ELECTROKINETIC
Part of our Low Impact, Innovative Solutions for Ground Engineering, Mining & Waste Management
Electrokinetic has pioneered and provides innovative solutions for remediating unstable slopes and dewatering slurries and sludges based on patented EKG (electrokinetic geosynthetics) technology.
The EKG slope stabilisation system is an adaptable, multifunctional and low-impact construction approach. It combines into a single solution the synergistic components of electroosmotic ground improvement, enhanced reinforcement and active and passive drainage.
This department also offers dewatering technology in the form of EKG dewatering bags, which combine electroosmosis and hydraulic filtration to effect dewatering of materials in containment filtration bags.
Dewatering technology is being developed to combine electroosmosis with conventional well-point technology to permit effective in situ dewatering.
Electrokinetic pre-treatment techniques for sheet piling are also under development.
Electrokinetic Piling
Electrokinetic pre-treatment techniques for sheet piling in cohesive soils are also under development. Full scale trials on large diameter tubular steel piles have shown that EK pre-treatment can reduce skin friction by more than 90% as water is drawn by electroosmosis to the soil-shaft interface, massively reducing the required installation force. On completion of EK pre-treatment, full strength returns as localised elevated porewater pressures return to background levels.
Services We Provide
EKG Slope Stabilisation System & Ground Improvement
The slope stabilisation system combines bulk soil strength improvement brought about through electrokinetic dewatering and consolidation with enhanced soil:soil nail adhesion due to electrokinetic cementation around the soil nails, and long term passive drainage. A series of anodes and cathode drains are inserted into a failing slope and direct current passed through the ground for a set period. On completion, anodes are converted to soil nails (conforming to BS8006 and other relevant standards) and cathodes left in situ for long term drainage.
EKG Dewatering
Removing water from slurries and sludges is a requirement of a large number of processes and activities. We provide a large variety of methods for each stage and approaches that can be adopted.
