Permeation grouting, also known as cement grouting or pressure grouting, fills cracks or voids in soil and rock and permeates coarse, granular soils with flowable particulate grouts to create a cemented mass.

Permeation grouting illustration

Common uses

Create barriers to groundwater flow
Underpin foundations
Provide excavation support
Stabilise and strengthen granular soils

Process

Depending on the conditions, Portland cement or microfine cement grout is injected under pressure at strategic locations through single ‘port’ or multiple ‘port’ pipes. The grout particle size and void size must be matched properly to allow the cement grout to permeate. The grouted mass has an increased strength, stiffness, and reduced permeability.

Advantages

An economic advantage for underpinning applications over alternative approaches such as removal and replacement or piling
Allows you to maximise the footprint of excavations compared with piled solutions
Can be done where access is difficult and space is limited
Since effectiveness of permeation grouting is independent of structural connections, is readily adaptable to existing foundations
Can typically be accomplished without disrupting normal facility operations

Quality assurance

Keller has provided permeations grouting solutions for decades.  Its fleet of low headroom, tight access rigs minimises disruption to normal facility operations. Automated digital systems can also be used to monitor and record flow rates, grout volumes and grout pressures ensuring the grouting specification is achieved.