Evaluation of Two Methods for Constructing Vertical Cutoff Walls at Waste Containment Sites

This paper compares two methods of constructing vertical cutoff walls when considered in the context of controlling the migration of waste materials. It will be argued that the conventional slurry trench method has significant advantages over the vibratory beam injection (VBI) method. The discussion will compare the quality control of each method, relating its importance to the central issue of cutoff wall continuity. Important issues to be discussed in conjunction with quality control considerations include geometry, wall thickness, Darcy's equation, wall composition, and chemical resistance.