SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SLURRY WALL CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATING SHEET PILINGS

1 . A wall system comprising:

a slurry wall comprising a cementitious material; and

at least one sheet piling element comprising a top, a bottom, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein the at least one sheet piling is at least partially embedded in the slurry wall.

2 . The wall construction of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of sheet piling elements are installed into the cementitious mixture in a connected array, the connected array being linked by cooperating lock engagement features on the leading and trailing edges of the sheet pilings.

3 . The wall construction of claim 1 , wherein the slurry wall is formed in a trench below ground surface.

4 . The wall construction of claim 1 , wherein the sheet piling element comprises a polymeric material.

5 . A method of constructing a slurry wall having a sheet piling barrier at least partially embedded within the slurry wall, the method comprising:

excavating a trench;

depositing a cementitious slurry within the trench; and

installing at least one sheet piling into the trench, the at least one sheet piling comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the at least one sheet piling is at least partially embedded in the cementitious slurry.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cementitious slurry mixture is deposited within the trench before the at least one sheet piling is installed into the trench.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sheet piling is installed into the trench before the cementitious mixture is deposited within the trench.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of sheet pilings are installed into the trench in a connected array, the connected array being linked by cooperating lock engagement features on the leading and trailing edges of the sheet pilings.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising placement of a void creation device on the leading edge of a first sheet piling installed in the cementitious slurry, and displacing the cementitious slurry from within at least a portion of the void creation device around the leading edge of the first sheet piling.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising depositing a non-cementitious fill material into at least a portion of the void creation device around the leading edge of the first sheet piling member and removing the void creation device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-cementitious slurry comprises bentonite clay.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising installing a second sheet piling member into engagement with the first sheet piling member.

13 . The method of 12 , further comprising removal of at least a portion of the non-cementitious slurry from adjacent the leading edge of the first sheet piling member prior to installing the second sheet piling member.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising placement of a void creation device on the leading edge of a first sheet piling before the cementitious slurry is deposited within the trench.

15 . A void creation device for installation of sheet piling members into a slurry wall, the void creation device comprising:

an elongate body enclosing an internal channel surrounded by at least one wall creating a top edge and a bottom edge;

wherein the at least one wall includes a slot with an opening at the bottom edge of the elongate body wherein the slot extends at least a portion of the length of the elongate body;

wherein the slot is configured to receive a leading edge of a sheet piling.

16 . The void creation device of claim 15 , further comprising at least one fluid delivery conduit comprising a discharge port for delivering fluid or a non-cementitious mixture into the internal chamber.

17 . The void creation device of claim 16 , wherein the discharge port of the fluid delivery conduit is angled.

18 . The void creation device of claim 15 , comprising a plurality of fluid delivery conduits discharging fluid or non-cementitious mixture at different depth in the internal chamber.

19 . The void creation device of claim 15 , further comprising a bite plate attached to the top edge of the elongate body.

20 . The void creation device of claim 19 , further comprising lift holes located in one of the bite plate or elongate body.

21 . The void creation device of claim 13 , wherein the opening of the slot includes a tapered leading edge.

22 . A subterranean barrier wall system comprising a cementitious slurry wall primary barrier and a sheet piling secondary barrier at least partially in contact with the cementitious slurry wall primary barrier, wherein the sheet piling secondary barrier comprises a plurality of sheet piling elements, each sheet piling element comprising a male interlock and a female interlock, wherein the male interlock of a first sheet piling element is received in the female interlock of a second sheet piling element.

23 . The subterranean barrier wall system of claim 22 , formed by a process comprising forming a trench below ground level, depositing a cementitious slurry material into the trench, sequentially driving the plurality of sheet piling elements into the cementitious slurry material, and allowing the cementitious slurry material to harden.

24 . The subterranean barrier wall system of claim 23 , wherein the process further comprises interrupting the sequential driving of sheet piling elements into the cementitious slurry material, placement of a void creation device over at least a portion of a last-installed sheet piling element, preventing hardening of the cementitious slurry material around that portion of the last-installed sheet piling element, allowing hardening of a remainder of the cementitious slurry material, and installing a next-installed sheet piling element in connection with the last-installed sheet piling element after hardening of the remainder of the cementitious slurry material.