PARAMETERS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE SETTING TIMES OF CEMENT SUSPENSIONS FOR SOIL GROUTING – A MINI REVIEW

Abstract

Improvement of the mechanical properties and behavior of soils by permeation grouting, using either suspensions or chemical solutions, is frequently required in order to assure the safe construction and operation of many structures. Suspensions have lower cost and are harmless to the environment but cannot be injected into soils with gradations finer than coarse sands. Chemical solutions can be injected in fine sands or coarse silts but are more expensive and, some of them pose a health and environmental hazard. Efforts have been made to extend the injectability range of suspension grouts by developing environmentally friendly materials with very fine gradations. Setting times and early strength development of cement grouts are measured on the sediments produced after completion of bleeding. When the bleed capacity is small or negligible, the water-to-cement (W/C) ratio of the sediments is, practically, equal to the W/C ratio of the grout.