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Experimental Study on Water-Plugging Performance of Grouted Concrete Crack
Lianzhen Zhang1, Changxin Huang2, Zhipeng Li3
1College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 13, 2024
Summary
Epoxy resin demonstrated superior performance in sealing concrete cracks compared to polyurethane and cement-based grouts. Optimal grouting pressure and material properties significantly influence water-plugging effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
Background:
- Concrete structures are susceptible to cracking, leading to water leakage issues.
- Effective crack grouting is crucial for maintaining structural integrity and preventing water damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the water-plugging performance of four different grouting materials: ordinary Portland cement, ultrafine cement, polyurethane, and epoxy resin.
- To investigate the influence of crack parameters, grout properties, and grouting pressure on the effectiveness of crack sealing.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of grouted concrete crack samples through simulation tests.
- Impermeability tests to assess water-plugging performance.
- Microstructural analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Computed Tomography (CT).
Main Results:
- Impermeability ranking: Epoxy resin > polyurethane > ultrafine cement > ordinary Portland cement.
- Epoxy resin exhibited the highest plugging failure water pressure and lowest permeability, making it the optimal choice.
- Grouting effectiveness increased with pressure up to a threshold (1 MPa for cement, 2 MPa for chemical grouts).
- Cement-based grouts performed best at a water-cement ratio of 0.8.
- Crack aperture and roughness affected cement and polyurethane grouts, but not epoxy resin.
Conclusions:
- Epoxy resin is the most effective grouting material for concrete crack water-plugging.
- Grouting pressure, material type, and crack characteristics are critical factors influencing sealing performance.
- Understanding microstructural behavior aids in explaining the macroscopic performance differences between grouting materials.
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