SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1992
STP19737S

Construction of Diaphragm Wall at Wells Dam East Embankment

Source

A concrete diaphragm wall was constructed at the Wells Dam east embankment to cutoff seepage. Sinkholes were observed on the embankment crest in early 1990, more than 20 years after the construction of the embankment dam. After extensive investigations a diaphragm wall was adopted to positively cutoff seepage and to stop internal erosion.

The wall was excavated in vertical panels with clam shell bucket through the embankment core and riverbed deposits overlying bedrock to a maximum depth of 70 m (230 ft). A total of 11,600 sq m (125,000 sq ft) of diaphragm wall was constructed. The success of the wall was evaluated based on core drilling, water tests, piezometer data and geophysical survey after the construction.

This paper presents a brief description of the project and sinkhole investigations, with the main emphasis placed on the construction of the concrete diaphragm wall, including procedure, quality control and verification, and difficulties.

Author Information

Roberts, DL
Ho, D-M
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Details
Developed by Committee: D18
Pages: 235–250
DOI: 10.1520/STP19737S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5191-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1427-2