Laboratory and field performance of high alumina cement-based grout for piling in permafrost

Abstract

A grout for use in pile installation in permafrost is described. The high alumina cement (Ciment Fondu) based grout cures by rapidly evolving heat which maintains it above 0 °C until it hydrates and hardens. The laboratory development program of the mix design along with the cement admixtures which allows the grout to cure at temperatures as low as −10 °C and to remain workable during field use is reviewed. The development of installation procedures for the grout during construction of short range radar foundations is described along with field measurements of the compressive strength and the temperature profiles of the grout after placement in permafrost as cold as −14 °C. The Ciment Fondu grout performed according to the design requirement of hardening without freezing in permafrost colder than −10 °C during the installation of about 2000 piles for part of the short range radar project. Key words: permafrost, grout, laboratory, field, installation procedure, mix design.