Analytical Model for Fracture Grouting in Sand
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 6
Abstract
A conceptual, analytical model has been developed to describe the fracture grouting process in sand. The objective of the model is to improve understanding about this process in sand and to model propagation of the fractures. The results can be used to assess the parameters that control the fracture process. It is assumed that the complicated shape of a fracture in sand can be simplified to a geometrical shape (such as a tube or a plane) as a first approximation. Filtration of the grout appears to have a significant influence on the fracture shape when grout is injected into permeable subsoil such as sand. By assuming a pressure at which a fracture starts and a minimum pressure for propagation, it appeared possible to calculate the width-to-length ratio of the fracture independent of other soil properties. Quantification of the flow inside a fracture and the filtration processes resulted in a model that has been used to study differences in fracturing behavior in model tests and field tests on fracture grouting in sand. It was concluded that the width-to-length ratio of the fractures in a permeable soil decreases if the injection pressure of the grout or the permeability of the grout cake is decreased.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 6 • June 2011
Pages: 611 - 620
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 16, 2008
Accepted: Oct 6, 2010
Published online: Oct 20, 2010
Published in print: Jun 1, 2011
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