In-Line Determination of Cement-Based Grout Properties Using a Pulsed Ultrasound Based Method and System

In construction, grouting is used to improve or alter the natural properties of soil or rock by injecting a grout into the pores or fractures of the formation. In order to predict the grout penetration progress and maximum penetration length, modern methods for grouting design involve a detailed knowledge of the rheological properties of the used grout. Today, rheological properties of grouts are measured either in a laboratory with conventional rheometers or in the field with simple devices. Due to the complex flow behavior of cement-based grouts, being non-Newtonian yield stress fluids with history and time dependent rheological properties, the results are non-consistent, device dependent and strongly influenced by the test procedure and operator. No standard measurement method is available for rheological characterization of grouts in the grouting industry today. In order to improve this unfortunate situation a new complete measuring methodology, based on pulsed ultrasound, is proposed. The method has been tested for cement-based grouts, with good results. In this work, a new container-based field laboratory is presented, equipped with the Flow-Viz system, which is designed for in-line measurements of rheological properties of cement-based grouts under field-like conditions. Results obtained under field-like conditions are presented in order to demonstrate the applicability of the new system.