Slurry Wall Construction and Deep Soil Mixing are
Important Parts of Construction



Many don�t realize it, but construction is a complicated process. People think
construction projects take too long because people are not working hard. This
couldn�t be further from the truth. One of the reasons certain construction
projects take so long is because of the ground improvement which needs to take
place. It isn�t a good idea to try to build something on ground which isn�t
properly prepared to bear the weight of a structure. One key process is making
sure that groundwater is kept out of the area to keep the ground from becoming
saturated and shifting.



Bentonite Slurry Walls Help Establish a Barrier against Groundwater



One way to do this is with slurry
wall construction. Slurry walls are usually a combination of bentonite and
water inside a trough. Bentonite is an absorbent clay which increases the
viscosity of the solution, so the slurry is thicker than water. The slurry
exerts an outward force which counteracts the force on the outside of the
trench. The slurry wall can hold as a temporary barrier until it isn�t needed
anymore, or it can be replaced with concrete. Regardless of the use, the slurry
is collected and recycled when it isn�t needed. This means that there is very
little waste involved in this process.



Dropping Anchors with Deep Soil Mixing



Another procedure used to establish solid foundations during construction is
soil mixing. There are several varieties of soil mixing, including deep
soil mixing, shallow soil mixing, and backhoe stabilization. All procedures
use similar processes though. A large auger (one to four yards across) is
drilled into the ground while fluid grout is pumped through the center of the
auger. After reaching the proper depth the auger is removed and the solution
dries. This creates a solid, stable anchor pillar in the ground. These anchors
are used as elements to the building contraction, or a solid point to position
heavy machinery on top of.



The Critical first step of Construction



These two processes are extremely important and common in construction
projects. They both require state of the art machinery and qualified
technicians to be completed properly. So the next time there is a construction
site which seems to be stuck in the preliminary stages, consider all the
preparation work which has to be done before the plans can get �off the
ground�.