03.05 2022
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 raising, leveling and stabilizing port infrastructure facilities.
Modern GeoResin technologies are used for lifting and stabilizing concrete coatings in sea and river ports. At the same time, injection is possible not only directly under the concrete slabs of piers or embankments, but also into the soil of the base of the structures, which is characterized by water saturation.
The construction of concrete piers and embankments involves the installation of a vertical retaining wall, behind which a layer of soil is poured for the installation of concrete coatings. As a result of the influence of sea or river water, the level of groundwater periodically changes, and with it the moisture content of the soil at the base of the structure.
This leads to gradual compaction of bulk soil and subsidence of the horizontal surfaces of piers and embankments. 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 the bulk soil and the soil of the base of the structure are carried out by injecting geopolymer materials. At the same time, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the port for lifting and leveling concrete slabs.
The application of GeoResin technology at piers and ports may include strengthening the parking spaces of heavy-duty vehicles and areas where gantry cranes and loaders work. It is also possible to repair concrete floors and level the worn-out floor slabs of warehouses, strengthen the worn-out or water-washed underlying soil layers.
Floor Lifting technology allows concrete slabs to be lifted and leveled. In addition, the Deep Lifting method is used to increase the bearing capacity of soils. In this case, hepolymers displace “excess” water from the moistened soil and strengthen and strengthen the soil.
Traditional method of restoration of concrete slabs covering port facilities implies dismantling of slabs, compaction of bulk soil, and then re-installation of reinforced concrete covering. In fact, we are talking about re-erecting the building. In addition to a significant financial burden, this approach forces the facility to be temporarily decommissioned, which leads to additional losses due to simple elements of the port’s infrastructure.
In the case of GeoResin technology, neither decommissioning of the object nor dismantling of coatings is required. In this case, all materials and equipment are placed in one truck, which allows work to be carried out in stages at different sites. 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 carried out are fully ready for return to operation in just 15 minutes after the completion of the work.
