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In mechanised tunnelling, the filling of the annular gap behind the precast concrete segments is one of the essential operations. The main goal of filling this space is to reduce surface settlements and limit movements due to tunnel excavation in the soil mass. To achieve this aim, a two-component grout is often used to fill the annular gap. Determination of the amounts of ingredients in the two-component grout should be carried out in such a way that the injection materials will be able to fulfil the required performance and technical properties. In this study, laboratory tests were carried out to investigate two-component grout properties, such as flowability, bleeding, gelling time and uniaxial compressive strength. The effect of lateral pressure on grout resistance was studied according to real excavation situations. The influences of the grout ingredients and effective parameters such as bentonite and cement contents, water–cement ratio and the dosage of accelerator (sodium silicate) and accelerator ratio were also investigated.

Rock bolts are commonly used to stabilise slopes and underground excavations but their installation can sometimes be difficult in challenging grounds due to excessive leakage or washout of the grout. To manage these problems, tubular geotextile socks have been adopted in the industry but there has been a lack of research on their properties. To advance the understanding of sock behaviour, the water permittivity and filtration properties of two types of grout sock have been investigated in their unstretched state. From the permittivity tests, it is shown that water flow through these socks will be laminar and that using more than one layer in a setup can effectively reduce the flow velocity. Moreover, it has been shown that the effect of the tester should be considered in the analysis or else the permittivity of the geotextile could be underestimated. From the filtration tests, it is shown that both types of grout sock tested are effective in minimising grout loss and that the permittivity of the filter cake will be many orders of magnitude lower than that of the socks. The results also show that the water–cement ratio of the grout will be reduced as a result of the dewatering process.

Glued-in rods are a class of adhesively bonded joints for timber engineering applications resulting in high-strength and stiffness connections. However the use of polymeric adhesives may lead to issues related if the temperatures exceed their glass transition temperature, restricting their performance under quasi-static, or more critically, sustained loads. To overcome these, the substitution of polymeric adhesives by mineral high-performance grout was investigated. It was found that primers have neither a significant effect on strength nor on the failure mode; threated wood surfaces, however, resulted in a significant improvement of the latter. Based thereupon, grouted-in rods (GriRs) were manufactured. The best performance was achieved with a threaded wood surface, which achieved roughly 50% of the strength comparable adhesively bonded glued-in rod's strength. While the obtained strength may seem quite low, it is important to remind that the latter will largely remain unaffected by temperature; accordingly, made at room temperature, the comparison between grouted and glued rods is in favour of adhesive bonding, it may well be different at elevated ones.

This paper presents the results of an experimental evaluation of masonry grout made with lime-activated slag–glass powder blend as a binder. The purpose of this study is to develop a grout mixture that is low-carbon dioxide (‘low-carbon’) and has the potential to replace the traditional grout material used in load-bearing concrete block masonry construction. Traditional grout material uses Portland cement, production of which is responsible for a large proportion of carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, elimination or even reduction in the use of Portland cement will minimise environmental impacts. Three grout mixtures incorporating different proportions of glass powder as a partial replacement of slag as an aluminosilicate precursor were investigated to determine the optimum mix proportion that yields the desired properties of the grout material used in concrete block masonry construction. The workability, compressive strength and permeability properties of the mixtures were evaluated. Results from this study show that the use of glass powder at 25% replacement of slag as a precursor in the binder system provides the best performance, and that this mixture can be successfully used as an alternative and low-carbon grout material for concrete block masonry construction.

A ‘locking-bolt’ demountable shear connector (LBDSC) is proposed to facilitate the deconstruction and reuse of steel-concrete composite structures, in line with achieving a more sustainable construction design paradigm. The LBDSC is comprised of a grout-filled steel tube and a geometrically compatible partially threaded bolt. The latter has a geometry that ‘locks’ the bolt in compatible holes predrilled on the steel flange and eliminates initial slip and construction tolerance issues. The structural behaviour of the LBDSC is evaluated through nine pushout tests using a horizontal test setup. The effects of the tube thickness, strength of concrete slab, and strength of infilled grout on the shear resistance, initial stiffness, and ductility of the LBDSC are assessed. The experimental results show that the LBDSC can achieve higher shear resistance and similar initial stiffness as compared to traditional welded studs. In addition, all tested LBDSCs exhibited slip capacities ranging from 14 to 32 mm and can be classified as ductile shear connectors according to Eurocode 4. A detailed finite element model was also created and found to be reliable to reproduce the experimental behaviour. Parametric studies were subsequently conducted using the validated model to study further parameters and generalise the experimental results. Due to the specific test setup, non-negligible uplift forces were generated in the connector and the potential implications are discussed.

Understanding the mechanism of progressive debonding of bolts is of great significance for underground safety. In this paper, both laboratory experiment and numerical simulation of the pull-out tests were performed. The experimental pull-out test specimens were prepared using cement mortar material, and a relationship between the pull-out strength of the bolt and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of cement mortar material specimen was established. The locations of crack developed in the pull-out process were identified using the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The pull-out test was reproduced using 2D Particle Flow Code (PFC2D) with calibrated parameters. The experimental results show that the axial displacement of the cement mortar material at the peak load during the test was approximately 5 mm for cement-based grout of all strength. In contrast, the peak load of the bolt increased with the UCS of the confining medium. Under peak load, cracks propagated to less than one half of the anchorage length, indicating a lag between crack propagation and axial bolt load transmission. The simulation results show that the dilatation between the bolt and the rock induced cracks and extended the force field along the anchorage direction; and, it was identified as the major contributing factor for the pull-out failure of rock bolt.

Lateral restrainers are traditionally provided in reinforced masonry (RM) walls to prevent the vertical steel bars from buckling. In the current version of the Australian Masonry Standards (AS 3700–2018), the use of lateral restrainers in RM walls is relaxed, if the vertical rebars are surrounded by grout annulus of twice the diameter of the bars. However, it is challenging to maintain the verticality of the reinforcing bars in the block cores to satisfy the grout annulus requirement without lateral restrainers. To address this challenge, restrainer bar chairs can be used in the construction of RM walls which are easier to employ in comparison to lateral restrainer ties. However, the implications of adopting restrainer bar chairs as an alternative to restrainer ties in RM wall construction are not well verified. In this study, the influence of restrainer bar chairs and conventional lateral ties restraining methods on the axial compression and out-of-plane bending characteristics of RM walls have been investigated. In total, twelve RM walls of dimensions 1390 mm height × 590 mm length × 190 mm thickness were constructed and tested, of which, four walls each were tested under concentric and eccentric compression and four-point bending. The experimental results revealed that the performance of RM walls with restrainer bar chairs and conventional lateral ties were similar, in terms of the observed failure modes, strength, load–displacement characteristics obtained under both compression and out-of-plane loading conditions. Strain measurements on rebars indicated that a composite action was ensued in both restrainer configurations. The capacities of the RM walls under compression and out-of-plane bending were also verified with three different masonry standards provisions and were found adequate with reasonable safety. Overall, it can be concluded that the restrainer bar chairs can effectively be used in RM walls to enable quick and accurate vertical positioning of the rebars and ensure adequate grout annulus around them.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on a full-scale precast concrete frame reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars that was tested to failure under lateral cyclic loading. Within the frame four different pocket connections are tested that will lead to accelerated construction. Traditionally, a pocket connection is comprised of a column that is extended into a recessed portion of the connecting beam and the pocket is filled with grout to create a moment-resisting connection. In order to accelerate the construction process, quicker setting epoxy resin was used in place of grout. The results show that while the epoxy resin could significantly accelerate and simplify the construction procedure due to its workability in addition to its high early strength and non-shrinkable properties, its thickness and low modulus of elasticity significantly affected the performance of the pocket joint. The test frame showed a flag-shaped hysteretic behaviour with narrow loops and small residual displacement thus illustrating desirable frame self-centring behaviour. This self-centring behaviour was due to rocking of the column in the pocket connection. The frame displaced with a large displacement ductility of approximately 7.0, however, the level of energy dissipation and damping ratio was very low when compared with conventional concrete structures. This experimental study shows that pocket connections can be used for GFRP reinforced precast concrete elements, however, they should be designed carefully to account for the lower stiffness of GFRP reinforcement. Also, to avoid premature failure and achieve a higher capacity of the pocket connections, the material used in the pocket to fill the gap between column and beam is recommended to have higher strength and elastic modulus compared to the surrounding precast concrete. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Jet grouting is one of the most widely applied soil improvement techniques. It is suitable for most geotechnical problems, including improving bearing capacity, decreasing settlement, forming seals, and stabilizing slopes. One of the difficulties faced by designers is determining the strength and geometry of elements created using this method. Jet grouted soil-cement columns in soil are a complicated issue because they are dependent on a number of parameters such as soil type, grout and water flow rate, rotation and lifting speed of monitor, nozzle jetting force, and water to cement ratio of slurry. This paper discusses the effect of the water-cement ratio on the physical and mechanical characteristics of soilcrete. In the laboratory, sandy soil mixed with cement grout with water-cement ratio varies from (0.7:1 to 1.4:1). To evaluate the characteristics of soilcrete, 96 specimens were prepared in the laboratory and tested at different curing times. The results indicate that the Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) of soilcrete decreases with increasing the (W/C) ratio of the grout, where the soilcrete strength of W/C ratio of 0.7 is higher about 237% of W/C ratio of 1.4 at 28-day; the evolution of the (UCS) is proportional to the logarithm of the curing time; the ratio between the modulus of elasticity (Etg50) to the maximum UCS varies from 113 to 175; when the water-cement ratio increases, the dry density of soilcrete decreases, as a result, the (USC) of soilcrete decreases.

A two-dimensional grouting model considering hydromechanical coupling and fracturing in fractured rock is proposed and implemented in an GPU parallel multiphysics finite element-discrete element software named MultiFracs. The model can simulate the grout flows in existing and induced fractures in the rock media. The fracture network is represented by broken joint elements, which is updated to simulate fracture initiation and propagation during grouting. Therefore, both the hydromechanical coupling effect and rock fracturing are considered in the grouting model. A single-fracture grouting example is presented to verify the grouting model. Finally, the model is used to simulate the grouting process in a rock mass with a complex fracture network. The effects of grout yield stress, amount of injection holes, injection pressure, aperture, and especially hydromechanical coupling on grout penetration are studied. The results show that the grouting model can simulate the interaction between grouting-induced fractures and pre-existed fractures.

The stress–strain characteristics of reinforced masonry (RM) under axial compression should be correctly understood to effectively analyse and design RM elements. However, past studies have overlooked this aspect and mainly focused on assessing the stress–strain behaviour of grouted or confined masonry. An experimental programme was executed in this research by constructing and testing RM wallettes under uniaxial compression to understand the stress–strain behaviour of RM. The effects of grout strength and lateral restrainer configurations on the compression behaviour were also studied. The experimental outcome revealed that the grout plays a major role in the axial capacity of the RM, while change in the configurations of the lateral restraining reinforcement did not significantly affect the axial capacities and axial stress–strain behaviour of RM wallettes. The predictability of the axial capacity of the RM wallettes were validated through the expressions given in the three masonry design standards. It was observed that all considered standards conservatively predicted the axial capacity of the RM. Moreover, the applicability of the existing analytical models in the literature for the RM were verified against the experimental data and an improved stress–strain model is proposed in this research.

Data related to the pre-grouting work of a large underground project are systematically analyzed to reveal the mechanism behind, to shed some light on the execution of practical grouting, and to enrich the theory of engineering geology. Grouting is generally taken as an effective way for controlling non-ignorable water seepage during underground rock excavation. Though various models have been developed to guide grouting design or to specify criteria for grouting stop, it does not change the fact that grouting is still highly experience-based. Therefore, explanation of the current situation due to grouting complexity is given through step-by-step data analysis, where the impact on grouting parameters from the geological and hydrogeological conditions is investigated, and the grouting features of two tunnels located at the same depth below the sea surface are compared and discussed. Then, the data from individual grout hole are used to construct the regional geological conditions via inverse analysis. It is found that grouting of fractured rock masses is accompanied with great uncertainty, and field grouting data can contribute significantly to a better understanding of the regional geological conditions around an underground tunnel or rock cavern.

An acceptable viscosity and an easy penetrability of cement - limestone filler grout in the granular matrix of self compacting concrete are an important factors that affecting both its rheological and its hardened properties. This experimental and theoretical work consists to study the effect of limestone filler fineness on the rheological behavior of cement - limestone filler grout. In the first part, five different grouts were prepared by varying the Blaine Specific Surface (BSS) of the limestone filler, 3060, 4750, 6320, 7680 and 9440 cm2/g, respectively. A large number of properties relating to the rheology and the stability are carried out on the five grouts such as grain dispersion, density, volume concentration of solid, dynamic viscosity and Marsh funnel flow. The second part consists to develop a theoretical model to predict the different rheological properties of the grout as function of limestone filler BSS. The results show that the rheological properties of cement-limestone filler grout such as the dispersion percentage, the intergranular distance and the flow time are strongly affected by the limestone fillers fineness. In addition, the experimental and the predicted results present a good agreement.

Considering that the particular geometric shape of a quasi-rectangular shield, the grout flowing law and its motion process are more complicated than those of a conventional circular shield. To interpret the grouting mechanical behavior in the special-shape shield tail void, the filling and diffusion mechanism of synchronous grouting was analysed. The grout flowing is separated into two independent motion processes, which contains a circumferential filling and a longitudinal diffusion. The theoretical model of the grout pressure spatial distribution was derived based on the principle of fluid mechanics. Then, the pressure distributions in the two directions were obtained using a case study and compared with the field measured data to verify the validation of the model. Although the overall spatial pattern of grout pressure distribution on the tunnel profile show a change trend dominated by the self-weight effect mostly, its local fluctuation characteristics is very abnormal relative to that of a circular shield tunnel. Moreover, the important factors in the model were analysed, including the grout material parameters, the grouting construction parameters, and some geometry parameters. The results show that the pressure loss along this way is positively correlated with the grout flow velocity and is sensitive to the shear yield stress of the grout. The pressure loss along the circumferential direction is the most sensitive to the thickness of the ring cake, and the value range suitable for the model should be 0.02–0.03 m. The pressure loss along the longitudinal diffusion direction is the most sensitive to the size of the tail void. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the control of special-shape shield construction.

Colloidal silica (CS) is a kind of nanomaterial used in soil/rock grouting techniques in different branches of civil engineering. Many studies have recently been performed to investigate the potential of CS in improving the mechanical behavior of cohesionless soils and mitigating the risk of seismic liquefaction in urbanized areas. CS grout is chemically and biologically inert and, when injected into a subsoil, it can form a silica gel and stabilize the desired soil layer, thus representing an attractive, environmentally friendly alternative to standard chemical grouting techniques. This paper firstly describes the characteristics of CS grout, the gelation process and the main features of the behavior of the pure gelled material. The grout delivery mechanisms through porous media are then explained, pointing out the crucial issues for practical application of CS grouting. All the grouting-induced effects on the soil behavior, which have been investigated by laboratory tests on small-sized soil elements, are reviewed, including the modifications to soil strength and stiffness under both static and seismic loading conditions, to soil compressibility and hydraulic conductivity. Published results from physical model tests and in situ applications are also presented. Finally, some aspects related to the mechanism of soil improvement are discussed. A critical discussion of each topic is presented, drawing particular attention to the controversial or not yet fully examined aspects to which future research on colloidal silica grouting should be directed.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to understand the current research status and future development trends in the field of numerical simulation on rock mass grouting.Design/methodology/approachThis article first searched the literature database (EI, Web of Science, CNKI, etc.) for keywords related to the numerical simulation of rock mass grouting to obtain the initial literature database. Then, from the initial database, several documents with strong relevance to the numerical simulation theme of rock mass grouting and high citation rate were selected; some documents from the references were selected as supplements, forming the sample database of this review study (a total of 90 articles). Finally, through sorting out the relationship among the literature, this literature review was carried out.FindingsThe numerical simulation of rock mass grouting is mainly based on the porous media model and the fractured media model. It has experienced the development process from Newtonian fluid to non-Newtonian fluid, from time-invariant viscosity to time-varying viscosity, and from generalized theoretical model to engineering application model. Based on this, this article summarizes four scientific problems that need to be solved in the future in this research field: the law of grout distribution at the cross fissures, the grout diffusion mechanism under multi-field coupling, more accurate grouting theoretical model and simulation technology with strong engineering applicability.Originality/valueThis research systematically analyzes the current research status and shortcomings of numerical simulation on rock mass grouting, summarizes four key issues in the future development of this research field and provides new ideas for the future research on numerical simulation on rock mass grouting.

Grout curtains are commonly constructed under dams to reduce the seepage through the rock foundation. In the design of grout curtains, empirical methods have mainly been used since the introduction of dam foundation grouting. Although empirical methods have been used with success in several projects, they have their limitations, such as poor control of the grout spread, only an indirect consideration of the threat of internal erosion of fracture infillings in the grouted zones, and the risk of hydraulic jacking. This paper presents a theory-based design methodology for grout curtains under dams founded on rock. In the design methodology, the grout curtain is designed as a structural component of the dam. The risk of erosion of fracture infilling material is explicitly accounted for along with the reduction of the hydraulic conductivity of the rock mass, and an optimization of the total uplift force. By applying the proposed design methodology, engineers can create a design better adapted to the prevailing geological and hydrogeological conditions in the rock mass, resulting in more durable grout curtains. The proposed methodology also enables cost and time estimates to be calculated for the grout curtain’s construction. Applying the principles of the observational method during the grouting execution also allows the design to be modified via predefined measures if the initial design is found to be unsuitable.

Ground improvement by permeation grouting is widely utilized for improving engineering properties of soil. The accurate evaluation of a region improved by grouting is a critical issue to ensure the performance of grouting; nevertheless, current methods to evaluate the area of grouted bulbs under the ground are not well-documented. This study aims to use cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT) to evaluate a grouted bulb region by considering the effect of electrode configuration at laboratory scale using a cylindrical container filled with saturated sand. Curing time monitoring was also conducted on grouted bulbs with various recovered Carbon Black (rCB) concentrations. Based on the inverted result, the predicted area of the grouted bulb was addressed, and then the error value between the actual and predicted areas was examined. The results of this study show that CHERT can be employed to assess the location and area of a grouted bulb. Also, it was observed that electrode spacing, damping factor, and curing time had significant influences on the image resolution and error value. Unlike the above-mentioned factors, change of rCB concentration ratio had only a slight effect on the image resolution. Thus, the use of a small amount of rCB as an additive material to enhance the grout strength can also provide a distinct contrast of measured resistivity between the grouted bulb and surrounding soil. In this study, a grouted bulb containing 3% of rCB is recommended based on the test results on strength characteristics. In addition, CHERT measuring can be conducted even in early stages of curing, during which it exhibits a better electrical resistivity contrast between the objective area and the surrounding soil.

Aims at improving the utilization rate of red mud and preparing a low-cost grouting material for underground engineering, the ultrafine red mud was adopted to prepare a slag-red mud based grout, and its fresh and hardened state properties were investigated comparing with the coarse red mud. The results showed that the incorporation of red mud could prolong the setting time and decrease the viscosity and thixotropy of slag-based geopolymeric grout, and ultrafine red mud has a better decrement effect. Ultrafine red mud has an enhancement effect on the slurry stability. The mechanical strength decreased with the adoption of red mud, while the ultrafine red mud has a higher mechanical strength than coarse red mud. The microstructure analysis showed that red mud plays a filling role in the geopolymerization process, and mechanical activation could increase the reactivity of red mud, furthermore, the iron component in ultrafine red mud could take part in the geopolymerization process. The results shed light on the utilization of red mud and the application of geopolymer in grouting engineering.

One solution to the high cost and scarcity of building materials is to use alternative and sustainable materials. The study presented herein developed an eco-friendly masonry grout using high volumes of palm oil clinker powder to replace cement and palm oil clinker to replace coarse aggregate. Several batches of grouts with different amounts of these materials were made to determine the technical viability of the grout. Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), X-Rays Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) analyses were conducted to investigate the microstructure characteristics of the grout, and water absorption, initial rate of absorption, sulphate attack and electrical resistivity tests were conducted to determine its durability. Compressive strength tests were conducted at different curing ages and the drying shrinkage of the grout was monitored for 180 days. The results indicate that the new grout is as good as a conventional grout but with added sustainable and economic benefits. The new grout can be used in masonry construction and can be used to alleviate the inadequate supply of affordable housing.

Historically, the idea of designing and installing rockbolts in rockmasses can be traced back to the construction of the Snowy Mountain hydroelectric scheme in Australia, which was completed in 1974. The use of rockbolts as a ground support system has been widely applied to enhance the stability of structures in mining and to resist the movement of keyblocks in underground excavations. The strength of a rockbolt as a rock support tool lies in its ability to improve the tensile and shear strength needed to maintain the load-bearing capacity of a rockmass. Currently, rockbolts are extensively used as reinforcement methods in mining and civil engineering projects to support deforming rockmasses in coal and hard rock mining, tunnelling and underground openings. The performance of a rockbolt depends on the design parameters such as load-bearing capacity of the bolt, strength of the bolt, bolt diameter, length of the bolt and bolt spacing. This study provides a detailed review of the various applications of rockbolts in mining operations. In addition, the integration of smart sensors in rockbolts to enhance monitoring of displacement measurements, stresses, subsidence of pillars and ground pressure on structures are discussed in this paper. The use of smart rockbolt devices, which has improved the monitoring and evaluation of critical parameters in rockbolts such as the axial force, corrosion occurrence, grout quality and resin delamination, are also discussed. This review shows that with the numerous applications of rockbolts in mining, especially in underground excavations and tunneling engineering, rockbolts can be used as supports in rocks with different geological conditions. Nevertheless, this paper highlights that there are still some areas that need improvement in rockbolting technology.

The design of grouting engineering in practice is either based on conventional soil mechanics or empirical procedures ignoring the effect of degree of saturation (water content). In this study, a series of laboratory-pressurized grouting tests were conducted on unsaturated sand to reveal the influence of soil water content on the grouting characteristics. With combination of direct shear tests at constant water content, water retention tests as well as microscopy observations, the mechanisms that controlling the strength and in turn the grouting characteristics in unsaturated sand were interpreted from the perspective of water–air interface. It was found that the non-monotonic phenomena of grouting characteristics (injectability and diffusion characteristics) with increasing water content were strongly dependent on the shear strength, which is influenced by the apparent cohesion induced by capillary mechanisms relating to the water–air interface. The threshold value of the injectability and diffusion pattern is corresponding to the boundary of the two transition zones (two different desaturation mechanisms) in the water retention curve. In the primary transition zone, the water phase is interconnected with air bulbs entrapped. With the drainage of bulk water in the large pores, the amount of water menisci increases, generating larger and larger surface tension force between particles. Therefore, less and less grout was injected as the bearing capacity and shear strength increase. However, in the second transition zone, with the drainage of menisci water, the menisci area of each pores decreases, inducing less and less surface tension force. Thus, more and more grout was injected as the bearing capacity and shear strength decrease. It is hoped that the work in this study will facilitate researching the grouting mechanisms in unsaturated soil, thus optimizing the grouting parameters in engineering practice.

The grouting is used to reinforce soft ground and to prevent the leakage of water in the soil. The objective of the study is to enhance the compressive strength of grout materials by using reinforcing fibers and to increase the strength of soil using blast furnace slag powder. For this purpose, cement was replaced with the blast furnace slag powder by 30 to 60%. Furthermore, for comparison of carbon fibers with aramid fibers, each fiber was added by 0, 0.5, and 1.0% of the weight of material. As the contents of carbon fibers and aramid fibers increased, the uniaxial compressive strength increased. This is due to the interlocking of fibers in the grout material that increased the uniaxial compressive strength. Moreover, the grout material reinforced with aramid fibers showed an increase of uniaxial compressive strength by at least 20% compared to the carbon fibers. An environmental assessment was done through a heavy metal leaching test and a pH test. The test result reveals that about 50% of chromium (VI) leaching decreased as 30% more blast furnace slag powder was used but the pH test shows about 0.5 pH increased as 30% more blast furnace slag powder was used. Further study is necessary for the pH test.

A numerical simulation method of shield tunnel excavation is developed to capture the time-dependent deformation behaviour of surrounding soil. The simulation method consists of four parts: (i) an elastic-plastic-viscous constitutive model that can not only reasonably describe the viscous deformation behaviour of soil, but also appropriately calculate the plastic deformation under typical stress paths of excavation; (ii) simulation of main factors related to shield tunnel excavation, including the shield machine, face pressure, lining, grout behavior, and contacts between multiple media; (iii) a simulation procedure for excavation to reflect the process of shield tunnel excavation and achieve reasonable stress and strain fields at the end of the construction stage; (iv) a creep process that is used to investigate the long-term mechanical behaviours of the surrounding soil and tunnel lining. Taking the CK570H tunnel project in Taipei as the background, a numerical simulation is conducted by adopting the developed simulation method. Based on the simulation results, the radial and circumferential stresses acting on the lining, which are induced by the surrounding soil viscosity, are analysed. The rule of the mechanical response of lining, including its deformation, bending moment, and axial force, with time is revealed. On this basis, the long-term safety of the lining is evaluated.

High-volume fly ash (HVFA) cementitious composites (paste, grout, mortar, and concrete) have been widely investigated as a class of sustainable materials due to their lower carbon footprint and often better life cycle performance than conventional Portland cement mixtures. Recent years have seen increased research in HVFA-based materials, and the potential of this type of mixtures in engineering applications has significantly improved. In this context, this work reviews the renewed knowledge of HVFA mixtures, focusing on the relevant papers published over the last decade. The effects of replacing cement with a HVFA binder on the fresh properties, mechanical properties, durability performance, and environmental impact of HVFA cementitious composites are explored. Measures that can compensate for the main drawbacks that limit the wider application of HVFA mixtures are discussed in detail. At last, we summarize the research needs and remaining challenges of HVFA cementitious composites.

Grouted splice connector is widely employed in precast concrete structures, but its utilization is still limited by shortcomings such as high construction cost, inconvenience in assemblage, and uncompacted grout caused by its small sleeve diameter. The grouted sleeve lapping connectors proposed by the authors can not only provide reasonable force transfer and convenient construction processing but also have the characteristics of low price and easy grouting. In this paper, the seismic performance of two full-scale precast concrete columns with two types of grouted sleeve lapping connectors was investigated, where type-I connector connected two lapped rebars and type-II connector connected four lapped rebars by a steel sleeve, respectively. A cast-in-situ column was also tested as a reference. All the specimens were tested under reversed cyclic horizontal load with a constant axial force. The distribution of cracks, failure modes, loading capacities, deformation abilities, stiffness, ductility, hysteresis loops, and energy dissipation of the specimens were studied. The type-I and type-II grouted sleeve lapping connectors satisfactorily transferred the stress of rebars when the columns reached their ultimate loads, and the seismic performance of the precast concrete columns was found to be comparable to that of the cast-in-situ column. Thus, the grouted sleeve lapping connector has a potential to replace the grouted splice connector in cast-in-situ connection.

Since the failure modes of fully grouted bolts subject to displacements of rock joints are difficult to predict, the joint displacements in this study are categorised into two types: opening displacement and shear displacement. At first, a closed-form solution incorporating the nonlinear constitutive model of interfaces between bolts and grout is developed, which is able to formulate the full-range behaviour of bolts subject to the opening displacements of rock joints. Then, a novel numerical approach considering the nonlinear rock reaction force is proposed, which can analyse stress and displacement conditions on each point along a bolt. The results of the proposed numerical approach are validated by existing test results. Combining the proposed numerical approach with the improved closed-form solution, a comprehensive model for predicting yield and failure patterns of rock bolts is proposed. In this way, decoupling between the bolt and grout, the yield and failure patterns of two potential points along the bolt are also highlighted and discussed. Further discussions about the influences of bolt inclined angles to the discontinuity and the dilatancy effect of the joint face are carried out at last. This work provides a useful tool to evaluate the behaviours and estimate the load-bearing capacity of fully grouted bolts in jointed rock masses.

In real engineering, with the gradual deterioration of mining geological conditions, the improvement of the bearing performance of fully grouted bolts is beneficial to better control of the roadway surrounding rock. For this purpose, based on the idea of steel fiber reinforced concrete, a systematic laboratory study was conducted to investigate the effect of steel fiber grout on the bearing performance of anchored specimens. Three steel fibers with different diameters (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm) were selected. Fiber specimens and fiber-free specimens were prepared and a series of pull-out tests were conducted. The experimental results show that the steel fiber grout can effectively improve the bearing performance of the anchored specimens and enhance the anti-destructive ability of the anchored specimens. The steel fibers in the grout can enhance the mechanical interlocking effect, the dilatancy effect and the friction effect of the anchoring interface, thereby improving the ability of the anchored specimen to withstand additional loads. The reinforcement effect of steel fiber on the bearing performance of the anchored specimens presents an obvious diameter dependence. With the increase of the steel fiber diameter, the bearing properties of the anchored specimens tend to increase and the cumulative AE counts, cumulative AE hits, cumulative AE energy and AE events also increase. Moreover, the steel fiber grout can more fully mobilize the bearing performance of the anchoring interface, and the number of microcracks in the fiber specimens increases during the bearing process. This research results may provide a useful reference for the support design of fully grouted bolts.

A large share of the primary energy is consumed to provide space heating. Geothermal energy offers a regenerative alternative. For reasons of efficiency and environmental protection, it is important to ensure the system integrity of a borehole heat exchanger (BHE). Previous investigations have focused on the individual components of the BHE or on the grout and pipe systems’ integrity. This study focused on the analysis of the hydraulic system integrity of the complete subsoil–grout–pipe system as well as possible thermally induced changes. For this purpose, a pilot-scale experiment was built to test a 1-m section of a typical BHE under in situ pressure, hydraulic and temperature conditions. During the tests the hydraulic system permeability of the soil and the BHE was measured continuously and separately from each other. In addition, the temperature monitoring array was installed in a 50-cm cross-sectional area. Significant temperature-related fluctuations in the sealing performance could be observed. Hydraulic conductivity limits required by VDI 4640-2 (Thermal use of the underground—ground source heat pump systems, 2019) were exceeded without frost action. The succeeding application of freeze–thaw cycles further enhances the system permeability. The study shows that the thermally induced effects on the system integrity of the BHE are larger and more significant than the subsequent frost-induced effects. The hydrophobic character of the high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) pipes as well as its high coefficient of thermal expansion seem to be the main points of weakness in the system. Optimization research should focus on the interface connection between grout and pipe, whereby hydrophilic pipe materials such as stainless steel or aluminum should also be considered as well as manipulation of the pipe surface properties of PE-HD.

Steel tubes are widely used in strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) columns. However, in engineering construction, the effect of preload on the original RC column on the performance of strengthened RC column has not mostly considered. Therefore this paper tests five circular short columns under axial compression—three steel tube-strengthened RC columns with preload, one strengthened RC column with no preload, and one normal RC-to study compressive performance of steel tube-retrofitted circular RC short columns under various preload levels. Moreover, the verified finite element numerical model is established using ABAQUS software to stimulate the behavior of the retrofitted columns. The extended parametric studies is conducted based on the thickness of steel tube, yield strength of steel tube, and strength of grout under preload, in addition to preload level itself. A practical design method is proposed and compared with four existing design codes to predict the axial compressive ultimate strength of the retrofitted column under preload.

The present article analyses the influence of defects in the bonding zone between the reinforcement bar and the grout on the mechanical performance of the full-grouted sleeve connector. Grouted sle...

Synchronous grouting has a very important effect on shield tunnel, which directly affects the stability of excavation face and the safety of segment structure. Testing the setting time and early strength of mortar is conducive to timely control the surface settlement and prevent the segment from floating. The flow table test can ensure that synchronous grouting can fill the excavation gap of shield machine to the greatest extent. Oedometer test can obtain physical and mechanical indexes such as elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, compression and drainage of slurry at different ages. The test results showed that the use of well-graded, small-sized machine-made gravel (0–5 mm) and natural sand (0–2 mm) with high-efficiency additives promoted the formation of early strength in grout and reduced the probability of plugging in the grouting pipe at the tail shield. The oedometer test results indicated that the quantity of water drained from a grout mixed for more than 2 h was stable and the grout deformation within 1 h of compression accounted for 80% of the total deformation. The Young’s modulus of the grout reached 10 MPa when the grouting pressure was > 0.2 MPa, meeting the requirements for field injection. In this study, an efficient synchronous grouting mixture proportion suitable for calcareous sand layer is proposed, and the performance of slurry in fresh state is obtained through a variety of tests, which can be widely used in shield tunnels in similar strata.

Jet grouting methods have recently become one of the soil enhancement technologies utilized to provide strength improvement and solve most problems of weak soils. In this study, a full-scale 1 m diameter and 5 m length jet grout (soilcrete) column was constructed in the field with a water-to-cement ratio of 1 and 400 bar pressure injections. A mechanical, physical, and microstructural investigation was performed on jet grout samples taken from six different depths (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 m) and at the same depth at five different locations, including the center. For normal conditions, samples were prepared for six periods to study dry and saturated conditions. The following tests are performed on each sample: compressive strength index (I-s) in all conditions, water absorption, density, porosity, and interface friction. Additionally, SEM was performed on selected samples to investigate the microstructures of jet grout columns (JGCs). The test results showed that the I-s varies with depth, and within the same depth, the variation is approximately 20%. Other properties also vary with depth and location; for example, the average percentage of water absorption and porosity are considered minimum values at the same location, which are 53 and 30%, respectively. However, the interface friction angle of organic soil-cement grout gains 48 degrees and 10 kPa cohesion. The theoretical part of this study is to predict the diameter of JGC in organic soil.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of propagation and fluid pressure of grouting in a two-dimensional fractured network replica. Two-dimensional fracture network models with a rough profile were simulated based on Barton’s standard roughness curves, and an orthogonal experiment of chemical grouting was conducted to explore the relationship between the sealing efficiency and different factors, including the joint roughness coefficient, initial water flow rate, gel time of slurry, and grout take rate. The results show that the initial water flow rate had the greatest influence on the sealing effect, followed by the joint roughness coefficient, grout take rate, and gel time of slurry. Together with the grouting quality and slurry diffusion form, the grouting sealings were divided into two types, i.e., partial plugging with edge unfilled and completely plugging with fracture fully filled. The slurry propagation sequence in the intersected fractures indicates that the slurry first diffuses downstream of the current fracture, then downstream of the cross fracture, and finally upstream of the cross fracture. The grouting pressure on the later stage of grouting was greater than that at the beginning of the grouting, resulting in a better grouting effect.

Grouting is an important and convenient technique to improve rock properties. The grouting effectiveness depends on quantities of complex influencing factors. The investigation on the effects is essential for engineering applications. This study focuses on the evaluation of shear strength with experimental and numerical approaches. Firstly, the shear test of rock sample with cement grouting was carried out. Based on the tests, the numerical modelling of grouting was conducted. The effect of normal stress, grouting thickness and strength parameters of grout on the shear strength was studied, respectively. Then, the critical condition of effective grouting was proposed. Lastly, the mechanism in the influencing factors was discussed. Results show that the strength of grouted rock could be improved by increasing the normal stress and the grout parameters and decreasing the grouting thickness. The critical condition of effective grouting involves the grouting thickness and the strength parameters of grouting material. When the condition of effective grouting is satisfied, the grouting effect would be remarkable with additional supports, such as bolts. According to the opening of the dominant structural plane, the grouting parameters should be reasonably designed to meet the critical condition. The results could provide experimental and theoretical methodologies for the grouting design.

The bond between tendons and grout is crucial to the performance of bonded post-tensioned concrete structures. To study the bond performance of grouted tendons at elevated temperatures, pull-out tests were conducted on specimens comprising either a mono- or multi-strand tendon located centrally within a grouted duct inside a concrete cylinder, at test temperatures of 20–600°C. It was found that the bond strength deteriorated with a rise in temperature and the degradation of bond strength was more severe than that of other mechanical properties. Three types of failure mode were observed: pull-out, partial splitting and through splitting. The use of a smaller duct could improve the bond strength of specimens failing in pull-out mode. The influence of the strength of the outer concrete was found to be insignificant. Based on the distinct bond behaviour of different failure modes, a bond–slip model was developed by regression of the test results.

One of the highly efficient sources of renewable energy is the Ground Source Heat Exchangers (GSHE). Thermal interaction effects between boreholes cause a decrease in the efficiency of GSHEs. In the present study, the effects of the distance between boreholes, soil properties, grout heat conduction coefficient, and boreholes’ arrangement are investigated on the outlet fluid temperature in the GSHEs. The Finite Line Source (FLS) model is coupled with the Simplified Thermal Resistance-Capacity Model (STRCM) and a transient modified model called FLS-STRCM is developed. The FLS model considers the thermal interaction between boreholes while the STRCM model solves the flow field inside the boreholes. The obtained results of the FLS-STRCM are compared with the transient results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and available experimental data. To simulate the heating and cooling cycles of a building, the present model of GSHE is coupled with the water to air heat pump in the TRNSYS software. The available models of GSHEs in the TRNSYS software are not capable of considering different arrangements of boreholes. However, the present model, in addition to the transient simulation of GSHEs, can examine any desired layouts of boreholes. The results of the present model show that for a set of 6 boreholes in a rectangular arrangement, a reduction of the distance between boreholes from 7 m to 3 m results in 2.8% changes in the average temperature of outlet fluid. Also, the investigation of soil and grout properties shows that the soil properties has a dominant effect on the outlet fluid temperature. Considering the computational time and the acceptable accuracy of the presented model compared to the CFD methods, the FLS-STRCM model can be employed for the engineering applications in the construction of the GSHE system and the long-term simulations.

In FLAC3D, cable element or modified pile element can be used to build slope anchoring model. However, the difference between the two structural elements and their influence on the calculation results have not been studied in depth. In order to solve this problem, the Xiashu loess slope anchoring models based on cable element and modified pile element were constructed respectively. A variety of anchoring schemes were designed by orthogonal experiment method, and then they were brought into the model for calculation and the calculation results were analyzed by range analysis and variance analysis. The results show that the modified pile element can bear the bending moment and reflect the strain softening property of the grout. From the perspective of slope safety factor, the anchorage length and anchor bolt spacing are the main factors affecting the stability of the slope, and the anchorage angle is the secondary factor. The grout in cable element is assumed to be an elastic-perfectly plastic material, so the safety factor of the slope can be significantly increased by increasing the length of the anchor bolts. This will bring potential risks to the slope treatment project. Therefore, in the calculation of the slope anchoring model, the modified pile element is more suitable for simulating the anchor bolt.

Changes in Australian Masonry Standards and National Code of Construction for reinforced masonry (RM) under compression impress the need of a grout annulus and vertical bar confinement using 6 mm t...

The distribution and magnitude of the shear stress at the interface between the grout of a compression anchor rod and rock are strongly affected by the Poisson effect. A new analytical equation of the influence coefficient of the Poisson effect is proposed to quantitatively evaluate the influence of the Poisson effect on the interfacial shear stress. When the Poisson effect is considered, the interfacial shear stress from the neutral point to the bearing plate increases, and the distribution curve becomes steep. However, the interfacial shear stress far from the neutral point is low, and the distribution curve becomes smooth. Overall, the Poisson effect leads to a more nonuniform distribution of the shear stress at the interface of the compression anchor rod. A larger Poisson's ratio, smaller elastic modulus, and smaller diameter of the grout lead to a greater influence of the Poisson effect. Furthermore, a larger elastic modulus of rock leads to a greater influence of the Poisson effect. The Poisson's ratio of rock and that of grout both affect the Poisson effect greatly, but the influence of the variation in the Poisson’s ratio of rock on the Poisson effect is negligible. A larger interface friction angle leads to a greater influence of the Poisson effect.

The Tangab Dam was constructed at a unique geological structure, within a karst valley at the deepest point of a saddle-shaped feature which was formed by tectonic compression of a post-folding shear zone and later uplifting by two salt diapirs. The reservoir water-tightness system was composed of a 20-m-deep cutoff wall, and a 180-m-deep hanging grout curtain with 256 m and 206 m extension, respectively, into the left and right abutments. Since impounding of the reservoir in 2009, water leakage has occurred in 5.8 km downstream preexisting karst springs. To reduce water leakage, two additional grout curtains, as well as extensive treatment works, were added by injecting 11,055 t of cement into the karst bedrock. However, grouting was not as effective as it was expected to be, and the reservoir never filled to its designed normal volume. The fluctuation of water levels in the reservoir and downstream boreholes indicated that grouting successfully reduced head loss in water flow. The reservoir carries the potential to seep water into the karst aquifer along a vast zone at each valley bank since the seepage windows were not covered completely by the hanging grout curtains. The engineering problems occurred at the Tangab Dam site illustrate that conditions where the reservoir is perched above the groundwater and separated with the hanging river valleys are some of the most challenging karst terrains for dam construction in which the successful reservoir impoundment cannot be guaranteed, even by an extensive grouting and sealing program.

Estimating surface settlement induced by excavation construction is an indispensable task in tunneling, particularly for earth pressure balance (EPB) shield machines. In this study, predictive models for assessing surface settlement caused by EPB tunneling were established based on extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), artificial neural network, support vector machine, and multivariate adaptive regression spline. Datasets from three tunnel construction projects in Singapore were used, with main input parameters of cover depth, advance rate, earth pressure, mean standard penetration test (SPT) value above crown level, mean tunnel SPT value, mean moisture content, mean soil elastic modulus, and grout pressure. The performances of these soft computing models were evaluated by comparing predicted deformation with measured values. Results demonstrate the acceptable accuracy of the model in predicting ground settlement, while XGBoost demonstrates a slightly higher accuracy. In addition, the ensemble method of XGBoost is more computationally efficient and can be used as a reliable alternative in solving multivariate nonlinear geo-engineering problems.

The rapid increase in tunneling projects in the metropolitan cities located in the young alluvium deposit has urged the need for studying the effects of its construction on the existing structures in those areas. In general, the major concern of tunnel construction in urban areas is the maximum surface settlement developed and the studies on the response of tunneling induced settlement on young alluvium deposit are very rare. This study captures the impact of vital factors like grout pressure, face pressure, C/D ratio, tunnel diameter and elastic modulus of soil using a numerical approach that governs the maximum surface settlement. Evaluation of governing parameters, particularly for young alluvial soil will be handy in understanding the impact of each parameter and lead in formulating new or modify existing relationships suitable for predicting maximum surface settlement. For the numerical approach, a model was developed with the PLAXIS three-dimensional finite element software and validated with field data. The findings are also compared with analytical and empirical approaches developed by different researchers.

Two configurations of closure strips between precast reinforced concrete (RC) slab panels were fabricated and filled with either non-shrink grout or ultrahigh-performance strain-hardening cementitious composite (UHP-SHCC) material. The strips were then strengthened with externally bonded carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets in order to compensate the drawback associated with decreasing the amount of connected steel reinforcing bars required to transfer the bending moment between panels. In total, 12 specimens divided into three groups were cast and tested under short-term non-reversed repeated patch loads simulating wheel load at the central joint. The test results showed that the UHP-SHCC filling material enabled the connected panels to exhibit more ductile behaviour compared with the panels whose closure strips were filled with non-shrink grout. On the other hand, the CFRP strengthening sheets for the first configuration of the closure strip failed to restore the ultimate capacity of the un-strengthened monolithic specimen. However, the second configuration, using UHP-SHCC filling material, enabled the connecting panels to restore lost capacity, with a performance improvement of about 14% compared with the un-strengthened monolithic specimen.

Due to the influence of mining disturbance stress, it is of great significance to better understand the bearing characteristics of fully grouted bolts under different pull-out loading rates. For this purpose, a series of laboratory pull-out tests were conducted to comprehensively investigate the effects of different pull-out loading rates on the mechanical performance and failure characteristics of fully grouted bolts. The results show that the mechanical performance of the anchored specimen presents obvious loading rate dependence and shear enhancement characteristics. With the increase of the pull-out loading rates, the maximum pull-out load increases, the displacement and time corresponding to the maximum pull-out load decrease. The accumulated acoustic emission (AE) counts, AE energy and AE events all decrease with the increase of the pull-out loading rates. The AE peak frequency has obvious divisional distribution characteristics and the amplitude is mainly distributed between 50–80 dB. With the increase of the pull-out loading rates, the local strain of the anchoring interface increases and the failure of the anchoring interface transfers to the interior of the resin grout. The accumulated AE counts are used to evaluate the damage parameter of the anchoring interface during the whole pull-out process. The analytical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The research results may provide guidance for the support design and performance monitoring of fully grouted bolts.

This paper presents the results of field tests performed to investigate the compressive bearing capacity of pre-bored grouted planted (PGP) pile with enlarged grout base focusing on its base bearing capacity. The bi-directional O-cell load test was conducted to evaluate the behavior of full scale PGP piles. The test results show that the pile head displacements needed to fully mobilize the shaft resistance were 5.9% and 6.4% D (D is pile diameter), respectively, of two test piles, owing to the large elastic shortening of pile shaft. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the PHC nodular pile base and grout body at the enlarged base could act as a unit in the loading process, and the enlarged grout base could effectively promote the base bearing capacity of PGP pile through increasing the base area. The normalized base resistances (unit base resistance/average cone base resistance) of two test piles were 0.17 and 0.19, respectively, when the base displacement reached 5% Db (Db is pile base diameter). The permeation of grout into the silty sand layer under pile base increased the elastic modulus of silty sand, which could help to decrease pile head displacement under working load.

The engineering practice shows that the application of grouting technology to treat underground engineering has strong applicability and is one of the most commonly used technical means at present. Based on the underground engineering, this paper introduces the research achievements of grouting materials in recent years, including cement-based grouting materials, mixed grouting materials, anti-scouring grouting materials, and ultra-fine cement grouting materials. Current demand of grouting materials in underground engineering, there exists large dosage of cement, high content, high cost, serious environmental pollution problems, such as looking for alternatives or mixed with other raw materials for preparation of cementation material become the development trend, compared with the cement grouting material, chemical grouting material with higher performance, but in smaller projects within the scope of application. How to reduce the production cost of chemical grouting materials, simplify the production process, overcome the existing toxicity, reduce environmental pollution and improve the durability of solidified body has become the bottleneck of its popularization and application. Some achievements have been made in the modification of cement or chemical materials by nanometer components, but there is still a long way to go before the large-scale application of grouting engineering.

In recent years, with the urgent need of the country to vigorously promote the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry and the modernization of the construction industry, it has been proposed to vigorously develop prefabricated buildings and increase the proportion of prefabricated buildings in new buildings. The prefabricated concrete building is a concrete structure with prefabricated components in the factory and processing and connection on the construction site. Because of its fast construction speed and good overall benefits, it is widely promoted. For prefabricated buildings, the key technology is the connection of structural nodes, and most of the component connections use concrete sleeve connections. The quality of the sleeve grouting material is very important. The basic formula of the grouting material leads to different and different mechanical properties. Conditions apply. This article starts with different sleeve grouting patents, summarizes different functions and characteristics, and provides a reference for the next development of sleeve grouting.

This paper presents three comparative in situ grouting tests for long-term settlement treatment of a cut-and-cover tunnel of Nanjing Metro Line 10. The characteristics of the tunnel settlement and induced structural damage are described in detail. Comparative grouting tests were conducted to identify the effects of the grouting sequence and grouting material on the tunnel settlement treatment. The test results show that the total amount of uplift of the tunnel associated with the bottom-up grouting sequence is greater than that associated with the top-down grouting sequence. When a mixture of cement and water glass was used as grout, the average cumulative deformation and average deformation rate of the tunnel 6 months after the completion of grouting were −11.2 mm (uplift) and 0.018 mm/day (settlement), respectively. These values satisfy the control requirements and are better than those obtained using a cement and bentonite mixture as grout. Hence, a bottom-up grouting sequence and a cement and water glass grout mixture are advised. The findings presented in this paper provide useful guidance for similar projects.