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T
he Trench cutting and Remixing Deep (TRD) wall method is
a relatively quiet, clean and compact technique developed in
Japan for constructing an engineered, continuous in situ soil
mix wall. The TRD machine advances horizontally along the wall
alignment while the cutter post cuts and mixes the in situ soil with
cement-based binder slurry. The full-depth vertical cutter post re-
sembles a giant chain saw, which vertically blends the entire soil pro-
file, eliminating any stratification and creating a near homogenous
soil mix wall with low permeability. The TRD method produces the
most uniform wall of any soil mixing process, with certainty of conti-
nuity in deep, challenging soil conditions.
T
he TRD method is a relatively quiet, efficient way to construct continuous soil mix walls. Wall widths range from 22 to 33
inches (0.5 to 0.8 meters), and depths up to 180 feet (55 meters) have been constructed in nearly all subsurface conditions
from soft organics to cobbles and some rock formations.
① ④
② ⑤
① Support for a planned excavation adjacent to apartment buildings provided by ④ A TRD cutoff wall is constructed through a profile of limestone and clay
a TRD earth retention wall. beneath the centerline of a planned dam.
② Groundwater lowering beneath railway tracks during adjacent construction ⑤ TRD wall grid constructed to provide liquefaction mitigation for a planned
dewatering is prevented by a TRD cutoff wall. structure.
③ Seepage and piping through a levee is prevented by construction of a TRD
cutoff wall.
Procedures & Design Considerations . . .
TRD Method
Procedures
The TRD base ma-
chine first connects
to the idler post sec-
tion (bottom sec-
tion of post), which
has previously been
placed in an adjacent
cutter post box. The
Design Considerations
machine is then moved to the starting position of wall construc-
TRD walls can be installed in soils ranging from soft organics to
tion. Vertical cutting then begins by starting chain rotation as the
dense sand with cobbles and some rock formations. Because the
idler post is lowered into the soil ①. The TRD base machine is
TRD method vertically mixes the soils within the total depth, in-
then disconnected from the idler post and moved back to the cut-
dividual strata are only significant to the degree they are a com-
ter post box where it is connected to the next section of post ②.
ponent of the total profile being mixed.
The base machine then moves
back to the starting position and
The site exploration should determine site geology, soil gradation,
connects this cutter post section
pH, in situ moisture content, and organic content of each stratum
to the previously installed idler
within the planned wall depth. Continuous sampling is required
post ③. The process is repeated
when retrieving samples for laboratory bench scale testing.
with additional sections of cutter
post ④ until the required depth
The strength and permeability of the soil mix wall depends on
is reached. The cutter post box is
the entire soil profile, water content, and grout slurry compo-
then removed and wall construc-
sition and volume. Therefore, laboratory bench testing should
tion begins. The post is advanced
be conducted using site soils and lab procedures that simulate
horizontally along the wall align-
Connecting sections of post. the field mixing. Laboratory testing uses full-depth soil samples
ment while the cutter chain cuts
of the treatment
and mixes the in situ soil with cement-based binder slurry in-
zone. A series of
jected through ports near its tip ⑤. Conventional soil mixing
slurry mixes can
techniques mix the soil in situ at its natural elevation. Therefore,
then be prepared,
the properties of the wall vary as different strata are encoun-
mixed with vary-
tered. The revolving TRD cutter chain creates a circulation of
ing percentages of
cut soil (or soil and rock) and injected slurry, vertically mixing
the soil samples,
the entire profile, eliminating the pre-existing stratification. This
and cast into cyl-
results in the highest homogeneity of any mixing method.
inders. Labora-
tory tests are
In the case of retaining walls, steel beams are inserted into the
performed on the
wall immediately behind the TRD machine.
cured cylinders
to determine the
mix design that
will achieve the
specified soil-
crete properties,
such as uncon-
fined compressive
strength and per- Unconfined compressive strength results from
meability. laboratory bench scale test program.
A second pipe is
available for the in-
jection of air, which
Above: Bottom
three sections of
is sometimes used to
cutter post and increase fluidity and
drawing of inter- enhance mobility of
nal inclinometer
and grout pipes. the materials to be
mixed. Batch plant controls.
Left: Hydraulic
motor, mast and
frame connected Grout Slurry
to base crawler The grout slurry is typically composed of water, swelling clays
rig.
(bentonite, attapulgites, or sepiolite), and cementitious bind-
ers. Binders are typically Portland cement, fly ash, and ground
granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS).
HB has developed proprietary data
acquisition (DAQ) equipment and software
Quality Control . . .
for real-time monitoring of all parameters
during the TRD mixing process.
Pre-Construction during the TRD mixing process. In-cab monitors display real-
Prior to TRD wall construction, full-depth soil and rock samples time quality control feedback to the operator and field engineer
are obtained and brought to a laboratory where mix design test- during wall construction. It is also possible to remotely monitor
ing is performed. The final mixture consists of 65 to 80 percent the feedback. All data are transmitted in near real-time to an
of the in situ soil and rock. online central database via cell modem.
During Construction Wet grab samples are taken routinely during production for flow
Inclinometers located table tests to check the viscosity, ensuring that the soil mix can
in the cutter post at properly flow yet maintain cut up soil and rock particles in sus-
multiple depths mea- pension. Wet grab samples retrieved from the wall immediately
sure its verticality. after mixing are also cast into cylinders for unconfined compres-
The verticality in two sive strength and permeability testing, if required.
planes is visually dis-
played on an in-cab Post-Construction
monitor for the opera- Coring of the cured wall is possible but not recommended be-
tor in real-time. GPS cause it creates a discontinuity in the wall. Because of the ex-
position tracking can tensive quality control of the continuous, high uniformity wall
be used to monitor produced by the TRD method, coring is generally only per-
and document wall formed if a variation in the grout or construction process raises
alignment. a concern over a specific segment of the wall.
During TRD con- If required, core sampling of the wall can be performed to as-
struction, a mass flow sess homogeneity of the soil mix and to retrieve samples for
sensor within the strength testing. However, as is typical with core sampling, if
grout line records flow aggregates are present in the wall matrix, they can dislodge
rate, specific gravity, from the weaker soil mix matrix inside the core barrel and dam-
and temperature of In-line grout flow meter. age the core sample. Downhole video logging of core holes can
the grout slurry. provide a visual assessment of homogeneity of the soil mix.
Grouting
u Compact, low headroom machinery u Most homogeneous of soil mix technologies Cement Grouting (High Mobility Grouting)
Chemical Grouting
Compaction Grouting (Low Mobility Grouting)
u Environmentally friendly u Certainty of continuity in deep, challenging Fracture Grouting
soil conditions Jet Grouting
u Constructs a continuous wall Polyurethane Grouting
u Wide variety of applications Ground Improvement
u Blends the entire soil profile Dry Soil Mixing
Dynamic Compaction
Injection Systems for Expansive Soils
Rapid Impact Compaction
Rigid Inclusions (Controlled Stiffness Columns)
Vibro Compaction
Vibro Concrete Columns
Vibro Piers™ (Aggregate Piers)
Vibro Replacement (Stone Columns)
Wet Soil Mixing
Structural Support
Augercast Piles
Drilled Shafts
Driven Piles
Franki Piles (PIFs)
Helical Piles
Jacked Piers
Macropiles™
Micropiles
Pit Underpinning
Earth Retention
Anchors
Anchor Block Slope Stabilization
Gabion Systems
Micropile Slide Stabilization System (MS³)
Secant or Tangent Piles
Sheet Piles
Soil Nailing
Soldier Piles & Lagging
TRD cutoff wall construction for a wastewater treatment plant in California. Additional Services
Earthquake Drains
Sculpted Shotcrete
Slab Jacking
Slurry Walls
Why Should You Choose Hayward Baker’s TRD Soil Mix Walls? TRD Soil Mix Walls
Wick Drains
Hayward Baker Inc. (HB) is North America’s lished itself in the forefront of geotechnical Website www.HaywardBaker.com
leading geotechnical contractor, offering the specialty contracting, evolving and expanding Email info@HaywardBaker.com
full range of pre- and post-construction ser- to meet the increasingly complex needs of the Hayward Baker Inc.
A member of the Keller worldwide
vices for foundation rehabilitation, settlement construction community. HB is capable of of- group of companies
control, liquefaction mitigation, soil stabiliza- fering full design-build services for any geo-
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tion, groundwater control, slope stability, ex- technical construction application. H1-MAR-20007-JW Nov 2013