Concrete Hydrodemolition Services

For certain concrete repair projects, PULLMAN, a licensee of STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES’ products and technical support services, offers hydrodemolition services to improve schedule and enhance quality.

Hydrodemolition uses high-velocity water jets to remove deteriorated, delaminated, or contaminated concrete from reinforced concrete structures such as bridges, dams and parking garages. Concrete is removed using ultra-high pressure (UHP – 35,000 psi) waterjets operating at velocities exceeding 1,500 mph.  Using UHP water, the hydrodemolition process requires significantly less water than lower pressure systems, while providing ultra-high quality hydrodemolition. The use of less water helps protect the environment and conserve a valuable resource.  Because no abrasive is used, the waterjets do not damage the reinforcing steel or other embedded metal items.

Hydrodemolition provides an excellent bonding surface, free from micro-fractures as well as many other benefits.  Hydrodemolition is both an effective and efficient way to quickly remove deteriorated concrete and prepare the surface for the installation of a new concrete overlay or repair material.

Computer-controlled waterjets can remove the concrete to provide a rough and bondable surface (Scarification, High-Speed, Fast Track Hydrodemolition).  Bond tests have proven that a monolithic slab is formed when new concrete is place over a surface prepared using hydrodemolition.

• The rough, irregular surface profile provides an excellent mechanical bond for all types of repair materials creating a monolithic repair
• The rough, irregular profile contains more surface area per square foot than any other type of concrete removal process
• Eliminates possibility of surface micro-fracturing (bruising) caused by traditional demolition methods
• Exposed aggregates are not fractured, split or damaged

• Reinforcing and other embedded metal elements are undamaged
• Robotic equipment insures uniform removal
• Lower strength and deteriorated concrete (delamination) is selectively removed
• Vibration to the surrounding structure is eliminated
• Minimizes disruptions to users of occupied space by significantly reducing transmitted sound vibrations through the structure

• Reinforcing steel (rebar) is cleaned, eliminating the need for sandblasting
• Increase speed of concrete removal, which can reduce construction time
• Minimizes dust and the potential for silicosis
• Robotic units reduce labor and minimize soft-tissue injuries compared to manual demolition