered defects but rather a natural occurrence in
the construction of slurry walls, the removal of which are required for
aesthetic reasons or to accommodate interior works. Typical defects and
corrective measures are discussed below.
a. Leakage: Leakage primarily occurs at panel joints, roof and invert slab
connections, penetrations, and at items embedded in the slurry wall. The
sealing of leaks that exceed contract permitted quantities is generally
performed by standard drilling and injection methods, from the inside face
of the slurry wall. Occasionally leaks may be of such a magnitude that
exterior waterproofing methods may be required, possibly accomplished
by drilling and grouting immediately adjacent to the slurry wall. The type
of grout to be used is usually at the discretion of the contractor subject to
approval by the engineer. (See Section VIII, Photo 19.)
b. Out of Tolerance: Occasionally, out of tolerance panels may be

accommodated by chipping the exposed face of wall or modifying the
architectural finish to provide the required clearances. If this is not
possible, removal of portions of the wall, including misaligned soldier
piles, and replacement with cast-in-place concrete with added
reinforcement may be required. Additional temporary internal bracing
may be required for the repair, or, in the extreme case, installation of a
temporary support system and excavation of the exterior soil may be
necessary. (See Section VIII, Photos 20 and 21.)
c. Structural Integrity: In the majority of cases, structural integrity is

compromised by the inclusion of bentonite pockets, soil and/or
miscellaneous debris such as Styrofoam or plywood from endstop
removal; damaged keyways; cold joints; contaminated concrete; or
excessive depth of laitance at the top of wall. These defects tend to be
localized and structural repairs are usually performed by removal of the
foreign material or poor quality concrete and replacement with cast-in-
place concrete and/or cement grout. In unreinforced SPTC walls, the
replacement concrete/grout may require the drilling and grouting of
dowels and/or the use of exposed structural steel anchored to the interior
face of wall to restore structural stability. For large repairs, additional
bracing and/or the excavation of the exterior soil may be required as
described in item (b) above. (See Section VII, Photos 22 and 23.)
K. Inspection
1. Responsibilities: Slurry walls are considered foundation elements, similar to
drilled shafts, piles, and spread footings, and require a similar level of

inspection. For design-bid-build contracts, it is suggested that the engineer

have field inspectors or an on site representative dedicated solely to the
oversight of slurry wall construction. One inspector should be capable of
overseeing two excavation rigs, excluding concrete testing. The inspector
should be responsible for logging soil, verifying steel inspection, observing
verticality measurements, confirming slurry properties, sounding and
accepting bottom of excavation, observing joint cleaning, observing steel
placement, observing concrete placement, noting any deviation from accepted
means, methods and design, and reporting these deviations to the supervising
engineer followed with written notice to the contractor. The supervising
engineer is responsible for determining what, if any, follow up action is to be
recommended, and should communicate the recommendations to the owner
or, if applicable, directly to the contractor, in writing with copies to the design
engineers inspector or on site representative.
2. Supervising Engineer Qualifications: Preferably, the designers supervising

engineer should be familiar with slurry wall construction, having worked on at
least two previous slurry wall projects. The designer should have a
geotechnical engineer and structural engineer available for timely
responses/direction to field issues during slurry wall construction. Either the
geotechnical engineer or structural engineer may also act as the supervising
engineer.
3. Field Staff Qualifications: The engineers on site staff should include at least
one lead inspector for every six rigs. The lead inspector should have
experience on at least two drilled shaft or slurry wall projects. The support
inspectors may be trained on the job.
4. Record Keeping: A complete slurry panel inspection log should be kept for
each panel. The individual log should document all construction operations
for the panel such as, rate of excavation, soil stratification, verticality
measurements, steel placement, endstop placement/removal, rate of concrete
placement, verification of concrete testing, verification of steel inspection,
bottom cleaning and sounding, and slurry properties before concrete
placement. The log should document the type of excavation equipment used,
including the dates, times and depths of special equipment used such as
chiseling for breaking obstructions or rock. The name of each inspector, and
the date/time of changes in inspector, should be noted on the log. A sample
log is included in Appendix C; however, each project will likely require its
own log format to address the specifics of the project. The sample log
provided is for excavation with a cable suspended bucket where verticality
measurements are made at regular intervals of excavation depth. In the event
the inspector is not able to observe a specific item of work this should be
noted on the log. Deviations from specifications, design, or approved work
plan, and any unanticipated field events should be noted on the log and
immediately reported to the supervising engineer followed with written notice
to the contractor. Items known to require corrective action are to be added to

the implementation schedule described in Section IV.J.1. Logs are to be kept

in the field during construction for reference, with copies sent to the
supervising engineer. Copies are not provided to the contractor except by
request. Concrete test inspections reports and steel inspection reports are not
part of the slurry panel inspection log other than reporting when and by whom
the inspections were performed.
During general excavation, it is suggested that inspection of the slurry wall be
conducted on a daily basis as the slurry wall is exposed and cleaned. Any
defects requiring repair should be noted by the inspector, reported to the
supervising engineer and followed up in writing to the contractor, and added
to the implementation schedule.

V. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

The primary methods of payment for slurry wall construction are either unit price, (per
square foot of wall) or lump sum, and includes all work associated with slurry wall
construction: mobilization, pre-trenching, guidewall construction and removal, trench
excavation, steel, concrete, disposal of slurry, etc. When subsurface conditions are
extremely uniform and the bottom of wall is well defined with little or no variation in
depth anticipated, the lump sum method is suggested with a nominal unit price quantity
to permit payment for minor unforeseen alterations in depth. Where subsurface
conditions are variable and the bottom of wall is likely to be adjusted based on field
conditions encountered, the unit price method is suggested. When using the unit price
method, it is common to provide separate payment items for soil excavation and rock
excavation.
Obstructions require special consideration. Obstructions are considered manmade
objects; items such as boulders and cobbles are commonly not considered as obstructions.
Known obstructions which can be identified on the plans may be included in the slurry
wall payment item. However, for unknown obstructions below allowable pre-trench
depths, it is suggested there be a separate pay item for obstruction removal based on unit
price or time and material for changed conditions.

VI. REFERENCES
Arman, A., Samtani, N., Castelli, R., Munfakh, G., Participants Manual for Subsurface Investigations,
Federal Highway Administration Publication No. FHWA HI-97-021, National Highway Institute (NHI), Course
No. 13231-Module 1, 1997.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO, LRFD Bridge Design
Specifications, 4th Edition, Customary English Units, 2007.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO, Standard Specifications for
Highway Bridges, 17th Edition, 2002.
American Concrete Institute, ACI-318-05, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and
Commentary, 2005.
American Institute of Steel Construction, AISC, Steel Construction Manual, 13th Edition, 2006.
Munfakh, G., Samtani, N. C., Castelli, R. J. and Wang, J., Reference manual for Earth Retaining Structures,
Federal Highway Administration Publication No. FHWA NHI-99-025, National Highway Institute Course No.
13236-Module 6, April 1999.

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLURRY WALL REFERENCES

Bechara, C. H., Tips for Slurry Wall Structural Design, Civil Engineering Practice, Journal of the Boston
Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE, Volume 9, Number 2, ISSN: 0886-9685, Fall/Winter 1994.
Chi, M., Dennis, B. and Basci, M., Slurry Walls as an Integral Part of Underground Transportation Structures,
Report No. FHWA/RD-80/047, Arlington, VA, November, 1981.
Einstein, H.H. and Azzouz, A. S., Instrumentation and Evaluation of Slurry Wall Construction, Volume 4
Slurry Trench Stability, Report No. FHWA/RD-84/056, June 1984.
Hansmire, W. H. and Einstein, H.H., Instrumentation and Evaluation of Slurry Wall Construction and Design
Executive Summary, Report No. FHWA/RD-84/052, June, 1984.
Hansmire, W. H., Russell, H. A., Rawnsley R. P. and Abbott, E. L., Instrumentation and Evaluation of Slurry
Wall Construction, Volume 1 Interpretation of Field Measurements, Report No. FHWA/RD-84/053, June 1984.
Hansmire, W. H., Russell, H. A., Rawnsley R. P. and Abbott, E. L., Instrumentation and Evaluation of Slurry
Wall Construction, Volume 2 Diaphragm Wall Case Studies and Application of Finite Element Method,
Report No. FHWA/RD-84/054, June 1984.
Oyenuga, D., FHWA Road Tunnel Design Guidelines, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway
Administration, January, 2004.
Patel, A. and Castelli, R., Permanent Slurry Walls at Baltimore Metros Shot Tower Station, Slurry Walls:
Design, Construction, and Quality Control, ASTM STP, 1129, David B. Paul, Richard R. Davidson, and
Nicholas J. Cavalli, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1992.
Paul, D. B., Davidson, R. R., Cavalli, N. J., Slurry Walls: Design, Construction and Quality Control, ASTM
STP 1129, ASTM Publication Code Number 04-011290-38.
Puller, M., Deep Excavations, A Practical Manual, Second Edition, Thomas Telford Publishing, London, 2003.
Puller, M., The Waterproofness of Structural Diaphragm Walls, Proceedings Institution of Civil Engineers,
Geotechnical Engineering, 1994, 107, March, 1994.
Schultz, M.S., Einstein, H.H. and Azzouz, A. S., Instrumentation and Evaluation of Slurry Wall Construction,
Volume 3 Empirical Investigation of the Behavior of Diaphragm Walls, Report No. FHWA/RD-84/055, June
1984.
U.S. Department of Transportation, FHWA Tunnel Leak Assessment Boston Central Artery Interim Report, 23
March 2005.
Verfel, J., Rock Grouting and Diaphragm Wall Construction, Elsvier, New York, 1989.
Wickham, G. E. and Tiedemann, H. R., Jacobs Associates, Cut-and-Cover Tunneling, Volume 1. Construction
Methods, Design and Activity Variations, Report No. FHWA-RD-76-28, San Francisco, CA, May 1976.
Xanthakos, P. P., Slurry Walls, McGraw-Hill Inc. Series In Modern Structures, 1979.

VIII. PHOTOS
Following are photos 1 through 23 showing typical slurry wall construction procedures.

Photo 1: Formwork for guidewalls.
Photo 2: Failure of guidewall due to discontinuation of steel reinforcement at joint.

Photo 3: Typical cable suspended clam bucket.
Photo 4: Typical chisel for rock and obstruction excavation
(note V nose end-stop, bottom left corner).
Photo 5: Rigid Kelly bar rig.
Photo 6: Hydromill.
Photo 7: Temporary pipe endstops.
Photo 8: Temporary V nose endstops.

Photo 9: De-sanding Unit.
Photo 10: Airlift pipe for de-sanding and bottom cleaning.

Photo 11: Instrumented reinforcing cage. Vertical sleeves for inclinometer and vertical
extensometer, cable is for strain gages, horizontal sleeves are for tieback and
horizontal extensometer.
Photo 12: Hoisting cage, approx. 25 x 100 (note flexing at far right).
Photo 13: Lowering cage (note steel screw cap on tieback sleeve and 4 wide spacer roller).
Photo 14: Lowering cage (note angles attached to vertical steel at top of cage,
angles set on guidewall to support cage at design elevation).
Photo 15: Setting soldier piles.
Photo 16: Soldier pile template to secure soldier piles.
Photo 17: Soldier pile secured for splicing.
Photo 18: Concrete placement, sequential panel (one end-stop).

Photo 19: Typical slurry wall leak at panel joint.
Photo 20: Chipping overpour concrete.
Photo 21: Exposed plywood and Styrofoam ready for removal from keyway. Significant
overpour above keyway.
Photo 22: Void in slurry wall at keyway location.
Photo 23: Repairing structural defect, debris removed,
relieving water pressure to facilitate repair.
IX. APPENDICES
Attached are the following Appendices:
Appendix A Comparison Table for Various Wall Types
Appendix B Sample Design Details

Appendix C Sample Slurry Panel Inspection Log
Appendix D Sample Standard Specification
Appendix E Lisitng of PB Slurry Wall Projects

Appendix A - Comparison Table for Various Wall Types
December 2008
Comparison Table of Various Wall Types
Common Cost in $ per Temp. Perm.

2 Lateral
Wall Type Perm. Temp Height ft of wall Water Water Advantages Disadvantages
(1) Movements
Range (ft) face Tightness Tightness
difficult to construct in
rapid construction
Sheet-pile wall No Yes 20 to 50 15 to 40 large fair to good N/A hard ground or through
readily available
obstructions
difficult to maintain
vertical tolerances in
rapid construction
Soldier hard ground
medium to soldier beams can
pile/lagging No Yes 20 to 75 10 to 35 poor N/A potential for ground
large be drilled or driven
wall loss at excavated face
readily available
groundwater lowered
outside of excavation
requires specialty
can be contractor
constructed in all significant spoil for
Slurry
fair to soil types or disposal
(diaphragm) Yes Yes 50 to 100 60 to 85 small excellent
good weathered rock requires specialized
wall
wide range of wall equipment
stiffness requires large lay down
area
adaptable to
irregular layout
can control wall
stiffness
vertical tolerance in
smaller equipment
hard ground
Tangent pile than slurry wall
No Yes 50 to 100 40 to 75 small good N/A requires specialized
wall lay down area
equipment
smaller than slurry
significant spoil for
wall
disposal
reinforcement can
be fabricated off
site
adaptable to
irregular layout
can control wall
stiffness
vertical tolerance in
smaller equipment
hard ground
Secant pile good to than slurry wall
Yes Yes 50 to 100 40 to 75 small fair requires specialized
wall excellent lay down area
equipment
smaller than slurry
significant spoil for
wall
disposal
reinforcement can
be fabricated off
site
Notes: (1) Total installed costs in 1995 U.S. Dollars. Costs are dated but provide relative comparison of different wall systems.
1 of 1
Appendix B - Sample Design Details
December 2008
PANEL JOINT
3'- 2"
(TYP)
3'- 0"
SLURRY
2' +/-
WALL
VARIES
CLR*
INSIDE GUIDE WALL

PANEL JOINT VARIES
OUTSIDE GUIDE WALL
CLR* EXTERNAL
FACE
THEORETICAL INSIDE
12" +/- FACE OF SLURRY WALL
2" CLEAR
THEORETICAL OUTSIDE
FACE OF SLURRY WALL
* CLEARANCE TO ACCOMMODATE END-STOP PLUS
3" OF CONCRETE COVER
TOLERANCE PLUS 3" OF CONCRETE COVER
GUIDE WALL DETAIL CORNER PANEL DETAIL
PANEL JOINT LENGTH OF PANEL VARIES PANEL JOINT

ADJACENT PANEL PRIMARY ADJACENT PANEL plu
CLR* CLR* CLR* CLR*
3' - 0"
(TYP)
MIN.
TEMPORARY END-STOP 3" X 8" KEY (TYP)

TUBE (TYP)
* CLEARANCE TO ACCOMMODATE END-STOP
PANEL DETAIL
VARIES PANEL JOINT
VARIES
EXTERNAL CLR*
FACE
PANEL JOINT
CLR*
* CLEARANCE TO ACCOMMODATE END-STOP

SKEWED PANEL DETAIL
NOTES:
1. Vertical bars can be placed inside or outside of horizontal bars. If cracking is a concern, placing horizontal bars
outside may be beneficial
2. These details are illustrative, site specific details shall be developed for each project
SPTC WALL
CONCRETE COVER
WHEN USED
A
SOLDIER PILE
TOP ANGLE
CIP SLAB TOP ANGLE

2" MIN
SIP FORM ROOF GIRDER

EQ SP
BOLTS
TYP ANGLE (TYP)
GIRDER
CL ERECTION BOLTS
CL ERECTION
BOLTS
2" MIN GIRDER ERECTION
SEAT
A
SECTION A
(SLAB NOT SHOWN)
ELEVATION
SPTC WALL TO STEEL BEAM CONNECTION AT ROOF SLAB
SPTC WALL
CONCRETE COVER
WHEN USED
ROOF SLAB
TIE BAR
SOLDIER PILE
PATCH WITH POLYMER
MODIFIED CEMENT MORTAR
ROOF GIRDER ADHERE POLYSTYRENE OVER

CONNECTION ANGLE PRIOR TO
CONC. PLACEMENT
CIP SLAB TO SPTC WALL JOINT AT ROOF SLAB
NOTES:
1. For waterproofing details see Parsons Brinckerhoff's 'Guidelines for the Design of Waterproofing Systems for
Underground Structures'
STYROFOAM FILL
WITH PLYWOOD COVER (TYP)
SLURRY WALL
TOP OF
SLAB
3" (TYP)
2" IF D<24" 3" (TYP)
2" IF D<24"
VARIES
D
3" (TYP)
2" IF D<24"
3" (TYP)
2" IF D<24"
3" KEY
BEND INTO PLACE DOWELS (TYP)

BEFORE CASTING SEE ELEVATIONS FOR
SLAB LOCATIONS, SPACING AND
NUMBER OF LAYERS
NOTE:
WALL STIRRUPS NOT SHOWN
SLAB KEY AT BEND-OUT DOWELS

STYROFOAM FILL
MECHANICAL COUPLERS AND WITH PLYWOOD COVER (TYP)
DOWELS INSTALLED AFTER
SLURRY WALL
BLOCKING IS REMOVED
STANDARD HOOK
(VERT. OR HORIZ., TYP)
BEAM OR
SLAB
3" (TYP)
3" (TYP)
VARIES
D
3" (TYP)
3" (TYP)
3" KEY SPLICER DOWEL BARS (TYP)

SEE ELEVATIONS FOR LOCATIONS
AND SLAB & BEAM SCHEDULES
FOR SIZE, SPACING AND NUMBER
OF LAYERS
SLAB/BEAM KEY SPLICER DOWEL BARS

NOTES:
1. Wall stirups not shown
3. Vertical bars can be placed inside or outside horizontal bars. If cracking is a concern, placing horizontal bars
SPTC WALL
CONCRETE COVER
WHEN USED
SOLDIER PILE
NOTE: THE TOP CONNECTION IS A

VERY SITE SPECIFIC DETAIL
1'-4"
TOP CONNECTION
THREADED BARS
6" MIN CLR TOP BEAM
AND BOT (TYP)
6"
6"
TIES STIFFENERS
REINF. BARS (TYP)
SHEAR STUD
MULTIPLE LEVELS REQUIRED

(TYP)
EQUAL SPACING WHEN

SHEAR STUDS x 6" LONG
1 1/2" (TYP)
EQ
EQ
THREADED BARS
12" 12" CHIP CONCRETE
AS REQUIRED
REINF. BARS
INVERT SLAB
TOP & BOT

6"
BOTTOM
TYP CONNECTION BEAM
6"
STEEL
12
"
TIES BEAM
A
STEEL END
PLATE (TYP)
CL SOLDIER PILE
3" WORKING SLAB & NOTE: THE WELDING DETAIL
4" MUD SLAB ATTACHING THE STEEL BEAM
TO SOLDIER PILE REQUIRES SECTION A - A
ULTRASONIC TESTING SHEAR STUD LAYOUT DETAIL
CONCRETE INVERT SLAB TO SPTC WALL CONNECTION DETAIL
NOTES:
SLURRY WALL
3" KEY
FILL WITH STYROFOAM

PLYWOOD COVER (TYP)
DEVELOPMENT LENGTH
A BEND INTO PLACE BEFORE
CASTING SLAB, SEE NOTE 2
3" (TYP) NOTE:
STANDARD HOOK CONCRETE CONCRETE SLAB NOT
VERT OR HORIZ SLAB SHOWN FOR CLARITY
SPACED
BOLTS
DOWEL
EQ
ANGLE OR
BENT PLATE STEEL BEAM
STEEL PLATE
SECTION A - A
SHEAR STUDS
REINFORCED CONCRETE
SLURRY WALL TO STEEL BEAM CONNECTION
NOTES:
2. Bendout dowels are common for pinned connections with reinforcing bar size upto #5 Grade 40, for fixed
connections and larger reinforcing threaded couplers are used
3. Vertical bars can be placed inside or outside horizontal bars. If cracking is a concern, placing horizontal bars
Appendix C - Sample Slurry Panel Inspection Log
December 2008
PANEL NO.
Parsons Brinckerhoff PAGE 1 OF 2
PROJECT:
PRIME CONTRACTOR:
CLIENT:
SUBCONTRACTOR:
JOB NO.: INSPECTOR:
SLURRY PANEL INSPECTION LOG

EXCAVATION RECORD
Verticality Measurements
OUTSIDE A DEPTH C
PANEL PLAN (FT)
FACE
PLUMB (+)
(+)
LINE (-)
BITE A BITE B BITE C
(ft.) (ft.) (ft.) INSIDE

(ft.) FACE
(+)
(-)
DATE/ DEPTH/ DATE/ (-)
TIME FT. TIME
(0)
(+)
(-)
(10)
(20) (+)
(-)
(30)
(40) (+)
(-)
(50)
(+)
(60) (-)
(70)
PANEL TYPE
GUIDEWALL ELEV.
(80)
DESIGN BOTTOM
OF PANEL ELEV.
(90)
ACTUAL BOTTOM
OF PANEL ELEV.
(100)
END STOPS PLACED
(110) EXCAVATION STARTED
EXCAVATION COMPLETED
(120)
BOTTOM OF PANEL
STRATIGRAPHY
CLEANED
TOTAL HOURS
PANEL NO.
Parsons Brinckerhoff PAGE 2 OF 2
PROJECT:
PRIME CONTRACTOR:
CLIENT: SUBCONTRACTOR:
SLURRY PANEL INSPECTION LOG
QUALITY ASSURANCE
SLURRY TESTS
RESULTS
DATE TIME TEST BY
ACTUAL DESIGN
PANEL DESANDED START END
BOTTOM CHECKED SLURRY MIX
STEEL REINFORCING CHECKED BY DATE/TIME
CONCRETE TESTED BY DATE/TIME NO. SLUMP TESTS
REINFORCING AND CONCRETE PLACEMENT
REINFORCING SET NUMBER OF TREMIE PIPES SIZE
PANEL CONCRETED START END
END-STOPS REMOVED START END
CONCRETE QUANTITY
ACTUAL THEORETICAL
NO. OF CONC. PER VOLUME
CONC. RISE CONC. RISE VARIATION
TRUCKS TRUCK C.Y. PLACED C.Y.
FROM TO FROM TO
ACTUAL: C.Y.
TOTAL CONCRETE QUANTITY:
THEORETICAL: C.Y.
REMARKS:
Appendix D - Sample Standard Specification
December 2008
Section XXXX Concrete Diaphragm (Slurry) Wall

PART 1 - GENERAL
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Articles 1.01 through 1.07 are required to appear in each technical
specification. If they are not used, they remain and are labeled as not used. For example, if
a project has no CITED STANDARDS, the article would consist of 1.03 CITED
STANDARDS- not used. Any additional articles to be included in Part 1 follow Article 1.07.
******************************************************************************
1.01 SECTION INCLUDES
A. Requirements for furnishing all labor, materials, tools, and equipment, and
performing all operations necessary for the construction of concrete diaphragm
(slurry) walls by the bentonite slurry trench method, indicated on the Contract
Drawings and specified herein.
B. Where the design of the walls, or any details thereof, is not indicated, Contractor
shall be responsible for such design, in accordance with design criteria and loads
specified herein or shown on the Contract Drawings.
***OR***
B. Where methods of construction, or any details thereof, are not indicated, they will
be at Contractors option, subject to applicable codes, Contract requirements, and
acceptance by the Engineer.
C. Concrete work, steel reinforcement, and soldier piles (structural steel) shall
conform to Sections- xxxx- Concrete Reinforcement, Section xxxx,-Cast-In-Place
Concrete, Section xxxx-Portland Cement, and Section xxxx-Structural Steel of
these Specifications, as modified herein.
D. The estimated bottom of slurry wall elevation is indicated on the Contract

Drawings. The depth of slurry wall has been estimated from soil borings, and
some variations in depth are to be anticipated to accommodate site specific
conditions.
E. During excavation and below grade construction period, the slurry wall is intended
as a cut-off wall for groundwater and as a construction bulkhead to retain the
surrounding ground, streets, pavements, utilities, buildings, and other structures
and facilities from damage due to ground deformations; as such, all precautions
shall be taken against such damage. The wall reinforcement and strengths, as
Client-Contract Name Contract No. XXXXX xxxx-1

Date - Month & Year
shown on the Contract Drawings, are designed for conditions imposed after
completion of the slurry wall and all connecting structural framing and slabs of the
completed structure.
1. All temporary loading conditions that may be produced by Contractors

excavation and/or construction procedures shall be analyzed and
compensated for by Contractor with increased wall reinforcing and/or
temporary bracing, and/or other means acceptable to the Engineer, as
necessary.
2. Review of Contractors working drawings, design calculations, and

methods of construction by the Engineer does not relieve Contractor of
responsibility for the adequacy of the support system or the slurry wall
during temporary support conditions.
3. Temporary earth support design criteria provided on the Contract

Drawings, such as soil pressures, groundwater pressures, seismic earth
pressures, and surcharge loads, will be considered as the minimum
acceptable. Contractor is responsible to determine if more stringent criteria
are warranted
F. Definitions:
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Options A and B are given as examples for watertightness

criteria. Achievable/reasonable criteria for each project are dependent on a
variety of factors such as: intended use of permanent structure, soil conditions,
and the permanent or temporary use of slurry wall. Reference is made to PBs
slurry wall guide for further information.
******************************************************************************
1. (Option A) Watertight: The term watertight is defined to mean that no

running water from the wall nor the formation of droplets on the wall
surface is permitted. The formation of moist patches allowing water to
evaporate from the surface is acceptable.
***OR***
1. (Option B) Leakage rate of 0.15 gpm for 100 lineal-feet of wall, 0.01 gpm
for a leak in 10-feet of wall, and 0.005 gpm for any single leak.
2. Concrete Diaphragm (Slurry) Wall: A reinforced concrete wall constructed

by the slurry trench method. Reinforcing shall be provided with a steel
reinforcing cage, soldier piles, or a combination of both.
***OR***

Date - Month & Year
2. Soldier Pile Tremie Concrete (SPTC) Wall: A slurry wall that uses steel
soldier piles as the principal vertical bending element.
***OR***
2. Conventional Reinforced Concrete (CRC) Wall: A slurry wall that uses a

steel reinforcing cage as the principal vertical bending element.
1.02 REFERENCED SECTIONS
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: List other sections of the Contract Specifications only if they are referenced
elsewhere in text of this Section. Following is sampling of other specification sections that
are often referenced within slurry wall specifications.
When referencing other spec sections, the full title of the referenced section gets included in
Article 1.02; anywhere else within the section only "Section XXXXX" is used.
******************************************************************************
A. Section xxxx - Submittals
B. Section xxxx - Geotechnical Instrumentation
C. Section xxxx- Concrete Reinforcement
D. Section xxxx - Cast-In-Place Concrete
E. Section xxxx - Portland Cement
F. Section xxxx - Structural Steel
G. Section xxxx Painting
H. Section xxxx - Support of Excavation
I. Section xxxx Dewatering
J. Section xxxx Earthwork
K. Section xxxx Existing Utilities
L. Section xxxx - Utilities

Date - Month & Year
1.03 CITED STANDARDS
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: List only industry standards that are cited elsewhere in text, such as
ASTM, etc.
Do not include any dates or editions in the citation. In the titles such as ASTM, it is
not necessary to use the words Standard Specification for for each title.
******************************************************************************
A. ASTM International (ASTM)
1. C33 - Concrete Aggregate
2. C88 - Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium

Sulfate
4. C150 Portland Cement
4. C494 - Chemical Admixtures for Concrete
5. C595 Blended Hydraulic Cement
6. C618 - Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use as a
Mineral Admixture in Concrete
7. D1785 - Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80 and 120.
B. American Petroleum Institute (API)
1. RP 13A - Drilling Fluid Materials
2. RP 13B-1 - Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids
***OR***
None Cited
1.04 NOTED RESTRICTIONS
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: This article presents a listing of exceptional, extraordinary, or unusual

requirements and restrictions pertaining to the Work.
******************************************************************************
A. Protection: Protect surfaces of adjacent structures, pavements, sidewalks, and

other facilities to prevent contamination of these surfaces by excavated material,

Date - Month & Year
slurry, and concrete. At the completion of slurry wall construction, restore

adjacent exterior surfaces to their original conditions, as acceptable to the
Engineer.
B. Vibration Control: Vibration due to the removal of boulders, obstructions, rock

excavations or other operations in connection with slurry wall construction shall be
limited to prevent damage to adjacent buildings, structures, utilities, and all other
facilities. The Engineer may monitor such vibrations by means of seismographs.
Limiting vibrations criteria shall be as specified in Section xxxx.
C. The slurry wall will be constructed in an urban area with active vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. Interruption of vehicular and pedestrian traffic will not be
permitted, except as specified herein and/or as shown on the Contract Drawings.
***OR***
None Noted
******************************************************************************
1.05 QUALITY CONTROL
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: List Federal, State, and Local agencies whose regulations govern
this Section as follows, as applicable.
******************************************************************************
A. Regulatory Requirements: Comply with applicable requirements of the laws,

codes, ordinances, and regulations of Federal, State, and local authorities having
jurisdiction. Obtain necessary approvals and permits from all such authorities.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Additional quality control will follow the Regulatory Requirements,
as applicable. If there are no Regulatory Requirements, begin with Paragraph B.
******************************************************************************
B. Slurry Wall Contractor: Experienced firm that has successfully installed in urban
areas a minimum of five slurry wall systems of a similar type required for this
project. Employ only skilled tradesmen who are thoroughly experienced with the
materials, equipment and construction methods to be used in this work, and
provide a fulltime project superintendent who has worked on at least three slurry
wall contracts in similar ground conditions, depths, and using similar equipment as
required for this project

Date - Month & Year
C. Contractors Responsibilities for Quality Control Testing and Inspection:
1. Cooperate with the Engineer and Engineers representative who will be

responsible for overseeing control testing and inspection.
2. Furnish notification, with at least one business days notice, for all slurry
wall fabrication and installation operations.
3. Furnish material samples as required for testing.
4. Furnish access and proper facilities, including but not limited to scaffolding,
temporary work platforms, and hoisting facilities, as required for inspection
and testing.
5. Furnish labor as required to facilitate testing and inspection of all slurry

wall work.
6. Provide heated and/or cooled storage facilities for concrete cylinders, as

appropriate.
7. Contractor shall be responsible for all additional slurry wall inspection and
testing resulting as a consequence of slurry wall work not evidencing
compliance with this specification, performed without prior notice, or
performed contrary to previously submitted procedures.
8. Raise and lower excavating equipment, bucket or hydromil, through the

slurry to confirm that the trench has been excavated to the required
dimensions.
9. Raise and lower joint cleaning device along the cleaned joint to confirm
joint has been cleaned and cleared of all materials.
D. Testing of bentonite slurry shall be performed by Contractor as required

hereinafter with the results of every test submitted to the Engineer within the time
limit specified herein. At a minimum, the final testing prior to steel placement shall
be performed in the presence of the Engineer. Testing methods and equipment
shall be per API RP 13B-1.
1. Required Tests
a. Viscosity ( Marsh Cone)
b. Specific gravity
c. pH
d. Fluid Loss Test
e. Sand Content

Date - Month & Year
2. Testing Sequence (for Each Panel)
a. Viscosity, specific gravity, and sand content:
1) During panel excavation (at least three times per shift)
2) Completion of panel excavation
3) Immediately prior to installation of steel
4) After every rainfall or snow fall
5) As directed by the Engineer
b. pH
1) Immediately prior to installation of steel
2) At completion of panel concreting but prior to re-use for

future excavation
3) When viscosity is above specified limits
c. Filter Press Test
1) At least once every 2 days
3. Calibrate density measuring devices monthly, or more often if necessary to

ensure correct calibration to an accuracy of plus or minus 0.05 pcf.
4. Perform API fluid loss test, at least once every two days as directed by the
Engineer, in accordance with API-RP-13A. Fluid loss is not to exceed 25-
cc in 30 minutes.
E. Contractors Engineer: Contractors engineer responsible for preparing and

stamping all Contractor designs shall be a Professional Engineer licensed in the
State of *_____* and shall have designed a minimum of three similar slurry walls
and slurry wall support systems in conditions similar to this project.
F. Survey Control
1. If guidewalls are used as reference points, as reference lines, or as

benchmarks for routine control of slurry wall construction, verify elevation
and location of guidewall on a daily basis during panel excavation.

Date - Month & Year
2. Use benchmarks outside zone of influence of construction activities and

control slurry wall construction by survey methods. Use benchmarks
accepted by the Engineer.
1.06 SUBMITTALS
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Submittals are items that require review by the Engineer. General
information on submittal procedures is covered in Section xxxx and should not be
repeated in this Article.
******************************************************************************
A. Qualifications: Submit qualifications of firm and assigned key staff for slurry wall
construction not less than 15 calendar days following Notice to Proceed. Work
shall not be initiated until the firm and work force has been accepted by the
Engineer.
B. Mill Certificates: Submit copies of certified mill reports covering the chemical and
physical properties of reinforcing and structural steel elements.
C. Product Data: Submit copies of manufacturers specifications for the following

products including copies of laboratory test reports and other data as may be
required to show compliance with these specifications.
1. Fly Ash
2. Water reducing admixtures
3. High range water reducing admixtures
4. Aggregate sieve analysis for stone and sand for concrete
5. ASTM C88 aggregate sodium sulfate soundness test
6. Portland cement including certified source test reports
7. Bentonite
D. Working Drawings: Submit Working Drawings showing proposed equipment and

methods of construction including the following:
1. Sequence and schedule of constructing guidewalls and the various panels

of the slurry walls. Include layout drawings showing proposed location,
panel identification number, lengths, soldier piles and the planned sequence
of installation.
2. Guidewall drawings showing dimensions, reinforcement, plan location, and

all other details and calculations.

Date - Month & Year
3. Description of excavating equipment to be used including space

requirements for operations and for the storage of excavated materials.
4. Methods of excavation, procedures for vibration control, and estimated

rates of excavation for each material type expected to be excavated.
5. Method of slurry preparation, storage, site distribution, reclamation, and

disposal.
6. Slurry mix composition and methods of monitoring and testing.
7. Method of monitoring and maintaining slurry level in excavations left open

overnight or over an extended period of time.
8. Measures for preventing slurry from entering into utility facilities.
9. Method of maintaining stability of excavated trenches in case of sudden

loss of slurry.
10. Method of monitoring plumbness and deviation of wall panels during

excavation, and details of proposed corrective measures to be implemented
if necessary.
11. Equipment and method of checking and proving the cleanliness of the
trench bottoms prior to concrete placement.
12. Method of forming and cleaning joints between adjacent wall panels,
method for verifying joints are clean, method of checking plumbness, and
details of corrective measures to be implemented, if needed.
13. Method of installing and securing reinforcing steel cages and/or soldier
piles.
14. Method of concrete placement.
15. Methods for preventing concrete overpour from entering the web area on
the unexcavated side of soldier piles.
16. Methods to protect the public and the surrounding property from hazards
inherent in the operations, including leakage and spillage of slurry, falls into
open guide trenches or excavated wall panels, and methods of lifting and
setting soldier piles, reinforcing cages, tremie pipes, and desanding pipes.
17. Method for cleaning bottom of trench prior to placing reinforcing steel
cage and/or soldier piles.
18. Methods and details of forming keyway recesses and blockouts.
19. Drawings showing templates or other devices for installing steel reinforcing
cage and/or soldier piles to specified tolerances.

Date - Month & Year
20. Methods for repairing slurry wall leaks.
E. Shop Drawings: Submit Shop Drawings for the following:
1. Reinforcing steel including permanent and temporary reinforcing details,

and provisions for lifting, stiffening, and splicing.
2. Soldier piles including structural steel sizes, lengths, and splice details.
3. Panel layouts and end form details.
4. Details of beam and slab anchorages, keyways, and pockets.
5. Details of plates, sleeves, pipes, and other embedded items and the
requirements for instruments and utilities to be installed in or through the
wall.
6. Lacing details for tying soldier piles together.
7. Guidewall details showing reinforcing, width, and height.
8. Spacers for providing required concrete cover.
F. Mix Designs: Submit mix designs for the following:
1. Concrete: Mix design requirements shall be as specified or as submitted

and approved.
2. Slurry: Submit slurry mix composition.
G. Record Documents: Submit the following:
1. During slurry wall construction, any unusual conditions encountered shall

be noted by the Contractor, and the Engineer shall be informed
immediately.
2. Results of quality control tests performed on slurry shall be made available

to the Engineer within 24 hours after test completion.
H. Calculations: Submit engineering design calculations for slurry wall for conditions
during construction, prepared and sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the
State of *_____*
I. Corrective Action:
1. Repair all defective concrete. Submit repair procedures for the acceptance
of the Engineer.

Date - Month & Year
2. Should the Engineer determine that a defective panel requires structural

design calculations, submit, for approval by the Engineer, the required
calculations and the proposed design repairs signed and sealed by a
Professional Engineer licensed in the State of *_____*.
3. Prepare and submit for review and approval corrective measures to restore
or replace nonconforming panels to specified requirements at no additional
cost.
1.07 DELIVERABLES
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Deliverables are items that do not require review/approval by the
Resident Engineer
******************************************************************************
A. As-built drawings shall be provided in accordance with Section xxxx, except as

modified herein.
B. During slurry wall construction, maintain and submit to the Engineer within 24
hours of panel concrete placement as-built records of the work including:
1. Panel identification.
2. Plan location, dimensions of excavation, and elevations of guide walls and

top and bottom of panels.
3. Dates and times of panel excavation, reinforcing/soldier pile placement,

tremie concrete placement, and endstop removal.
4. The volume of concrete placed and the actual level of the top of concrete
in the trench shall be recorded and compared to the theoretical panel
volume at not greater than ten-foot vertical intervals during the concrete
placement operation.
5. Description of soil, rock, and obstructions, and excavation problems, if

any.
6. Description of any variations from the Shop Drawings regarding steel

reinforcing/soldier piles, cut-outs, threaded inserts, sleeves, or other
embedded items. Variations from accepted shop drawings require
acceptance of the Engineer prior to proceeding with the work.
7. Details of casing for geotechnical instrumentation or grout tubes installed

in panel, if any.
8. Plumbness and deviation from plan location.

Date - Month & Year
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: These articles need to be reviewed and modified, as appropriate, for each
specific project.
******************************************************************************
2.01 MATERIALS
A. Tremie Placed Concrete
1. Class: 4,000-psi
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Concrete strength may vary from project to project;

occasionally 5,000-psi concrete is specified.
******************************************************************************
2. Aggregate: ASTM C33, Size No.7.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Aggregate size may vary based on reinforcing spacing, 3/4-
inch, maximum size, is typical, but for panels with congested reinforcing steel
and/or significant blockouts, 3/8-inch, maximum size, aggregate is sometimes
specified to minimize resistance to concrete flow. Concrete mixes vary from
project to project, similar to slurry mix design, each contractor will likely have
a preferred mix which may differ from the specified mix, the contractors mix
should be submitted for approval. The mix below is a standard mix used on
some of PBs projects and is provided for information, it is suggested that a
performance mix specification be used. in lieu of a detailed concrete mix.
******************************************************************************
3. Water cement ratio: 0.60 maximum.
4. Cement content: 7.5 sacks per cubic yard minimum.
5. Slump range: 7- to 9-inches at time of placement.
6. Air content: 4-percent plus or minus 1.5-percent.
7. Provide mixtures containing a minimum of 10 per cent fly ash conforming

to ASTM C618 and a plasticizing admixture conforming to ASTM C494.

Date - Month & Year
8. The concrete mix at the time of design shall be checked for setting time,
and retarders added, if required, to delay setting time. Coordinate mix
design with the endstop removal requirements. The concrete shall have
proper retarders to maintain a minimum 4-inch slump for the full length of
time required for tremie placement.
9. Type II cement shall be used.
B. Steel Reinforcement: Steel reinforcing bars and soldier piles shall be as indicated
on the Contract Drawings for permanent design and as indicated on the accepted
Shop Drawings for Contractor designed work.
C. Lean Concrete Backfill: 1,000-psi minimum compressive strength at 28 days, two

sacks of cement minimum per cubic yard.
D. Bentonite: API-RP- 13A.
E. Bentonite Slurry shall consist of a stable solution of powdered or granular

bentonite and water. Initial bentonite solution shall meet the following criteria.
Modifications may be permitted with the acceptance of the Engineer based on
observed field conditions. Polymer slurries will not be permitted.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: In general, polymer slurries are not recommended for slurry wall
construction. On occasion, there may be an occurrence where the use of polymer is
warranted. Please see PBs slurry wall guides for further information if polymer is
being considered. Also see PBs slurry wall guide for additional information regarding
slurry properties.
******************************************************************************
1. pH of bentonite slurry shall be controlled within the range of 7 to 11.
2. Bentonite slurry shall not be used before 8 hours after it is mixed, except
where specifically permitted by the Engineer.
3. The slurry shall be as required to provide stable trench conditions.
4. The slurry shall conform to the following requirements unless field

conditions dictate otherwise, or alternative requirements are submitted by
the Contractor and accepted by the Engineer. All revisions require the
acceptance of the Engineer.
a. Viscosity of bentonite shall not exceed 45 seconds (Marsh Cone)

prior to placement of steel reinforcement and/or soldier piles.

Date - Month & Year
b. Specific gravity of bentonite slurry shall be a maximum value of

fresh fluid of 1.08 and a maximum value of 1.15 at the bottom of
trench prior to steel placement.
c. The density of slurry shall be controlled to prevent the formation of

excessive caking.
d. The sand content of the slurry shall be less than 5% prior to

placement of steel.
5. Any admixtures proposed for use in the bentonite slurry must be reviewed
by the Engineer.
6. The slurry shall not have adverse effects on the concrete including but not
limited to, setting time, density, and strength.
7. Bentonite slurry properties may be adjusted to suit field conditions, with

the acceptance of the Engineer.
8. Water shall be potable.
F. Concrete for plugging open ends of existing utilities and structures to be

abandoned in place shall be Class 3000-psi concrete conforming to Section xxxx.
G. Centering devices for steel reinforcing cages and/or soldier piles shall be made of
concrete, 4-inches wide minimum. Plastic rollers will not be permitted.
H. Inclinometer outer casings and grout sleeves installed in panels shall be 6-inch and
4-inch, respectively, PVC pipe, Schedule 80, conforming to ASTM D1785.
I. Polyamide Epoxy Coating for Soldier Pile Corrosion Protection: Section xxxx.
******************************************************************************
Note to the Specifier: Due to the continued modifications to waterproofing materials,

the use of coating should be reviewed for each project to verify the most appropriate
material is being used.
******************************************************************************

Date - Month & Year
PART 3 - EXECUTION
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: These Articles may not be applicable to all projects. The Specifier needs to
review carefully and modify as necessary for each project.
******************************************************************************
3.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Place the slurry wall along the lines shown on the Contract Drawings. Excavate
the wall within the specified tolerances to the depths shown on the Contract
Drawings. The Engineer reserves the right to adjust at any time the bottom
elevation to which the wall is to be excavated. Excavate the slurry filled panels
through whatever material is encountered to the depths indicated on the Contract
Drawings, unless otherwise directed by the Engineer.
B. Stockpile materials and install plant only in staging areas within the property limits
or designated work areas. Keep public ways and areas clear of all spillages from
construction operations and from trucks hauling materials to or from the project
site. Employ construction methods, including protective coverings when
necessary, to prevent excavated material and/or slurry from entering utilities, and
to prevent all spillage onto streets, sidewalks or other facilities.
C. Protect all exterior surfaces of adjacent structures from damage and disturbance.
At the completion of the concrete slurry wall construction, all exterior surfaces of
adjacent structures shall be restored to their original condition, as acceptable to the
Engineer.
D. Take all necessary measures to prevent collapse of the excavated slurry trench
prior to concrete placement. In the event collapse occurs, backfill with lean
concrete and re-excavate as accepted or as directed by the Engineer.
E. Confirm that the trench has been cleaned of all loose soil, rock fragments, and
other foreign material. Sample and test bentonite from top and bottom of panel
prior to tremie concrete placement.
F. Check the verticality of the panel during panel excavation at a minimum of 20-foot
intervals (continuously when using a hydromil) and make modifications to the
excavation procedures as required to maintain verticality within the specified
tolerances.
G. Provide a watertight wall system. Repair or otherwise render watertight all

joints between panels and other penetrations or points of leakage through the wall.
H. Do not excavate two adjacent panels at the same time. Sequence the work so that
at least one concreted panel is left between two open panels. At least two panels
of unexcavated ground must remain between open panels.

Date - Month & Year
I. Do not excavate next to an existing panel until the concrete in the existing panel
has been in place at least 72 hours and has strength of at least 1,800-psi.
J. Excavate and cast together the two sides of each corner panel. No corner joints
will be allowed. The length of the sides of the corner panels shall be as indicated
on the Contract Drawings.
K. Lay out and measure panels taking as reference the inner face of the wall as shown
on the Contract Drawings.
L. Provide inclinometer outer casings and grout pipes embedded within the indicated
wall panels for the full height of the panel.
M. Below ground obstructions will be encountered. Such obstructions include but are
not limited to boulders, concrete slabs, walls, footings, timber, piles, railroad track,
railroad ties, abandoned and active utilities, pavement, miscellaneous steel
members, and miscellaneous rubble. Remove obstructions by pre-trenching to the
extent practicable and backfilling with suitable material. Construction methods and
equipment shall be selected with consideration of the possibility that obstructions
may be encountered within the slurry wall excavation. Piles located within the
slurry trench may be pulled during pre-trenching; piles outside the theoretical
slurry trench shall not be pulled.
N. The slurry level shall be maintained a minimum of 4 feet above the groundwater
level and within 2 feet of the top of guidewall, whichever is higher, at all times.
O. Remove and legally dispose of the guidewalls and any portions of slurry wall that
require removal.
P. Cut openings for drainage and utilities as necessary or as indicated on the Contract
Drawings.
Q. Haul and legally dispose of excavated material and slurry.
R. Provide all keyways, dowels, mechanical connections for splicing reinforcing

and/or soldier piles, outer casing for instrumentation, grout tubes and any other
embedded items as indicated on the Contract Drawings or accepted Shop
Drawings.
S. Provide concrete, reinforcing and soldier piles for all additional depth of slurry wall
panels as shown on the Contract Drawings or as directed by the Engineer.
T. Use endstops that are clean and have a surface that conforms to the excavation
tool. For SPTC walls, soldier piles may be used as endstops. Use excavation
methods to ensure a clean contact between the soldier pile and tremie concrete.
Tools used to clean permanent endstops shall not cause damage to soldier pile
splices or the soldier pile.

Date - Month & Year
3.02 PROTECTION OF EXISITNG UTILITES
A. Before excavating over or adjacent to existing utilities, notify the utility owner to
ensure that protective work will be coordinated and performed by Contractor in
accordance with the requirements of the owner of the utility involved. If existing
service lines, utilities, and utility structures to remain in service are uncovered or
encountered during these operations, protect from damage and provide support as
necessary.
B. Remove existing work, including but not limited to, piping, conduit, and manholes
to be abandoned as necessary to accommodate the new work. Plug open ends of
existing piping and conduits, to be abandoned, with 3000-psi concrete.
C. Should uncharted or incorrectly charted piping or other utilities be encountered

during excavation, immediately notify the Engineer and the utility owner.
Cooperate with the utility owner in keeping their respective service, utility and
facilities in operation. Repair damaged utilities to the satisfaction of the Engineer
and utility owner.
3.03 PRE-EXCAVATION AND GUIDEWALL CONSTRUCTION
A. Pre-excavation (Pretrenching): Prior to commencing guidewall and slurry wall

construction, the lines of the slurry walls shall be pre-excavated to the depth
required to remove obstructions, rubble, loose fill and unsuitable materials.
However, pretrenching depth shall not exceed *___* -feet without the acceptance
of the Engineer. The excavation shall be backfilled with sand, bentonite and
cement mixture proportioned as required by the Contractor to conform to its
construction and excavation methods and to create a finished wall with a uniform
appearance without cavities and bulges.
B. Bracing and Shoring: Take every precaution and guard against movement or
settlement of the work and adjacent property, existing and new construction,
utilities, paving, walks, light standards, piping, conduit, etc. Design and provide
bracing, sheet piling, lagging, sheeting, and shoring as necessary to guard against
movement or settlement. Contractor is responsible for the strength and adequacy
of all bracing and shoring and for the support of construction, utilities, and other
existing facilities, and for any movement, settlement, damage, or injury thereto.
C. Protection: If at any time the safety of any existing or new construction, utilities,
roadways, walkways, or other facilities, shall appear to be endangered, take all
necessary means to support such structures, utilities, etc.
D. Guidewalls shall be constructed at an elevation that will allow Contractor to

maintain the slurry level as specified herein.

Date - Month & Year
3.04 EXCAVATION
A. Excavating equipment shall be capable of excavating trench sections to the

required widths, depths and lengths. Equipment shall be capable of excavating a
trench not less than 20 feet deeper than the deepest panel shown on the Contract
Drawings or accepted Shop Drawings. Excavation shall include excavation of all
materials encountered. Arrange equipment to permit free vertical passage of slurry
within the trench and to prevent development of suction or pressure.
B. Contractors attention is directed to the possibility that vibrations resulting from

slurry trench excavation operations may cause damage to adjacent buildings or
utilities. Vibrations shall be controlled to avoid such damage. The dropping of the
trench excavating tools, chisels, or chopping bits and other operations, shall be
controlled in such a way as not to cause damaging vibrations. The Engineer may
elect to monitor vibrations. Work shall be controlled to limit the peak vibration
velocity to a maximum of 0.5-inches per second as measured at the ground surface
immediately adjacent to the structure of concern.
C. Excavation shall proceed continuously from the ground surface to the required
depth. All loose debris from the bottom shall be removed by a large capacity air
lift and suction system. The trench bottom shall be free of all loose soil, rock
fragments, and debris using methods acceptable to the Engineer.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: When terminating a panel in cohesive soil, cleaning of the trench
bottom should include the use of a smooth edge bucket.
******************************************************************************
D. Slurry panels shall be concreted within 24 hours of completing excavation.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: In low headroom, restricted work areas, it may be necessary to

increase the 24 hour criteria substantially to accommodate splicing of steel
reinforcement. Please see PBs slurry wall guides for further information.
******************************************************************************
E. Slurry panels shall not exceed *___*feet in length without acceptance of the
Engineer.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier- Maximum panel length is a project specific item. Please see PBs
slurry wall guides for further information on selecting panel lengths.
******************************************************************************

Date - Month & Year
F. Maintain a reserve supply of mixed bentonite equal in volume to 50 per cent of the
volume of one fully excavated panel. If panel sizes vary, the size of the bentonite
reserve shall be based on the largest panel.
3.05 PLACING REINFORCING STEEL/SOLDIER PILES
A. Before placing reinforcing steel and/or soldier piles in the slurry filled trench, the
joints of any adjacent panels shall be cleaned in the presence of the Engineer and to
the satisfaction of the Engineer. If temporary endstops or permanent soldier pile
endstops are required, the endstops shall be installed and secured prior to placing
reinforcing steel or interior soldier piles in the slurry filled trench. Reinforcing
steel cage and/or soldier piles shall not be placed until the bottom of excavation
has been sounded and accepted by the Engineer, the Contractor has demonstrated
to the Engineer that the panel joint is clear, and the final slurry test has been
performed in the presence of the Engineer and found acceptable for concrete
placement. Bottom sounding shall be performed at not less than 3 locations; at
each end of the panel and at the center of panel. Endstops are to be adequately
restrained at the bottom and top to prevent movement in any direction during
concrete placement. Steel soldier piles may be used as permanent endstops
provided a submitted and accepted filler material is used between the pile and end
of excavation. The filler material shall prevent the migration of tremie concrete
around the pile, and shall be easily and completely removable during excavation of
the adjacent panel. Both temporary and permanent endstops shall be seated at the
bottom of excavation. Twisting of endstops will not be permitted.
B. Secure the reinforcing bars together in a manner that will provide a reinforcing
cage of sufficient rigidity to resist distortion during lifting and placement into the
trench. Welding of the steel reinforcing will not be permitted.
C. Mark the steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier piles to indicate its correct
orientation for proper insertion into the trench.
D. Fit the steel reinforcing cage with approved centering devices on both the exterior
and interior faces. Centering devices shall be located at a minimum of 10-feet on-
center horizontally, minimum two per level, and 20 feet on center vertically. When
using soldier piles, in lieu of concrete spacers, extending the soldier piles above
grade and confirming pile verticality with a 4-foot level or other approved method
is acceptable.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Centering spaces on soldier piles are not normally used.
******************************************************************************
E. Lift and suspend the steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier piles in the trench.
Lower the steel reinforcement cage and/or soldier piles into the excavated panel
immediately after cleaning and sounding the panel bottom. Dropping or forcing

Date - Month & Year
the reinforcing cages and/or soldier piles into the excavation will not be permitted.
If the steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile does not properly and smoothly
enter the excavation, the steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile shall be
retrieved, and the excavation adjusted and recleaned until proper insertion of the
steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile is achieved. If removal of the steel
reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile is required, the reinforcing/soldier pile shall be
washed clean of bentonite and/or soil and any damage to the reinforcing that may
have occurred shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the Engineer.
F. All embedded items, forming items, keyways and other embedded items shall be
securely fastened to the reinforcing to prevent their displacement during hoisting,
setting of the steel and concrete placement. Recesses and blockouts as detailed on
the working drawings shall be formed using high-density Styrofoam, plywood and
necessary steel fasteners, or other methods accepted by the Engineer.
G. Steel reinforcing cages and soldier piles, when tied together in pairs, shall not be
permitted to rest on the bottom of excavation. Soldier piles set singularly shall
extend to the bottom of trench to prevent movement during concrete placement.
3.06 CONCRETE PLACEMENT
A. Immediately prior to concrete placement, verify the depth and levelness of the
excavation in the presence of and to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Measurement
of the excavation depth shall be within plus or minus 0.1 foot of the depth
measured immediately prior to setting the steel reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile.
If sediment deposits on the bottom of trench exceed 0.1 foot, the reinforcing shall
be removed and the bottom recleaned and the bottom resounded as previously
specified. The reinforcing steel shall be cleaned of all bentonite and debris and
repaired of all damage before re-inserting into the trench.
B. Commence placement of concrete in the panels as soon as possible but not more
than four hours after completion of slurry and panel bottom cleaning, and no more
than two hours after reinforcing cage and/or soldier pile placement. Proceed
continuously until completion of concrete placement. If the time limitations
specified above are exceeded, remove the steel from the excavation and re-clean
the slurry and the bottom of excavation. The steel shall be cleaned of all bentonite
and debris and repaired of all damage before re-inserting back into trench.
C. Place concrete in the slurry filled trench by the tremie method in such a manner
that the concrete displaces the slurry from the bottom up and rises like a liquid,
and mixing of the concrete and slurry will not occur. The concrete shall be placed
through a metal hopper and into a rigid watertight elephant trunk tremie,
sufficiently large enough to permit free flow of concrete, but not less than 10
inches in diameter. The tremie pipe shall have sufficient length and weight to
discharge concrete at the base of the panel excavation. The tremie shall not
contain aluminum parts that will have contact with the concrete. The inside and

Date - Month & Year
outside surfaces of the tremie pipe shall be clean and smooth to permit both flow
of concrete and unimpeded withdrawal during concrete placement operations.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: On occasion, site conditions may require pumping from a remote
location. Concrete pumps with minimum 5-inch diameter rigid pump lines have been
used for this purpose; however, this is not considered typical practice and should be
avoided if possible.
******************************************************************************
1. Initially there shall be a suitable plug at the bottom of the tremie pipe,
which will not discharge until the concrete head has at least reached the top
level of the slurry. Thereafter, a positive concrete head shall be maintained
throughout.
2. The tremie discharge end shall be immersed at least 10 feet in concrete at

all times after starting the flow of concrete. The flow of concrete shall be
continuous, suspended only as necessary to accommodate the staging of
concrete delivery. The concrete in the tremie shall be maintained at a
positive pressure differential at all times to prevent slurry intrusion into the
concrete. The tremie shall be marked in 5 foot intervals starting at the
discharge end to allow ready determination of the tremie pipe depth.
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Some standard specifications permit a minimum 5 foot of

tremie in the concrete at all times. Therefore, there is some room for judgment
in the field. Additionally, since many slurry walls extend to the ground surface,
the minimal head differential makes concrete flow difficult to achieve and the
last few-feet of the pour may require the embedment to be reduced to 5-feet.
******************************************************************************
3. The number and spacing of tremie pipes used for each panel shall be
determined from the requirement that the concrete level shall be kept
approximately horizontal during the placement operations. The horizontal
flow of concrete from one tremie shall not exceed 8-feet; therefore, tremie
pipes shall be located less than 8 feet from panel joints, and the maximum
panel length permitted to be poured with one tremie pipe is 15 feet. For
SPTC walls, there shall be at least one tremie pipe between each pair of
soldier piles. For the placement of concrete for corner panels and T
panels, in addition to the above criteria for tremie pipe spacing, there shall
be at least one tremie in each leg of the panel.

Date - Month & Year
4. The rise of the concrete shall be measured at not less than 10-foot vertical
intervals at each joint and middle of panel in the presence of the Engineer
to confirm the concrete rise is level.
5. The concreting of the panels shall proceed continuously until concrete of

the required strength and quality reaches the top of slurry wall elevation as
shown on the Contract Drawings, but in no case shall concrete placement
be less than 6 inches above top of slurry wall as shown on the Contract
Drawings.
6. The tremie pipe shall not be moved horizontally.
7. Cold joints within the slurry wall panel will not be permitted. Any slurry
wall panel that has a cold joint will be considered defective and all the
design, implementation, and costs for repair shall be the responsibility of
Contractor and shall be subject to the acceptance of the Engineer.
D. If at anytime during the concrete placement the tremie line orifice is removed from
the fluid concrete and discharges concrete above the rising concrete level, the
panel will be considered defective. In such cases, remove the reinforcing cage
and/or soldier piles and concrete, complete any necessary panel excavation
cleaning as determined by the Engineer, and repour the panel concrete.
Alternative correction measures may be used, if accepted by the Engineer. All
costs for replacement or repair of defective panels shall be the responsibility of
Contractor.
E. The withdrawal of the temporary endstops shall be accomplished before the initial
set of the concrete and before any damage to the concrete is likely to occur.
3.07 TOLERANCES
A. Slurry Wall
1. The slurry wall face to be exposed shall be vertical within the tolerance of
1:100 perpendicular to the panel alignment and the wall ends and/or
permanent endstops shall be vertical within the tolerance of 1:200 in a
direction parallel to the panel alignment.
2. A tolerance of 3 inches will be allowed for protrusions from the exposed

face of the wall resulting from irregularities in the ground as excavated.
Any bulges, protrusions, or cavities exceeding specified tolerances in the
wall shall be repaired in a manner acceptable to the Engineer.
3. Notwithstanding the above tolerances, the finished inside wall surface

including slurry wall deformations from excavation shall not encroach on
the minimum clearances shown on the Contract Drawings.

Date - Month & Year
4. The depth of excavation shall not be less than that shown on the Contract
Drawings or as directed by the Engineer.
B. Formed Recesses and Embedded Items
.Anchorage plates, formed recesses for slab and beam keyways, pipe sleeves and
other embedded items shall be within plus or minus 3 inches horizontally and
vertically.
C. Reinforcing Steel Cage and/or Soldier Pile Placement
1. Normal to wall alignment: Plus or minus 1 inch for reinforcing cage and
soldier pile.
2. Parallel to the wall alignment: Plus or minus 2 inches for reinforcing cage,
plus or minus 1 inch for soldier pile..
3. Vertical: Plus or minus 2 inches for reinforcing cage, plus or minus 1 inch
for soldier pile.
4. Maximum tolerance for rotation of soldier piles shall be plus or minus 5

degrees.
5. Minimum concrete cover on reinforcing bars shall be 3 inches. Minimum

cover for soldier piles shall be as indicated on the Contract Drawings.
D. Dowels: Plus or minus 3 inches in vertical direction and plus or minus 3 inches in
horizontal direction.
E. Guidewalls: The finished face of the guidewalls towards the trench, and on the side
of trench nearest the main excavation shall be vertical and shall represent the
theoretical inside face of the slurry wall. There shall be no ridges or abrupt
changes on the face and its variation from straight line shall not exceed inch in
10 feet. The clear distance between faces of the guidewall shall be the theoretical
thickness of the diaphragm wall plus not less than 1 inch but not more than 2
inches
3.08 SLURRY WALL CLEANING
A. During earthwork excavation, after the placement of the slurry wall, clean the
interior wall face as it is exposed utilizing rakes, brushes, sand blasting, power
washing or other methods acceptable to the Engineer, to remove bentonite caking,
soils, and film materials and expose a clean surface.
B. Chip bulges on the interior face of the wall to within specified tolerances as
excavation proceeds.
C. Clean all keyways and bring wall dowels to their final bend out conditions

Date - Month & Year
D. Provide internal and external methods of sealing sources of seepage, including

pressure grouting of the wall to the watertight condition as previously specified
for all areas of wall leakage including panel joints, wall penetrations, voids, cold
joints, cracks, and other sources of leakage. Sealing of leaks shall be performed as
general site excavation proceeds. Additionally, sealing shall be performed as
required or directed by the Engineer as construction proceeds.
E. Apply waterproofing coating to all exposed interior soldier pile flanges. Where its
use is indicated on the Contract Drawings, waterproofing coating on exterior
flanges shall be shop applied. Coating on interior flange facing shall be applied in
the field after completion of excavation and removal of earth support system,
defect repair and sealing of any leaks. Coatings shall be in accordance with
Section xxxx.
3.09 DEFECTIVE CONCRETE
A. Slurry wall panels exhibiting the following deficiencies will be considered

defective:
1. Cold joints in panel.
2. Areas of voids, honeycombs, aggregate runs, or pockets of segregated

aggregate.
3. Panels out of tolerances specified herein.
4. Leakage rates in excess of those specified herein.
5. Areas of concrete contaminated with bentonite slurry, bentonite

pockets/inclusions, or dried bentonite.
6. Under strength concrete.
7. Any specification violations.
3.10 CORRECTIVE ACTION
A. Submit corrective action as specified in Article 1.06 of this Section.
3.11 NON-CONFORMING PANELS
A. Submit corrective action as specified in Article 1.06 of this Section. Non-

conforming panels are panels not meeting the design requirements indicated on the
Contract Drawings or specified herein.

Date - Month & Year
PART 4 - MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT
******************************************************************************
Note to Specifier: Method of payment can be either lump sum or unit price. When
subsurface conditions are uniform and the bottom of wall is well defined with little or no
variation in depth anticipated, it may be preferable to use the lump sum payment method with
nominal unit price quantities to accommodate minor alterations in depth, ADDITIONAL
DEPTH SLURRY WALL. The description of rock is project specific and should be provided
by the designer for each project.
******************************************************************************
4.01 MEASUREMENT
A. SLURRY WALL for indicated thickness, installed by the slurry trench process
through overburden will be measured by the (square foot or lump sum). For
purposes of this measurement, overburden shall include all materials encountered
including fill, organics, sand, gravel, clay, till, boulders, cobbles decomposed rock,
and any other material encountered except rock and obstructions as defined herein.
The length of wall installed will be measured on the inside face, within the limits
indicated on the Contract Drawings (or as directed by the Engineer for unit
price). The height of wall will be measured from the top of design strength
concrete indicated on the Contract Drawings to the elevation where rock, as
defined below, is encountered, or to the bottom of wall shown on the Contract
Drawings (or otherwise directed by the Engineer where the wall is founded on
material other than rock. for unit price).
Slurry wall work shall include but not be limited to, furnishing all labor, materials,
tools, equipment, and incidentals and for all work necessary to complete the slurry
wall as indicated and directed. The (unit price or lump sum) shall include
verification of utility locations; protection of utilities; coordination with utility
owners; pre-trenching and backfilling; removal of obstructions with an in-situ
volume of less than one cubic yard; construction, demolition, removal and legal
disposal of guidewalls; excavation through overburden, rock and all other
materials encountered whether natural or man-made; watertight joint forming;
reinforcing steel; soldier piles; the supply of recess forming devices, inserts,
dowels, and tremie concrete; chipping top of wall for drainage; the supply,
handling, and legal disposal of slurry; the hauling and disposal of excavation
materials; the trimming of the top of slurry wall to expose sound concrete; the
removal of bulges or projections; cleaning of slurry wall; sealing the slurry wall
where necessary for watertightness, including joints between the slurry wall and
existing structures; the cost of obtaining any patent rights and royalties; the cost of
all repairs required to the slurry wall to meet contract requirements.

Date - Month & Year
B. SLURRY WALL IN ROCK for the indicated thickness, installed by the slurry
trench process through rock, will be measured by the square foot. The wall will be
measured on the inside face only within the limits indicated on the Contract
Drawings from the bottom of wall through overburden, as specified above, to the
final foundation level indicated on the Contract Drawings or as directed by the
Engineer. For Purposes of this measurement, rock is defined as material that
satisfies the following:
1. It cannot be excavated nor removed by specifically designed bentonite slurry

wall excavating tools, by grabbing, scraping or rotary-scrapping action only.
2. Rock fragments only are consistently recovered by the above tools when used
alone or after chiseling operations.
Payment at the contract unit price per square foot shall constitute full
compensation for furnishing all labor, materials, tools, equipment, and incidentals
and for work necessary to complete the slurry wall as indicated and directed. The
unit price shall include but not be limited to all excavation; watertight joint
forming; reinforcing steel; soldier piles; the supply, handling, and legal disposal of
slurry; the excavation, hauling and legal disposal of all excavation materials; tremie
concrete; sealing the slurry wall where necessary for watertightness.
C. Removal of obstructions with a volume greater than one cubic yard, encountered
within *__* feet of the ground surface, will be measured and paid under Payment
Item xxx, REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS as described in Section xxxx,
Earthwork. Obstructions encountered below *__* feet will be addressed as
changed conditions. Obstructions are considered manmade items such as granite
blocks, piles, steel sheeting, etc. Encountering boulders and/or cobbles should be
anticipated; these items shall not be considered as obstructions and therefore no
separate payment will be made for their removal. Payment for obstruction removal
shall include materials, equipment, and labor required for their removal and legal
disposal as well as any costs including but not limited to costs from schedule delay
and standby time of all labor, equipment and material.
D. ADDITIONAL DEPTH OF SLURRY WALL (lump sum only) for the indicated
thickness will be measured by the square foot. The wall will be measured on the
inside face only from the bottom of wall indicated on the drawings to the depth as
directed by the Engineer.
Payment at the contract unit price per square foot shall constitute full
compensation for furnishing all labor, materials, tools, equipment, and incidentals
and for work necessary to complete the slurry wall as indicated and directed. The
unit price shall include but not be limited to all excavation; watertight joint
forming; reinforcing steel; soldier piles; the supply, handling, and legal disposal of
slurry; the excavation, hauling, and legal disposal of all excavation materials;
tremie concrete; sealing the slurry wall where necessary for watertightness.

Date - Month & Year
4.02 PAYMENT
Slurry walls shall be paid at the unit prices described above
4.03 PAYMENT ITEMS
Item No. Description Unit
xxxx.xxx SLURRY WALL SQ. FT or LS
xxxx.xxx SLURRY WALL IN ROCK SQUARE FOOT
xxxx.xxx ADDITIONAL DEPTH OF SQUARE FOOT
SLURRY WALL
END OF SECTION

Date - Month & Year
Appendix E - Listing of PB Slurry Wall Projects
December 2008
Listing of PB Slurry Wall Projects
PROJECT LOCATION OWNER/CLIENT ROLE DATE DESCRIPTION

Baltimore Metro Baltimore, Maryland Mass Transit PB was retained, in joint 1996 SPTC walls with reinforcing between soldier
Section C Maryland Administration venture, to provide final piles were selected for the permanent walls of the
design and construction 610 ft long Shot Tower Station. A portion of the
related services during the station was constructed below Jones Falls
Baltimore Metro Section conduit. An approximately 40 ft section of the
C project. main station was constructed using a jet-grouted
cutoff wall in order to accommodate and not
disturb existing electrical lines.
Panchiao Taipei, Taiwan Taipei Railway PB was involved in all 1996 Project site is characterized by a high
Extension Project Underground Project phases of the Panchiao groundwater table and relatively poor soil; some
Office Extension Project, served adjacent building foundations are less than 3 ft
as general consultant and from the excavation. Braced slurry walls were
provided detailed design used for most of the temporary support where
review and construction deep excavations were required. Slurry walls
advisory services for a with eight levels of bracing were required near
segment of the railway the Hsitien River, where the excavation depth
underground program. exceeds 78 ft.
63rd Street Tunnel New York, New MTA NYC Transit PB, in joint venture, 2001 More than 3000 ft of slurry walls were used for a
Connection York provided final design portion of the project where new track sections
services including design will cross under the existing Queens Boulevard
support during Line tracks prior to merging with them. The
construction and contract temporary support walls controlled groundwater,
close-out. providing a relatively watertight enclosure in an
area where external dewatering could not be used
because of the potential impact or drawdowns on
nearby contaminant plumes and consolidation of
peat deposits below nearby structures.
Beth Israel Boston, Beth Israel Hospital PB, as a subconsultant to 1996 Project included the construction of a five-level
Hospital Clinical Massachusetts an architectural firm, underground garage that provided foundation
Center provided design support for a 20-story medical facility.
management and Construction included slurry walls to reduce
construction services for impacts to adjacent buildings and to provide the
the underground portions permanent structural walls of the below grade
of the clinical center. garage. The slurry wall was designed for two
future openings a service tunnel and a
connection to a future adjacent garage.
1 of 4

Rio Salado Town Tempe, Arizona Engineering Division, PB provided full 1998 Plans called for converting a section of the Salt
Lake Project City of Tempe construction River Channel into a recreational lake.
administration services. Approximately 1-mile long slurry bentonite cut-
off walls were constructed in the channel invert
paralleling the lake boundary. The walls are up
to 50 ft deep and will minimize seepage from the
downstream half of the lake area.
North-South Toll Chicago, Illinois Illinois State Toll PB provided construction 1989 Project included 2000 ft of slurry wall
Road Construction Highway Authority inspection services. construction.
Inspection
Harvard Square Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay PB provided full design 1980s First slurry wall to be used for both permanent
Station Massachusetts Transportation and construction phase and temporary conditions for rapid transit tunnel
Authority services. in the U.S. Project included approximately 1000
(MBTA) ft of tied back slurry wall for excavation depths
of 55 ft. Excavation was as close as 7 ft to
historic Harvard University structures founded on
shallow spread footings. Deformations were
typically maintained at less than 1/4 inch
horizontal and vertical.
Post Office Square Boston, Friends of Post Office PB was retained as the lead 1990 Project included excavating the deepest
Park and Garage Massachusetts Square, Inc. firm to provide design and excavation to date in the Boston area,
construction phase services approximately 80 ft, with adjacent buildings
for a seven-level parking typically located on shallow foundations. Most
garage in the middle of adjacent structures were within 50 ft of the
Bostons financial district. excavation. Construction used the top down
method with permanent slurry walls.
Approximately 1100 ft of slurry wall and a
permanent groundwater relief system were
installed with no reported damage to adjacent
structures. The soil profile included a deep soft
clay deposit. Complex numerical analyses were
performed to model the top down construction
and to predict long term seepage quantities and
drawdown.
2 of 4

Central Boston, Massachusetts Highway PB, as part of the 2006 Downtown portion of the project includes
Artery/Tunnel Massachusetts Department (MHD) Bechtel/PB joint venture, approximately 23,000 ft of SPTC slurry wall.
served as management The slurry walls form the permanent walls of the
consultant. highway tunnels, being excavated beneath the 6-
lane I-93 viaduct as it remains in use. About a
third of the length of slurry walls were
constructed under low head room.
MBTA Tunnel Boston, Massachusetts Bay PB provided planning, 1996 Thirty ventilation shafts and/or emergency exits
Ventilation Shafts Massachusetts Transportation design, at 30 locations along three existing transit lines.
Authority architectural/engineering, Slurry walls, for temporary and permanent
(MBTA) and construction-phase support, were designed at some sites to minimize
services. ground movement and avoid potential damage to
the subway tunnel and nearby historic structures.
Long Wharf Vent Boston, Massachusetts Bay Geotechnical study as part 1980s Project included slurry wall construction on the
Shaft Massachusetts Transportation of investigation of Boston water front for an approximately 75 ft
Authority condition of wharf and deep excavation immediately adjacent to the
(MBTA) condition of granite sea existing MBTA Blue Line Tunnel. Construction
walls for eventual included use of permanent soldier piles to
rehabilitation of pier end accommodate cross-lot bracing that served as
into a public park. both temporary bracing and the permanent floor
levels for the vent structure. It was necessary to
buttress the Blue Line Tunnel with the slurry wall
to maintain water control and the structural
stability of the tunnel. This necessitated
excavating and casting the slurry wall in contact
with the existing unreinforced concrete tunnel.
North Station Boston, Massachusetts Bay As part of a joint venture, 1993 Approximately 1700 ft of permanent slurry wall
Parking Garage Massachusetts Transportation PB provided structural and construction, employing top down scheme and
Authority geotechnical design permanent underdrain/pressure relief system.
(MBTA) services and construction General site excavation was approximately 60 ft
phase services. deep through primarily fill and organic soils. The
slurry wall was within 4 ft off the existing Boston
Garden Arena. Slurry wall excavation extended
30 ft below the foundation of the existing Garden
which maintained operations throughout the
construction.
3 of 4

South Boston Boston, Massachusetts Bay As subconsultant, PB 2004 Approximately 800 ft of 3ft thick and 1000 ft of
Piers Transitway Massachusetts Transportation provided structural and 4 ft thick internally braced permanent slurry
Project Authority geotechnical design walls were constructed. Excavation depth of 60
(MBTA) services and construction ft and widths of 110 ft were performed in deep
phase services. deposits of very soft dredge materials and very
soft Boston Blue Clay, requiring state of the art
numerical analyses to confirm base and global
stability and provide deformation predictions.
Section F.4 Washington D.C. Washington PB, in joint venture, 1985 Permanent slurry walls were used for the fan
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area provided structural, shaft and tunnel drainage pumping station. The
Metro Transit Authority geotechnical and tunneling shaft is 38 ft by 81 ft in plan, and extends to a
(WMATA) design services depth of 113 ft.
BART San Francisco, Bay Area Rapid Transit PB, in joint venture, was 1970s SPTC walls were used for excavation support.
Embarcadero California (BART) general engineering The walls had a total depth of approximately 120
Station consultant for the BART ft and penetrated up to 55 ft of soft clay (recent
system; for the bay mud)
Embarcadero Station, PB
was the designer. Ref. Cofferdam for BART D, Embarcadero
Subway Station by William J. Armento, ASCE
Journal of Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Engineering, SM10, Oct. 1973, pp 727-744.
4 of 4

General Guidelines For Design and Construction of Concrete Diaphram (Slurry) Walls

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What are some different types of concrete diaphragm walls discussed in the document?

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PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

DECEMBER 2008 Revision 0

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................2

III. DESIGN OF SLURRY WALLS ...................................................................................8

December 2008 -i-

6. Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up .........................................................................................12

c. Permanent Structural Connections .........................................................................25

IV. SLURRY WALL CONSTRUCTION .........................................................................27

V. MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT .........................................................................39

VI. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................40

VII BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLURRY WALL REFERENCES .........................................41

December 2008 - iii -

IX. APPENDICES .............................................................................................................43

December 2008 Page 1 of 43

II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

December 2008 Page 2 of 43

in-place slurry wall, watertightness is subject to workmanship and long

b. Increased Stiffness: Slurry walls are commonly used in urban settings

Slurry walls have many benefits, including:

December 2008 Page 3 of 43

Slurry walls permit the use of top-down construction techniques which

A summary table of the various attributes of different wall systems is provided

December 2008 Page 4 of 43

6. Comparison of CRC and SPTC Walls

Corrosion: The absence of structural steel at panels joints in CRC

Structural Requirements: Structural requirements may dictate the need

December 2008 Page 5 of 43

and procedures for geotechnical subsurface investigations. A typical investigation

December 2008 Page 6 of 43

is important that an adequate top of rock profile be established along the

4. Utilities: Research of existing and abandoned utilities complimented with test

5. Contamination: In areas of suspected contamination, an environmental

December 2008 Page 7 of 43

III. DESIGN OF SLURRY WALLS

December 2008 Page 8 of 43

b. Earth Pressures on Permanent Structures: For permanent slurry wall

2. Groundwater Modeling: For the most part, groundwater modeling is primarily

a. Temporary Conditions: For deep excavations, theoretical hydrostatic

December 2008 Page 9 of 43

A second condition which may warrant a seepage analysis is deep

December 2008 Page 10 of 43

a. Temporary Conditions: In addition to coordinating contract requirements

December 2008 Page 11 of 43

Less common but significantly larger penetrations include break-outs for

5. Invert Slab/Floor/Roof Connections: Early in the design process the designer

December 2008 Page 12 of 43

In top-down construction, slurry walls are installed along with interior

December 2008 Page 13 of 43

formation of moist patches allowing water to evaporate from the surface is

b. Temporary and Permanent Support Walls: For all slurry walls,

8. Water Collection/Disposal: Regardless of the seepage criteria agreed to, long

December 2008 Page 14 of 43