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.

Typical applications

  • 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.

Key benefits

  • 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.