Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Research Program. Underwater Repair of Concrete Damaged by Abrasion-Erosion.

摘要

The grinding action of waterborne debris circulating in concrete stilling basins, open channels, navigation locks, and other hydraulic structures can lead to abrasion damage several feet in depth. Damaged areas need to be periodically repaired to ensure the functionality and safety of the hydraulic facility. Traditionally, these repairs have been carried out after dewatering the damaged area; however, such practice can interfere with the operations of the facility and can prove to be very costly. Therefore, it is desirable to carry out the repairs while the damaged portion of the structure is submerged. The objective of this research was to develop concrete mixtures and placement methods to repair typical scour holes underwater. Approximately 70 concretes were evaluated to optimize mixture proportions. The four most promising fluid concretes and one control concrete were selected to fill small and relatively shallow depressions underwater using the conventional tremie and the proposed inclined tremie methods. Concrete was placed in the laboratory in a test box with the bottom especially shaped to simulate a small scour hole. Surface profiles and in-place mechanical properties of eight underwater-cast slabs and one slab that was cast above water were evaluated to compare concrete mixtures and placement techniques.