Experimental waterproofing and mechanical properties of liner-reinforced diaphragm wall joints

Abstract:

Diaphragm walls, as water interception, seepage control, load bearing, and water retaining structures, have many applications in deep foundations. To improve the waterproofing and mechanical properties of diaphragm walls after joint cracking, four-point bending, and waterproofing tests were carried out using high-density polyethylene corrosion protection liners on four pieces of wall with reinforced joints and two pieces of wall to compare with unreinforced walls with joints. To study the damage pattern, deformation capacity, load-bearing capacity, and waterproofing performance of walls before and after reinforcement with high-density polyethylene corrosion protection liners and reinforcement planting. The experimental results show that the diaphragm wall joints reinforced with corrosion protection liners can significantly improve the bearing capacity and waterproofing performance, postpone the concrete cracking, and increase the ultimate deformation capacity of the diaphragm wall joints. According to the “load-deflection” curve at the joints of the wall, the bearing capacity of the wall is divided into the initial cracking stage, the crack development stage, and the damage stage. When the wall reaches the cracking stage, the joint leakage problem must be considered quickly. As the water pressure increases, the waterproofing performance of the joints before and after corrosion protection liners decreases under the same loading conditions.