Investigation of Nonmetallic Waterstops. Report 5. Water Retentivity of Labyrinth-Shaped Waterstops

摘要

This is the fifth report in the Investigation of Nonmetallic Waterstops series, and presents the results of tests conducted to evaluate the water-retaining properties of labyrinth-shaped waterstops of two shapes. The advantage of labyrinth waterstops over waterstops of conventional shape is that the use of labyrinth waterstops does not require splitting and bracing of concrete forms so that the waterstop can protrude from one placement into the area where the next placement will come. Since the Corps of Engineers is now allowing the use of labyrinth waterstops under certain conditions where little or no differential joint movement is expected, there was a need to know how well labyrinth waterstops inhibit the passage of water through a joint. Report 4 of the series included the results of water-retentivity tests of conventional waterstops of four shapes, and the results of the tests of the labyrinth waterstops reported herein are compared with those results obtained earlier. The results of the tests and comparisons indicate that labyrinth waterstops are as effective in retaining water as conventionally shaped waterstops when there is no joint separation. (Author)