Perth, Western-Australia

Trevi scope of works

Jet Grouting

The Jet Grouting soil improvement technique was an allotted work for Trevi Australia.
The scope of work includes the installation of jet grouted columns to create a consolidated block in correspondence with the cross passages, having both structural and hydraulic purposes, in order to allow the safe excavation of the connecting tunnels.
All JG columns were set in place prior to the passage of the TBM using both double fluid system, where the grout jet is assisted by an air shroud, and single fluid system, where only high-pressure grout is used.
The diameters achieved were 2.2 m and 1.0 m respectively.
The jetting-drill string was composed of specially designed rods with two concentric coaxial, the inner for high-pressure grout and the outer for compressed air.
Pre-washing (or pre-cutting) technique, in which water is used to pre-erode the soil, was performed either during the drilling phase or in a separate phase prior to jetting. Maximum installation depth was up to 32 m using a triangular grid spacing from 1.35 m to 1.75 m, according with the column diameters and depths of the treatment.

Prior to execution of the JG works three Field Tests were carried out in order to:
- Test the effectiveness of the JG Parameters and methodology
- Set the operating modalities
- Acquire data to optimize the work methodologies

To produce the most reliable data, the trials were carried out according to the project technical specifications in areas and at depths where the geology reflects as much a s possible the characteristics of the soil to be treated.
The trials were carried out with different sets of JG parameters and subsequent post installation tests including Coring, UCS and Modulus lab tests, Sonic Logging Testing and Permeability tests.
There were six Cross Passages (CP) and two Emergency Egress Shafts (EES) where Jet Grout treatment was required, as listed below:
- CP01 Tonkin; - EES Wright Crescent;
- CP05 Brearley; - CP06 Car Park C;
- CP10 Manheim; - CP11 RAC;
- EES Abernethy; - CP12 Dundas.

Dundas was the first location of the JG production works. The JG treatment within the Bassendean Sand from approximately 7 to 18 meters deep was quite superficial.
The particularity of the treatment was the geometry with the installation of inclined columns of up to 36 degrees from vertical and the use of the mono-fluid system for the columns with a greater inclination.
These solutions were implemented due to the presence of a gas pipe line and Fiber Optic Cabling in close proximity to the treatment area.
During execution of JG works a dedicated monitoring system was in place to ensure a safe working-condition and to avoid any damage to these utilities.
As in CP10 Manheim, CP06 Car Park C and also in CP05

Brearley AV a top layer of very fine sand was encountered which influenced the treatment by the impossibility to use the Pre-Washing technique due to the risk of forming sink holes on the surface.
To reduce the risk of collapsing and overturning of the rig two actions were adopted:
- Removal of the Pre-Washing phase, to reduce the siphoning effect
- A Pre-Treatment phase with mono-fluid columns, this to consolidate the upper portion of the ground assuring the stability of the working platform.

Artificial Ground Freezing

The Artificial Ground Freezing soil improvement technique was an allotted work for Trevi Australia.
The scope of work includes the application of a soil-improvement technique, having both structural and hydraulic purposes, to create a consolidated block in correspondence with the cross passages in order to allow the safe excavation of the connecting tunnels.
The technique consists of freezing the water inside a volume of soil, according to a known geometry, by subtracting heat from the ground through special heat exchangers.
The frozen soil, where soil grains represent the aggregates and the binder is the frozen water, is 100% water-tight, whereas other consolidation methods can only reduce the natural permeability of the soil (i.e. jet Grouting).
Treated soil is also homogeneous, with no weak points or planes and a high mechanical resistance is achieved, according to soil type and temperature. Last but not the least the technique of freezing is environmental-friendly as no products are injected into the ground, the refrigerant fluids never come directly in contact with the ground or with the ground water.

In the first stage just three cross passages (CP07, CP08 and CP09) were to be excavated under AGF due to the inapplicability of consolidation by means of Jet Grouting from the surface: The CP were all located below main runway of Perth airport with no possibility to work from the surface with heavy long mast equipment during landing and taking-off.

In the second phase the client gained confidence after the successful application in the first three CP, decided to consolidate through AGF also CP10 due to unexpected soil condition.