Geopolymer resins do not come into contact with water and are able to maintain a stable state in a humid environment for a long time. These qualities allow the use of geopolymers for lifting, leveling and stabilizing port infrastructure.
Modern Premium Technologies technologies are used for lifting and stabilizing concrete pavements in sea and river ports. In this case, injection is possible not only directly under the concrete slabs of piers or embankments, but also into the soil of the base of structures, which is characterized by water saturation.
SOIL REINFORCEMENT UNDER BERTHS AND EMBANKMENTS
The design of concrete piers and quays involves the installation of a vertical retaining wall, behind which a layer of soil is poured for the installation of concrete coatings. Due to the influence of sea or river water, the groundwater level periodically changes, and with it the moisture content of the soil of the base of the structure.
This leads to the gradual compaction of the bulk soil and subsidence of the horizontal surfaces of piers and quays. At the same time, trucks, loaders, conveyor belts, gantry cranes and other equipment continuously move along the horizontal surfaces of port infrastructure facilities. Port coatings are exposed to high dynamic loads. For example, 60-ton portal loaders can carry containers weighing up to 40 tons. All this creates excess pressure on horizontal surfaces and increases the degree of soil compaction, which provokes an increase in the subsidence of concrete surfaces.
To stabilize the structures of piers, ports and embankments, compaction, strengthening and stabilization of bulk soil and the soil of the structure’s foundation are carried out by injecting geopolymer materials. At the same time, it is not necessary to stop the port’s operation to lift and level concrete slabs.
LIFTING AND LEVELING OF CONCRETE PORT COVERINGS
The use of Premium Technologies technology in marinas and ports can include strengthening heavy-duty parking areas and gantry crane and forklift areas. It is also possible to repair concrete floors and level sagging warehouse floor slabs, and strengthen sagging or washed-out underlying soil layers.
Floor Lifting technology allows you to raise and level concrete slabs. In addition, to increase the bearing capacity of soils, the Deep Lifting method is used. In this case, the hemipolymers displace “excess” water from the moistened soil and strengthen and reinforce the soil.
ADVANTAGES OF Premium Technologies METHODS
The traditional method of restoring concrete slabs covering port facilities involves dismantling the slabs, compacting the bulk soil, and then reinstalling the reinforced concrete coating. In fact, we are talking about re-erecting the structure. In addition to a significant financial burden, this approach forces the facility to be temporarily taken out of operation, which leads to additional losses due to the downtime of the port infrastructure elements.
When using Premium Technologies technology, neither the facility is taken out of operation nor the dismantling of the coatings is required. All materials and equipment in this case are placed in one truck, which allows the work to be carried out in stages in different areas. For injection, it is only necessary to drill a series of technological holes with a diameter of 12-16 mm. The areas where restoration operations are performed are fully ready for return to operation just 15 minutes after the completion of the work.