With the use of conventional methods such as jack hammers, small stress fractures known as microfractures are created within the concrete. Although small, these fractures can significantly reduce the strength of the concrete and dramatically increase the chance of eventual delamination of the material. To avoid this concern, hydrodemolition utilizes the effects of erosion rather than compressive impact to remove concrete. In other words, the water jet removes only the concrete that it is in direct contact with and leaves no residual microfractures.
Since the aggregate within concrete has a higher compressive strength than the cement surrounding it, our 20,000 psi hydrodemolition system separates these two components with ease and the aggregate remains intact while the cement it is bonded to is destroyed. Because of this, the hydrodemolition surface includes a cement base layer with bonded aggregate exposed. This surface is ideal for a monolithic bond to the repaired concrete because the aggregate shares a bonded surface to both the residual and repaired concrete.
Due to the high compression properties of steel, the rebar remains unaffected by the high pressure water jet involved utilized in hydrodemolition. In fact, the hydrodemolition process cleans the steel rebar which actually aids in the overall inspection of the structure.
Conventional methods for concrete removal have proven hazardous to the health of those performing it. Hydrodemolition virtually eliminates these threats. It is a clean process with no production of silica dust and operators are not exposed to the hazards of the demolition area as they control the robot from a distance.
