Bentonite and polymeric support fluids used for stabilization in excavations

Bentonite is a natural and finite mineral resource. Dilute suspensions of sodium montmorillonite clay in water represents bentonite slurries. Suspension and orientation of colloidal clay particles define rheological properties in bentonite slurry (BS). The BS has been used about seventy years to temporarily support the excavations. More recently, polymer support fluids (PSF) gained much popularity and are widely used compared to bentonite support fluids. The PSF are categorized into natural (pure) and synthetic polymers. Physico-chemical properties of PSF are different than BS irrespective of the quite similarity in the mode of action. Synthetic polymer fluids are molecularly engineered fluids that can be a popular alternative of conventional BS deployed as excavation support fluids in different foundation applications such as diaphragm wall panels and pile bores. The synthetically engineered fluids of polymers (water-soluble) are different from conventional BS. The PSF offer additional benefits because their use is cost effective, eco-friendly, and these polymers need smaller site footprint as well as easy preparation, mixing, handling, management and ultimately the final disposal. Nevertheless, synthetic polymers have advantage over bentonite, however, foundation engineers and scientists have also certain concerns about their use because of their performance related issues. For an efficient use of polymers, specific properties and in situ behavior of polymers as well as their sorption onto the soils must be recognized because the polymer concentration in the solution is decreased with time during their use. The present manuscript reviewed the relative performance of excavation support fluids and displayed an arranged marriage of physicochemical and rhelogical properties of natural and synthetic excavation support fluids used in the foundation industry. This information will be highly useful to scientific community for their future ventures and will lay a foundation to understand the mechanisms of stabilization in open and deep excavations.