Trench Cutter Technology – the multi-purpose solution-Paper

Paper

Pdf Summary

Trench cutter technology, also known as the hydro mill or diaphragm wall technique, is a versatile method for excavating deep trenches in varied soil and rock conditions, with minimal ground vibration. While commonly used to build reinforced retaining walls for underground structures, it also supports several other applications.<br /><br />Cut-off walls use sealing materials, typically without reinforcement, to limit seepage or contain contaminated ground. Their flexibility allows them to accommodate some movement, making them useful for dam rehabilitation. At the Dead Sea, a cut-off wall up to 34 m deep was installed in challenging salt and clay conditions to rehabilitate a dike.<br /><br />For foundations, barrettes—deep load-bearing elements constructed using a similar process to diaphragm walls—can carry high loads and may replace many piles with fewer, larger elements. At Boston’s Bullfinch Crossing residential tower, 16 barrettes embedded in bedrock supported the 45-story building.<br /><br />The technology can also be adapted for mining exploration and bulk sampling. In Saskatchewan, trench cutters collected diamond-bearing kimberlite from depths exceeding 100 m. Specialized equipment and operating procedures were developed to preserve sample quality and manage material safely. The project reached a depth of 251.1 m, a commercial record at the time, and demonstrated the system’s ability to operate repeatedly at depths greater than 220 m.<br /><br />These applications require adaptations to equipment, tools, and site procedures. Overall, trench cutter technology offers a flexible solution for retaining structures, groundwater barriers, foundations, and deep mining exploration, with further applications likely as the technology develops.

Keywords

trench cutter technology

hydro mill

diaphragm wall

cut-off wall

seepage control

dam rehabilitation

barrettes

deep foundations

mining exploration

kimberlite sampling