Diaphragm walls (D-walls) are known as underground structural elements commonly used for retention systems and permanent foundation elements. In addition, they are also quite often used as deep groundwater barriers, called Cut-Off-Walls (COW).
Shanghai ranks third among the most densely populated metropolises in the world. In 1990, only eight million people lived there. Today, Shanghai has about25 million inhabitants.
The increasing demand to accommodate the infrastructure of growing megacities like Shanghai pushes the required depth for subway, sewage and foundation projects to the limit.
Future projects will demand excavation depths of more than 100 m (328 ft) on a regular basis. Already carried out reference projects will be described and a general outlook for upcoming projects will be given.
The paper also explains the installation process in general focusing on the use of trench cutter technology.
Subjects: Diaphragm Wall, Trench Cutter
Author: Franz-Werner Gerressen, Arthur Bi, Wu Jie Mei and Li Yao Liang
Publisher: DFI