Structural Slurry Wall and Seepage Control
DFI’s Seepage Control Committee and Slurry Wall Committee merged at the start of 2023. The mission of the committee is to be a collaborative forum to discuss and disseminate best practices for structural slurry walls and seepage control, and to advance the awareness, use and performance of structural slurry wall and seepage control technologies.
Co-chair
Meeok Kim, Ph.D., P.E.
Thornton Tomasetti
mkim@thorntontomasetti.com
Meeok Kim has 19 years of experience with geostructural engineering practice. She received a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She serves as a geostructural engineer with Thornton Tomasetti, specializing in the analysis and design of complex below-grade systems such as deep excavations, unique foundations and tunnel access shafts in various regions of U.S. The common denominator of her experience is a system governed by soils and the structures interactions. Kim is an expert on the performance of deep foundation systems, has been involved in various types of slurry wall projects, and has designed dozens of slurry wall and LBE foundations.
Co-chair
Mary Ellen Large, P.E., D.GE
Nicholson Construction Company
maryellen.large@nicholsonconstruction.com
Mary Ellen Large brings over 30 years of foundation experience to geotechnical specialty engineering and construction contractor, Nicholson Construction Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As client care manager, she strengthens relationships with current clients and develops new relationships and partnerships across several markets. She is a professional engineer in Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan; a member of ADSC, ASCE, Chi Epsilon, DFI, Engineers Without Borders, TRB, USSD, and ASDSO; and a Diplomate of Geotechnical Engineering. She has authored/co-authored technical papers on micropiles, deep mixing, and ground anchors. She serves as the executive director of the International Society for Micropiles (ISM). She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Cornell University.
Tremie concrete placement simulation using 2 tremie pipes.
Colors represent different concretes batches with very different rheological properties.
The tremie pipes were not raised for this simulation.
Committee News
- DFI Announces New Co-chair of Structural Slurry Wall and Seepage Control Committee
- Sep Oct 2023 Committee Chair’s Report in Deep Foundations magazine
- Mar-Apr 2023 Committee Chair’s Report in Deep Foundations magazine
- Nov-Dec 2022 Committee Chair’s Report in Deep Foundations magazine
- DFI Announces New Committee Publications and Research Reports
Upcoming Events
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DFI Midyear Committee Meetings 2024
April 22-26, 2024
Initiatives
Cutoff Walls PowerPoint
Committee-generated base PowerPoint module introduction to cutoff walls for seepage control, including applications and construction.
Coming soon.
Structural Walls Manual Update
Task force updating Industry Practice Standards and DFI Practice Guidelines for Structural Slurry Walls (2005) to include recent advancements.
In progress.
Review of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Manual on Seepage Cutoffs for Dams and Levees
Committee conducted detailed review of the evolving text of this manual covering design and construction of seepage cutoffs.
Structural Slurry (Diaphragm) Walls PowerPoint
Committee generated base PowerPoint module introduction to structural slurry walls, including applications and construction.
Outlines basic design and construction for structural slurry walls, including an overview of types of slurry walls, design and construction considerations, detailing, quality assurance and control, and advantages and limitations.
Industry Collaboration
Workshops and conferences convening government and industry professionals to discuss technical and contractual issues related to dam and levee safety.
- History of Committee Activities
- Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- DFI 41st Annual Conference, International Conference on Deep Foundations, Seepage Control and Remediation Proceedings
- Deerfield Beach Workshop 2011 – first DFI workshop on foundations and seepage control for dams and levees.
Fundamentals
Industry Practice Standards and DFI Practice Guidelines for Structural Slurry Walls (2005) – Highlights the major considerations in selecting structural slurry walls for temporary and permanent use in foundation construction.
Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations (2nd Edition) – EFFC-DFI task force developed guidance for characterization related to performance, mix design process, and methods used to test fresh concrete.
Associated research report to Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations
Guide to Support Fluids for Deep Foundations (1st Edition) – EFFC-DFI task force outlined the state of the art of support fluid practice to improve existing design, testing and practices for deep foundation elements – bored piles (drilled shafts), barrettes (LBEs) and diaphragm wall panels.
Guide to Working Platforms – EFFC-DFI guidance and resources for design and construction of safe working platforms.
USACE Grouting Manual – detailed technical guidance and criteria for civil works grouting applications.
DFI Soil Mixing Guidelines – overview of the state of practice of Deep Mixing Methods (DMM) in North America, including a guide specification for deep mixing work.
FHWA Design Manual: Deep Mixing for Embankment and Foundation Support – background on deep mixing for U.S. transportation projects and information on design and construction aspects.
Related Links
- ASCE Geo-Institute Deep Foundations Committee
- ISSMGE TC212 Committee on Deep Foundations
- AASHTO Committee T-15
- ASTM Subcommittee D18.11 Deep Foundations
- TRB Committee AKG70 Foundations of Bridges and Other Structures
- ASCE Geo-Institute Soil Improvement Committee
- ASDSO – Association of State Dam Safety Officials
- USSD – U.S. Society on Dams
- ICOLD – International Commission on Large Dams