METHOD FOR CAUSING REINFORCEMENT AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF MATERIAL IN CAST STRUCTURES AND A MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD

Abstract: Method for causing reinforcement and/or replacement of material in cast structures (1) beneath and/or in the area of the surface of an expanse of water (2A), such as pier foundations or other supporting and/or protective structures. The invention permits amongst other things the simple and effective repair of damage to cast structures which are present in water (2). The reinforcement and/or replacement point (3; 20) concerned is enclosed by means of a mould (10; 21) which is then filled with so-called light concrete (18; 24), i.e. concrete having a density which largely corresponds to the density of water or thereabouts. The invention also relates to a means for implementing said method.

Description: Method for causing reinforcement and/or replacement of material in cast structures and a means for implementing said method The present invention relates to a method for causing reinforcement and/or replacement of material in cast structures beneath and/or in the area of the surface of an expanse of—water, such as pier foundations or other supporting and/or protective structures. In the case of cast concrete structures which are situated either wholly or partly immersed in water and which are connected to a base, for example a pier foundation, it is possible after a certain time for damage to be caused to said supporting and/or protective structure. Said damage can occur to the structure in the area of the bottom, for example following the washing away of sand, clay or other bottom material, the purpose of which, amongst other things, is to protect the structure in the area of the transition between the bottom and the structure. Any wooden piles contained in the structure can be exposed in this way, for example, allowing parasitic animals such as worms, etc., or substances present in the water which attack wood, etc., to damage the piles, putting at risk the original function of the structure. Damage caused to a structure by the effect of ice, waves and the like in the area of the surface of the water can also put at risk the function of the structures concerned. The principal object of the present invention is, therefore, above all to propose a method whereby damage to existing structures in water can be repaired simply and effectively, avoiding the need for costly and effective measures. Said object is achieved by a method in accordance with the present invention which is characterized essentially in that the point of reinforcement and/or replacement in question is enclosed by means of a mould which is then filled with so-called light concrete, i.e. concrete having a density which largely corresponds to the density of water or thereabouts. A further object of the invention is to propose a means which can be applied by the implementation of a method in accordance with the present invention. Said further object is achieved by a means in accordance with the present invention which is characterized essentially in that a mould capable of being constructed from disc-shaped mould components is capable of being sunk into the bottom and exhibits filling means for the purpose of filling the mould with the light concrete. The invention is described below as a number of preferred embodiments, in connection with which reference is made to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic section through a pier structure to which the invention is intended to be applied; Fig. 2 shows a side view of said pier structure; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view along the line C-C in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a side view of an integral pile in a pier structure from which a quantity of covering material has been removed; Fig. 5 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along the line B-B in Fig. 2. A pier foundation 1 shown in the drawings forms a suitable supporting and/or protective structure to which it is appropriate to apply the present invention. The invention can, of course, also be applied to other structures of a suitable kind manufactured from concrete or similar materials, a lower part of which stands either wholly or partly in water 2. In order to provide reinforcement and/or replacement of concrete material in said structure 1, the actual point 3 on the structure 1 at which it is wished to provide reinforcement and/or material replacement is cleared of clay, soil and other similar bottom material 4 which covers the structure 1 at the transition between the bottom 5 and the structure 1. In the presence of piles 6 made of wood or some other suitable material which are driven into the bottom 5 and to which the structure 1 is connected, any damaged loose material is removed from the piles 6 in this case, and an undamaged section of each pile 6 of preferably 200 mm in length is exposed from the bottom material 4 prior to the subsequent casting of concrete around the structure 1 at said point 3. Vent holes 7, preferably in the form of channels leading obliquely upwards, are provided in the structure 1 so as to extend out into the water 2 from any cavity 8 present inside the structure 1 and/or to the underside 9A of a cast part 9 of the structure 1. A mould 10, preferably in the form of a number of disc-shaped mould components 11-16, which are capable of being sunk into the bottom 5 so that their lower ends 11A-16A are covered by bottom material 4 are so arranged as to be capable of being applied for the implementation of the method in accordance with the invention. In order to facilitate the insertion of the components 11-16 into the bottom 5, these may exhibit a pointed form in the downward sense or may be arranged in an otherwise appropriate fashion. At least those mould components 11, 16 which are intended to be used as end moulds consist of metallic material, such as sheet metal, and preferably exhibit at their respective upper ends 11B, 16B for example trough-shaped or pocket-shaped filling means 17 to receive casting material capable of being poured into the mould. The mould components 12-15 which act as side moulds preferably consist of wooden material such as laminated mould board. After having exposed the intended point 3 on the structure 1 at which it is wished to reinforce and/or replace by the addition of new material to the structure, said mould 10 is so arranged as to extend along the intended area of operation 3, as shown in Figs. 1-3 in the drawings. Said mould 10 and structure 1 can be enclosed and held together by means of belts or other drawing means not shown in the drawings. So-called light (R) concrete 18, for example 3L concrete^ is then poured into said mould 10, so that the space enclosed by the mould 10 is filled completely by said light concrete 18. The density of said proposed light concrete 18 which is suitable for this purpose largely corresponds to the density of the water, or has approximately the same value, for example between 0.8 and 1.6 kg/dm^ and preferably 1.2 kg/dm^. The use of light concrete 18 for casting makes it possible, as has already been mentioned, to prevent dangerous stresses attributable to the effect of the concrete from being imposed on the mould 10 and the bottom 5 and on the structure 1. Said light concrete 18, which is in liquid form before it sets, is best pumped via hoses, for example from a position above the surface of the water 2A to the intended casting point. Low mould pressures are achieved, furthermore, thanks to the presence of light concrete, and no load or very Little additional load is imposed, for example, on the clay in the bottom 5 or on existing piles 6, etc. Any air produced in the mould 10, etc., during casting will flow through the vent holes 7 to the outside of the structure 1. After the casting operation is complete, the end moulds 11, 16 at least should be withdrawn so that they can be re-used in conjunction with casting at some other point. Reinforcement and/or material replacement will thus have been achieved at the lower end 1A of the structure by casting the lower part of the foundation in light concrete, and once the aforementioned method has been implemented hard core 19 or some other suitable filling material can be so arranged as to provide cover at the casting point 3 around the structure 1. When reinforcing and/or replacing damaged areas 20 in structures 1 of the kind described above by way of example, in the area of the surface of the water 2A, said area 20 can be enclosed around the entire .circumference of the structure within a mould 21 exhibiting a bottom 22 which makes contact with the structure 1 in such a way as to form a mould which is closed in the downward sense. Prior to the casting operation, it is advisable to prepare a number of recesses 23 preferably passing all the way through the structure in an appropriate fashion. As light concrete of a similar kind to that described above is poured in a similar fashion, the intended casting point 20 will be enclosed and encased by the light concrete 24, which will also fill said recesses 23. The reinforced mould 21 which, for example, consists preferably of steel material and is preferably of cylindrical form, and which can be secured to the structure 1 by means of securing means 25 accommodated in said recesses 23, may preferably be left in position after the casting operation is complete , when it will be able to function as an ice protector or breakwater, for example. The invention is not restricted to the typical " embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Method for causing reinforcement and/or replacement of material in cast srtuctures (1) beneath and/or in the area of the surface of an expanse of water (2A), such as pier foundations or other supporting and/or protective structures, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reinforcement and/or replacement point (3; 20) concerned is enclosed by means of a mould (10; 21) which is then filled with so-called light concrete (18; 24), i.e. concrete having a density which largely corresponds to the density of water or thereabouts. 2. Method in accordance with Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that casting takes place using light concrete of between 0.8 and 1.6 kg/dm^. 3. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, after having cleared the structure (1) concerned of surrounding bottom material (4) in the area (3) of the casting point and, -if necessary, after having removed any damaged material from the structure below any parts of the mould in the bottom (5) used to provide its shape in order to produce a casting mould (10) of the desired size, casting takes place into said mould (10). 4. Method in accordance with Patent Claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said mould (10) and structure (1) are enclosed by means of belts or other drawing means in order to hold them together. 5. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that vent holes (7) are " provided in the structure (1) at the intended casting point (3), preferably in the form of channels leading obliquely upwards. 6. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, in the area (20) of the surface of the expanse of water (2A) around the entire circumference of the structure (1) in question, said structure is enclosed within a mould (21) closed in a downward sense prior to subsequent filling with light pouring concrete (24) into a space formed between the mould (21 ) and the structure (1), said mould (21) preferably being left in position on the structure (1) after the casting operation is complete so as to afford protection against ice and waves, etc. 7. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, prior to the casting operation a number of recesses (23) are made which preferably pass all the way through the structure (1), said recesses being filled with concrete (24) during the casting operation for the purpose of, amongst other things, providing additional anchorage between the cast material (24 ) and the mould (1). 8. Means intended to be applied for the implementation of a method for causing reinforcement and/or replacement of material in cast structures beneath and/or in the area of the surface of an expanse of water, such as pier foundations and/or other supporting and/or protective structures in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a mould (10) capable of being constructed from disc-shaped mould components (11-16) is capable of being sunk into the bottom (5) and exhibits filling means (17) for the purpose of filling the mould (10) with light concrete mass (18). 9. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the end moulds (11, 16) consist of metallic material, and in that the side moulds (12-15) can in this case consist of wooden material such as laminated mould board. 10. Means in accordance with any of Patent Claims 8-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a number of said mould components (11-16) exhibit a pointed form in the downward sense or are otherwise appropriately arranged to facilitate their being sunk into the bottom material (4).

Inventors: RINDBY THOMAS, RINDBY, THOMAS
Applicants: RINDBY THOMAS, RINDBY, THOMAS
Application year: 1985
Main classification: E02D5
IPC codes: E02D5