Diaphragm Wall Construction Guide: Fast-Track Guide to Efficient Diaphragm Wall Construction

Diaphragm wall construction is a key method in modern civil engineering, especially for building deep basements, underground stations, and below-ground tunnels in urban environments. A diaphragm wall is a reinforced concrete wall built in the ground using slurry trench techniques. These walls are valued for their strength and impermeability, making them ideal for complex soil conditions and deep excavations.

Key Steps in Diaphragm Wall Construction:

1. Site Preparation: Start with clearing and leveling the work area. Accurate layout and marking of the wall alignment ensure a smooth construction process.
2. Guide Wall Installation: Construct temporary shallow concrete guide walls on both sides of the wall alignment. These help maintain trench alignment during excavation.
3. Trench Excavation with Support Slurry: Excavation is carried out in segments using specialized clamshell equipment. Bentonite or polymer slurry is introduced to stabilize trench walls and prevent collapse.
4. Cleaning the Base: The trench base is cleaned to remove sediments and achieve a stable foundation for the wall.
5. Reinforcement Cage Placement: Prefabricated steel reinforcement cages are carefully lowered into the trench using cranes.
6. Concreting (Tremie Method): Concrete is poured from the bottom of the trench upwards via tremie pipes, displacing the slurry upward to avoid mixing and ensure a defect-free wall.
7. Joint and Panel Construction: Diaphragm walls are constructed as adjacent panels with stop-end or end-of-panel forms maintaining separation until concrete sets.

A careful design approach is necessary to manage logistics, material strength, and alignment accuracy. As an interior designer and spatial planner, I often see how critical substructure integrity is for successful above-ground design. The underground construction phase sets the stage for what becomes visible in your completed spaces, so choosing the right methodology, like a diaphragm wall, supports both aesthetics and durability in any comprehensive interior design project.

Tips 1:

Ensure that the guide walls are precisely aligned, as they directly impact the position and plumb of the finished diaphragm wall panels. Use advanced surveying techniques for best results.

FAQ

Q: What is a diaphragm wall mainly used for?

A: Diaphragm walls are primarily used for deep basement construction, retaining walls, and underground station projects where excavation depth and soil stability are crucial.

Q: How thick is a typical diaphragm wall?

A: Thickness typically ranges from 600mm to 1500mm, but it depends on the engineering requirements of the project.

Q: What is slurry, and why is it essential in diaphragm wall construction?

A: Slurry, often bentonite-based, stabilizes excavation trench walls by preventing collapse before concrete is placed.

Q: Can diaphragm walls be used in residential projects?

A: Yes, they are occasionally used for residential projects with deep basements or complicated site conditions, though more common in commercial or infrastructure builds.

Q: How does diaphragm wall construction impact the interior design phase?

A: The alignment, finishes, and water-tightness of substructure walls directly influence the quality and durability of interior fit-outs, especially in underground spaces.