Polymer Support Fluids in Civil Engineering

Polymer Support Fluids in Civil Engineering provides a detailed study of the use of polymer support fluids in civil engineering, covering all major aspects including fundamental material properties, laboratory and site testing, as well as case histories and specifications. This book includes all the information necessary to optimise the use of polymer support fluids and the performance of the resulting foundation elements.

The opening chapters describe the development of polymer fluid technology, including the various types of commercial polymer system currently available and the constraints on the use of bentonite support fluids. They are followed by chapters on site equipment and procedures, and laboratory and site techniques for assessing the physical and chemical properties of polymer fluids. Two chapters are then dedicated to detailed reviews of published case histories from around the world with analysis of successes, and importantly, possible reasons for failures that have occurred. The book concludes with a critical review of the specifications for the use of polymer fluids and a discussion of the rationale for the selection of the control parameters.

Written by two experts in this area, Polymer Support Fluids in Civil Engineering is the first book on the use of polymer support fluids in the construction industry. It will be an invaluable and authoritative reference for practitioners, researchers and advanced students working in geotechnical engineering.

Carlos Lam DPhil CEng MICE MHKIE is a Geotechnical Engineer in the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) in Hong Kong. He has published extensively on the use of polymer fluids for geotechnical construction in international journals and conferences. Stephan Jefferis PhD CEng CEnv FICE CGeol FGS FRSA is a Director of Environmental Geotechnics Ltd, a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, an Emeritus Professor of the University of Surrey, and a past Chairman of the British Geotechnical Association.