Repair of Waterstop Failures: Case Histories
Abstract
Nearly every concrete structure has joints that must be sealed to ensure its integrity and serviceability. This is particularly true for monolith joints in hydraulic structures such as concrete dams and navigation locks. Embedded waterstops are generally used to prevent water passage through the monolith joints of such structures. A waterstop failure can result in various problems ranging from minor leakage with cosmetic concern to significant hydraulic forces and structural overloading which could threaten the stability of a structure. The primary object:ive of this study was to have been used in repair of waterstop failures. current practices, a secondary objective was to identify those areas where research is needed to supplement existing technology. Although the information obtained from the various sources varied widely from project to project, attempts were made to obtain (a) a description of the project, (b) cause and location of the leakage, (c) descriptions of repair materials and techniques, and (d) results of follow-up evaluations. Sufficient information to prepare a case history was obtained from 20 projects, several of which involved multiple repairs. In addition, limited information on three other repair projects is included. Leakage through monolith joints reported herein ranged from minor flows to more than 600 gal/min. In general, leakage was the result of waterstop defects including (a) excessive movement of the joint which ruptures the waterstop, (b) honeycomb areas adjacent to the waterstop resulting from poorly consolidated concrete, (c) contamination of the waterstop surface which prevents bond to the concrete, (d) puncture of the waterstop or complete omission during construction, and (e) breaks in the waterstop due to poor or no splices. More than 80 different materials and techniques have been used, individually and in various combinations, to repair the waterstop failures reported herein.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA635713
Entities
People
- James E. McDonald