Making a Slurry (cornstarch and water)

Slurry wall construction is a ground support and groundwater control method that involves excavating a trench and filling it with a bentonite or cement-bentonite slurry to form an impermeable barrier. Unlike diaphragm walls, which are reinforced structural elements, slurry walls are primarily constructed as cut-off walls to reduce groundwater inflow and prevent soil erosion during deep excavations or tunnelling works. The slurry in the trench stabilizes the excavation until the trench is backfil

🟩 Construction of a slurry supported diaphragm wall initiates with the excavation of a narrow trench using a mechanical or hydraulic grab. Throughout the excavation, a bentonite or polymer slurry is continuously circulated to provide hydrostatic support and prevent trench collapse. Upon reaching the specified depth, the trench remains stabilised by the slurry head until reinforcement cages are installed and the slurry is displaced by tremie placed structural concrete, forming a continuous load