Case studies
Real projects, searchable by stratum and project type — each with on-site photos and quantified results.
Project distribution
Published cases grouped by region — darker tiles mean more cases.
East · Metro / shieldWater-rich sand cross passage: 3 mm settlement, 6 days ahead
A metro cross passage in East China crossed water-rich fine silty sand. With high permeability, plain bentonite slurry lost over 15 L/min; the failed wall triggered surface settlement and a 5-day stoppage on a schedule-critical section.
Project scaleOne metro cross passage on the line's critical path, beneath a city road
Southwest · Bridge pilesPile drilling through pebble strata: 100% hole acceptance
Main-pier piles of a major bridge in Southwest China crossed deep pebble beds with stones over 800 mm. Φ1500 holes shrank to Φ1380, blocking cage installation, and bottom sediment ran thick — more than 4 clean-out passes per pile.
Project scaleMain-pier piles at Φ1500 mm through pebbles over 800 mm
South · Industrial plantsHot-humid, saline-groundwater piles in South China: 72 h stable
A coastal plant foundation in South China hit 35‰ saline groundwater and hot, humid weather. The slurry flocculated out within 4 hours, forcing three slurry changes per shift with heavy idle time.
Project scaleCoastal industrial plant piles in 35‰ saline groundwater and hot, humid conditions
Central · Municipal utility tunnelsPipe-jacking loss response in Central China: plugged in 2 hours
Slurry suddenly escaped during pipe jacking for a utility tunnel in Central China. It drained along a cover channel, surface settlement hit 30 mm and kept growing, endangering a nearby gas line.
Project scaleA utility-tunnel jacking section with 30 mm ground settlement beside a gas main
Northwest · Bridge pilesBoulder-strata pile walls in Northwest China: 98% wall stability
A bridge foundation in Northwest China crossed boulder beds. Large stones violently disturbed the walls — collapse and spalling were frequent, and heavy waste slurry forced constant pond clean-outs.
Project scaleBridge piles through boulder beds with large stones and severe wall disturbance
Overseas · Port worksSeawater-ground slurry flocculation: 28% less bentonite
An overseas port project mixed slurry with seawater at about 32‰. Conventional mud flocculated out in the salt and could not form a film on the wall; bentonite consumption was high and remote resupply pushed costs up.
Project scaleOverseas port piles mixed with seawater at about 32‰ salinity