BeFo has sponsored an extensive amount of research with focus on grouting of rock since the mid-1980s. Some of this research has been devoted to the rheological properties of cement-based grouts. The rationale has been that since the geometry of the conductive parts of a rock mass is complex and largely unknown in detail, it makes sense to have as much knowledge as possible of the rheology of the fluid that is going to be injected into the voids and fractures of the rock. This so at least the fluid properties can be taken out as an unknown in the complicated overall grouting process. 

Grout properties are today measured at site with rather simple devices or in laboratories with some type of rheometer. Ultrasound has earlier been shown to be a feasible method of measuring the rheological properties of cement-based grouts. However, a feasibility study is often not enough to catch industry´s interest and therefore a demonstrator of the benefits is needed. 

A reference group consisting of Tommy Ellison, Mats Holmberg, Rolf Christiansson, Patrik Vidstrand, Thomas Dalmalm, Tomas Bym, Staffan Hintze, Robert Melander, Johan Funehag  and Per Tengborg have contributed with valuable insights and comments.The project was financed by BeFo and with in-kind contributions from Skanska and RISE.

Stockholm

Patrik Vidstrand