ABSTRACT
The slurry, an engineered fluid, is usually comprised of bentonite and water and serves to support the sidewalls of the trench, i.e. maintain trench stability. When mixed with water at a ratio of approximately 5% bentonite and 95% water by mass, the resulting liquid demonstrates viscosity, density, and filtrate loss properties desirable for stable slurry trenching. While CB slurries are used to fill the trench as described in this section, it is important to realize that mixtures of bentonite, cement, and water are widely employed in other ground improvement techniques such as grouting, in situ mixed walls, soil mix methods, and sealing of groundwater wells. The behavior of the bentonite at this early time in the life of the mixture has significant influence on the cured properties including hydraulic conductivity, strength, compressibility, and bleed. Diaphragm walls are constructed by excavating a panel in the subsurface using bentonite-water slurry to maintain trench stability.
