Effects of a grout curtain on hydraulic and electrical conductivity in a laboratory-scale seepage model

Electrical conductivity measurements have been proven effective in the estimation of soil properties, such as degree of saturation, moisture content, and porosity. These properties have been shown to relate to hydraulic conductivity. A relationship between electrical conductivity and hydraulic conductivity would enhance the monitoring of seepage behavior of geotechnical processes, such as evaluating the effectiveness of grout curtains. Grout curtains involve the installation of cylindrical grout columns to form a continuous wall of grout. This technique has been used successfully to minimize seepage through dams and other earthen impoundments. A relationship between electrical conductivity and hydraulic conductivity is assumed to be beneficial for assessing the effectiveness of a grout curtain. In this study, a lab-scale model was developed to investigate the viability of using electrical conductivity measurements to assess seepage behavior. A laboratory-scale physical model was used to develop a relationship between hydraulic behavior and electrical conductivity measurements. For this research, a simulated grout curtain was installed in a seepage model. The effect of the grout curtain installation sequence on the seepage measurements was investigated. This study described the grout curtain installation sequence in terms of a linear replacement ratio. This ratio is the linear width of the acrylic material to width of the seepage model. This study found an empirical relationship exists between hydraulic conductivity and the linear replacement ratio. A trend was also found between electrical and hydraulic conductivity.