Abstract:
Polymer slurry has been adopted to replace the bentonite slurry as the hole stabilizing slurry for wet-process bored pile construction in Bangkok subsoils. This is because polymer slurry increases the unit skin friction in sand layer, requires less construction equipment as well as power consumption, and simplifies the construction method. This research aims to study the behavior of polymer slurry for wet-process bored pile construction in Bangkok subsoil by means of model testing and field investigating. The models of slurry filtration through sand layer, as well as the friction between interface of sand and cement mortar were tested. Data of field investigation from construction sites, method of construction and pile capacity was collected and analyzed. The results show that, in case of increasing ratio of bentonite, (1) the filtrate volume through sand layer decreases, (2) time for initial cake formation (Tc) decreases and (3) thickness of filter cake increases. On the other hand, in case of using pure polymer slurry, the filtration rate of slurry remains steady. The adhesion factors (alpha) for estimating unit skin friction in clay layers of bored pile using polymer slurry are in the same range as those of bored pile using bentonite slurry. While the friction factors (beta) for estimating unit skin friction in sand layer of bored piles using polymer slurry show a significant increase of about 80% compared with those of the piles drilled with bentonite slurry. This is because very thin filter cake thickness is formed, when polymer slurry is applied into the borehole.