Dewatering

Madhav Madhira

Permeability scale

Example of scale effect for permeability

Downward vertical flow-cofferdam

Radial flow

Upward vertical flow

Excavation in sandy soils: a. Sandy Soils & b. Deep wall to increase Head loss

a. Embed cut-off in clay & b.

Excavation in rock like conditions: a. Pumping only & b. Pumping + Grout Cut-off

Base of excavation in competent ground with more permeable stratum at depth

Commissioning and monitoring

Role of deep wells

Ground water lowering technique as a function of soil permeability

Thin cut-off wall: Vibrowall installation sequence

France-Concarneau dry- dock

India-Teesta dam

Typical Drainage Blanket & Filter Applications

Dewatering

Construction below GWT Removal of Water Safe & Stable Open Excavation Long Term Integrity of Structure Major Component of Modern Construction below GL K > 10-4 cm/s

Dewatering
Typically considered contractors responsibility He chooses the method Ensures it operated correctly Specifications therefore:

Typically brief
Emphasis is on assignment of responsibility

Groundwater depth determined:

Thru geotechnical report

Design Alternatives

Shallow Excavations

General Dewatering Techniques

Perimeter trenches Sumps Well point systems Mechanical shields such as sheet piling

Perimeter Trenches

Effective if water migrates laterally If trench can be dug to sufficient depth to drain site Pumping of trenches then may be required

Sump System of Dewatering

Well Points

Well Points

Shallow wells drilled closely together

Around perimeter of excavation site

Ground water is extracted Wells rarely more than 20 feet deep If deeper than 20 feet:
May be placed on series of benches or steps Due to problems trying to lift water from depths

Wells typically spaced 3 to 5 feet apart:

Depending on soil permeability

Wells may or may not be cased

Well Point Dewatering System

Excavation with Temporary Dewatering

Two Step Well Point System Separate Pump Provided for Each Step

Deep Well System

Cased Borehole Using well drilling rig Drilled to lower than required dewatering depth Use of submersible pump

Two Types of Well Point Systems

Jet System And Vacuum System

Jet Well Point System

Jet System:
Has two pipes in well One is in-flow pipe at considerable pressure A venturi system at bottom of well creates a vacuum As water from in-flow pipe passes thru out-flow pipe This vacuum pulls any water in bottom of well into

stream flowing into out-flow pipe

Can be operated in deeper wells than vacuum system due to:

Water in well is mixed with water coming down the in-

flow pipe and pushed to surface through the out-flow pipe

Vacuum Well Point System

Only one pipe extended into well Pump creates a vacuum in manifold and Water is sucked up pipe into manifold Then discharged a distance from excavation Will operate at 20 foot depth or less

Vacuum Dewatering

Electro-Osmosis

Dewatering by Well Pumping

Relief Wells

Foundation Drains

Blanket Drains

Examples of Drains

Interceptor Drains

Filters

Design Criteria for Filters

Cut-Off Methods

Cut-Off Methods 2

Cut-Off Methods 3

Sheet Piling

Sheet Piling

Sections & Interlocks

Examples of Sheet Pile Cutoffs

Examples of Sheet Pile Cut-offs

Mechanical Shields

Caissons Sheet piling

Most common

Cofferdams Slurry trench

Types of Caissons

Watertight Structure:
In which work is performed underwater Area is dewatered

Drilled Caisson:
Deep foundation constructed in place by drilling &

placing concrete

Caisson Watertight Structure

Type of deep foundation Excavation from within permanent structure:

Structure built in place if on land or
Floated in place if on water

When structure in-place:

As excavation from within begins Structure sinks under added or own weight Process continued to required depth

Used for:
Small structures (few feet in diameter)

Large structures (over 100 feet in diameter)

Watertight Caisson Structure

Top of caisson may be sealed Work done within :

Under elevated air pressure Use of compressed air permits un-watering Air pressure greater than water pressure

Watertight Caisson Installation Sequence

If problem sinking: Weight added Lubricants used:

Clay slurry injected

Jetting done in:

Cohesionless soils

Un-watering Caisson

Partially un-watered No seal Seepage from ground Illustration below

Cofferdams

Structures built in place Exclude water & earth from excavation Single walled cofferdam:
Excavation small enough to Permit internal bracing

Double walled sheet piling cofferdams Typical application:

Small bridge piers

Coffer Dam Constructed of Sheet Piling

Single Cofferdam Application

Steel sheet piling enclosure constructed Tremie concrete seal poured Cofferdam un-watered as internal bracing installed Pier construction completed in dry

Cofferdam @ Bridge Repair

Cofferdam @ Bridge Repair

Cofferdam

Cellular Cofferdam

Excavation size precludes cross bracing Typically circular cells at perimeter May be un-watered as soon as enclosure complete

Slurry Trench

Digging narrow deep trench Filling trench with stiff clay slurry May need to dig thru the slurry in soil prone to caving in. In some cases concrete is pumped to bottom of trench then concrete displaces slurry as it rises Other cases slurry is thickened then allowed to dry The clay filled trench forms almost an impenetrable barrier to moisture migration Excavation must be kept back distance from trench

Slurry Trench System

Freezing of Soil for Dewatering

Used only in rare instances due to high costs Involves: Drilling closely spaced holes:
Around perimeter of area to be excavated

Inserting piping Pumping a Super-cooled refrigerant solution thru pipes Two pipes required in each hole
To provide circulation of refrigerant

Technique is very effective as dewatering method

Freezing Soil For Dewatering

If there is a flow of water through the ground to be frozen the freezing time will be increased by reason of the continuing supply of heat energy and, if the flow is large and the water temperature high, freezing may be completely inhibited.

Once the freezing process has begun, monitoring is required to ensure formation of the barrier wall and also to verify when freezing is complete. During the drilling process, temperaturemonitoring pipes are installed to measure the ground temperature. Below are the techniques for temporary support of a tunnel heading by freezing:

Secant Piles

Mixed in Place Pile

Mixed in Place Pile Wall

Predrilling with CFA; H Beams Placed in the Augered Holes

Excavation Before and After Placement of Steel Reinforcement

Shotcreting & After

View of Excavation

View of 7.5 m Deep Excavation

DSM Pattern

DSM Wall

Retaining, Basement & Mixed in Place Pile Walls

Slurry Walls Rigid Support