Cement grouting is widely used in rock tunnelling to control groundwater inflow by sealing rock fractures. Accurately predicting grout propagation in rock fractures is crucial for the design, execution, and monitoring of rock grouting in engineering applications. Current methods rely on theoretical models, such as the real-time grouting control (RTGC) method, which is derived based on simplified fracture geometries like smooth parallel plates/disks. However, real rock fractures consist of rough surfaces with variable apertures. In this study, we present a computational model for theoretically predicting the propagation of non-Newtonian cement grout in variable fracture apertures. This model is validated with laboratory test data on grout propagation in a one-dimensional varying aperture long slot (VALS). We also analysed the impact of varying aperture on cement grout propagation processes. Our findings demonstrate that the presented computational model predicts the grout propagation process in this geometry with good accuracy. Moreover, we observed that varying aperture significantly affects the grout propagation process in fractures. The insights provided by our model and analysis results are potentially useful in rock tunnelling projects, specifically for the theoretical analysis of cement grout propagation in rock fractures.

Cracks in concrete structures such as a concrete dam can be exposed to water pressure, for example, uplift pressure. The water pressure can be significant and may result in cracks propagating through the structures and thus it may result in reduced service life. However, the knowledge of water pressure within the cracks is relatively limited and is often neglected or just roughly estimated. The influence of crack opening rate on the uplift pressure distribution in the crack and the pressure variation during opening or sudden crack closure are questions needed to investigate. As an attempt to answer those questions, a pilot study presented here describes the possibilities and limitations of the proposed experimental setup; and technology (penetrability meter and tomography) as an examination method for water pressure in propagation concrete cracks. The test specimens examined here are exclusively cylinders cast of concrete with or without an initial crack.

The penetrability meter can be used to apply water pressure and to visualize the crack opening, X-Ray computed tomography test, was performed. KTH Civil and Architectural Engineering department has organized the laboratory resources.

The examples reported in this work show that the technology and equipment have great potential for future work on crack propagation, however, sample design and preparation, as well as testing need further development.

The real time grouting control (RTGC) theory has been developed to monitor the spread of grout in rock fractures. It predicts the extent of the grout spread over time using the grout properties and the applied pressure. Despite extensive work conducted to verify it in both the lab and the field, it has not yet been sufficiently investigated in the lab under geometry conditions similar to a real fracture in rock. This paper presents a novel effort to examine the performance of the RTGC theory in the presence of constrictions by using an artificial fracture, the so-called varying aperture long slot (VALS). The paper compares the predictions of grout propagation with the experimental results. The predictions obtained using a hydraulic aperture, the way that the theory was previously used in the early stages of development, showed relatively good agreement with the experimental results. In predictions obtained using the mean-physical aperture, the way that the theory is currently used in field applications, the results showed considerably faster spread than the experimental results. This suggests that use of the mean-physical aperture does not always give a good approximation of the apertures to employ in predictions using the RTGC theory. Depending on the geometry conditions, the hydraulic aperture might be more realistic.

In order to sufficiently seal an underground facility in fractured rock, it is essential to obtain adequate grout spread into the surrounding fractures. The grout spread itself depends on parameters, the most significant of which are the filtration tendency and rheological properties. These properties can be affected by the applied pressure. High-frequency oscillating pressure has been shown to improve grout spread by virtue of reducing the grout viscosity. However, this method has not yet been industrialized due to the quick dissipation of the oscillation along a fracture. In a recent investigation, we examined a low-frequency rectangular pressure-impulse using a short slot. The results showed significant improvements in the injected grout volume in comparison to the static pressure results. In this paper, we examine the method in a considerably longer artificial fracture in order to investigate the dissipation of the pressure impulses. The study indicates the potential of the method to improve the grout spread in rock grouting.

Grouting of underground constructions is important to decrease water inflow into constructions. It is therefore important to use grout with good penetration ability to achieve this goal. The purpose of this paper is to show issues connected to measuring of the penetration ability of cement-based grouts in the field with a filter pump and penetrability meter and show the need for improvement or use of some other method. Three main reasons which contribute to a different estimated critical aperture with these two methods are: different maximum test volume in regression analysis of measured data, limited maximum test volume in the filter pump, and different test pressure. Test volume should be related to volume of designed grout spread in the critical aperture and test pressure should be related to grout spread velocity in the field.

This paper presents the application of computational fluid dynamics technique in civil and underground industries to evaluate fluid behaviour in a Marsh funnel. The numerical approach, based on computational fluid dynamics, simulated an incompressible two-phase Newtonian flow by means of the Volume-of-Fluid method. A complementary analytical proposed which provided a quick, field-ready method to assess the fluid field in the Marsh funnel. A supplemental experimental effort evaluated the results obtained from both the analytical calculation and numerical simulation. Results showed that the application of computational fluid dynamics technique gives the desired results in studying fluid flows in civil and underground industries. Proposed analytical solution is also capable of accurately predicting the fluid flow and thus can complement the experimental and numerical approaches. Further, the proposed analytical approach can be an alternative method for faster evaluation of fluid, although it needs to be calibrated with either the numerical or the experimental studies.

To measure grout penetrability in fractured hard rock, various measuring instruments have been developed over the years. Penetrability meter and Filter pump have been designed to use in both the lab and the field. Short slot has been applicable mainly in the lab due to its complexity. The fact, that these instruments have been built based on different assumptions, limitations, and test conditions, makes their results occasionally in contradict. Deficiency in design of the instruments as well as the methods of evaluating grout penetrability is additionally a basis for uncertainty in results. This study is an experimental effort to determine and thoroughly perceive the nature of the most governing uncertainties in grout penetrability measurements. The test apparatus, procedure, and method used to evaluate the grout penetrability in both Penetrability meter and Filter pump were thus modified. The aim was to control the corresponding uncertainties and make their limitations and test conditions as similar as possible with the ones in Short slot. The results suggested that to obtain a more realistic evaluation of the grout penetrability, measurement should be accomplished at both the high and the low pressures with sufficient grout volume using Short slot. Moreover, application of both Filter pump and Penetrability meter is no longer recommended due to the revealed uncertainties.

This paper presents the design, manufacturing, and assembly of a new laboratory apparatus for investigation of grout filtration tendency and penetrability into rock fractures. The method makes it possible to examine grout samples composed of a wide range of cements and additives/ admixtures with different water-to-solid ratios. The apparatus can be used to investigate the influence of different parameters on grout penetrability. Examples of these parameters include the cement particle size/distribution curves/chemical compositions, and the type and ratio of additives/admixtures that provide a variety of setting/hardening times, and rheological and strength properties. The grouting operation into the rock fractures is replicated using an artificial slot with 4-m-long constrictions varying from 230 to 10 μm, and selective inlet and outlet. The apparatus can also accommodate grouting experiments under both static and dynamic pressure conditions up to 1, 500 kPa to study their influence. Illustrative results are also provided.

Dynamic grouting is one of the methods to improve grout spread in rock that have been investigated since 1985. The results were promising, but all tests were performed under noticeable simplifications related to conditions in rock fractures. This study is an experimental approach to improve the grout spread using low-frequency instantaneous variable pressure as a new alternative with better control of filtration. The method is tested through parallel plates with constrictions of 30 and 43 µm under the applied pressures with 4 s/8 s and 2 s/2 s peak/rest periods. The results reveal conclusively the effectiveness of the method and provide a basis for further development of dynamic grouting.

Ett mycket viktig moment i samband med undermarksbyggande är tätning av konstruktioner för att hindra vatteninflöde eller ett eventuellt läckage av lagrade material i konstruktionen. Sedan mitten på 1980-talet har man på Kungliga tekniska högskolan (KTH) forskat kring injekteringen av sprickor i berg med varierande tryck för att förbättra inträngningsförmågan av cementbaserade bruk. I tidigare studier har man huvudsakligen undersökt effekten av högfrekventa oscillerande tryck på brukets inträngningsförmåga men den uppnådda förbättringen har visat sig vara relativt begränsad. I ett doktorandprojekt på KTH har vi genomfört en experimentell studie för att undersöka påverkan av istället ett lågfrekvent tryck med en momentan tryckförändering på brukets inträngningsförmåga. Resultaten har visat på en betydande förbättring av inträngningsförmågan hos bruket jämfört med injektering med konstant tryck. Projektet har finansierats av Stiftelsen Bergteknisk Forskning (BeFo), Svenska Byggbranschens Utvecklingsfond (SBUF) och Trafikverket.