Properties of Underwater Concrete
Mentor 1
Konstantin Sobolev
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
Underwater concrete is a type of concrete which has properties that make it suitable for use in underwater conditions. Underwater concrete is primarily used in bridge construction as well as in underground tunnels or in water industry structures. Underwater concrete has a specific composition and requires a superplasticizer and a mix stabilizer to minimize the washout effects. To achieve a minimum amount of loss in the concrete ability, underwater concrete should be placed by using the tremie process, which avoids excess water from seeping into the concrete mix. Underwater concrete has a special method of installation which requires using a 20-40 cm diameter pipe to insert the concrete, with the bottom half of the concrete placed underwater to prevent water going back into the pipe. This research study tested the properties of various types of concrete in underwater conditions and recorded data on the properties which were measured. The measured properties included the viscosity of concrete, the density of concrete, the durability of concrete in underwater conditions. The hydrophobicity of the concrete was tested as well as the icephobicity to determine the water resistance of concrete. Two different types of concrete were measured, N-58 concrete and N-64 concrete. SIKA brand concrete was used to test both common variants of concrete. Results of this study show no immediate differences between N-58 concrete and N-64 concrete in underwater conditions, however an expected result is that one type of concrete will have better outcomes than the other.
Properties of Underwater Concrete
Union Wisconsin Room
Underwater concrete is a type of concrete which has properties that make it suitable for use in underwater conditions. Underwater concrete is primarily used in bridge construction as well as in underground tunnels or in water industry structures. Underwater concrete has a specific composition and requires a superplasticizer and a mix stabilizer to minimize the washout effects. To achieve a minimum amount of loss in the concrete ability, underwater concrete should be placed by using the tremie process, which avoids excess water from seeping into the concrete mix. Underwater concrete has a special method of installation which requires using a 20-40 cm diameter pipe to insert the concrete, with the bottom half of the concrete placed underwater to prevent water going back into the pipe. This research study tested the properties of various types of concrete in underwater conditions and recorded data on the properties which were measured. The measured properties included the viscosity of concrete, the density of concrete, the durability of concrete in underwater conditions. The hydrophobicity of the concrete was tested as well as the icephobicity to determine the water resistance of concrete. Two different types of concrete were measured, N-58 concrete and N-64 concrete. SIKA brand concrete was used to test both common variants of concrete. Results of this study show no immediate differences between N-58 concrete and N-64 concrete in underwater conditions, however an expected result is that one type of concrete will have better outcomes than the other.
