BANGALORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING

UNDER THE GUIDEANCE PRESENTED BY

OF
AGNESH B S
B S KARTHIK
1BI11CV008
Asst.professor
Topics covered
Introduction
Concrete specification
Laying techniques
Repair works
Conclusion
 Introduction

There are often situations such as basements ,

sewerage ,ducts , harbours , bridges and marine works ,in
which concrete is to be placed underwater.
Special precaution need to be taken whenever the
concrete is to be placed underwater.
The concrete should be plastic and cohesive but should
have good flowability.
 Performance requirements for UWC
Workability & self compaction
Cohesion against washout & segregation
Low heat of hydration
Controlled set time
Compressive strength
Adequate bond
Problems faced
Segregation of fine aggregates from coarse aggregates
Water pollution
Increased w/c ratio
washout
Types of Materials used :
Cement
Coarse Aggregates
Fine Aggregates
Admixtures
 CEMENT :
Types of cements used in UNDERWATER CONCRETING
:

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

Sulphate Resisting -Portland Cement ( SRPC )

Low Heat - Portland Cement ( LHPC )

 AGGREGATES :
Coarse Aggregates :

The coarse aggregate for intruded in concrete

shall conform to the following gradation:
Maximum Size - 1.5-2 inch (100% shall pass a 75
mm sieve )
Minimum Size - material passing a 19 mm sieve
shall not exceed 5% by mass of the coarse
aggregate.
Fine Aggregates :
The sand for the intruded grout shall be well
graded, preferably of round grains and shall
conform to the following gradation:
Passing 1.18 mm sieve 95 - 100%
Passing 600 um sieve 60 - 85%
Passing 300 um sieve 20 - 45%
Passing 150 um sieve 15 - 30%
Passing 75 um sieve 0 - 10%
Use of Different Admixtures
Anti-washout admixtures
Hydrocem
Mellose

Viscosity modified admixtures

Naphthalene Formaldehyde
Sulfonated Melamine Formaldehyde
Concrete Particles with adding MELLOSE

Concrete Particles without MELLOSE

* Black Dots
Indicates Water
Concrete laying techniques
Tremie method

Bucket Placing

Pump method
 TREMIE METHOD

A Tremie is a watertight pipe

Generally 250mm in dia.
Funnel shaped hopper at its upper end
and a loose plug at the bottom.
It is supported on a working platform
above water level.
 Specifications of concrete to

be used in Tremie method:

Coarse Aggregate: Gravel of 3/4 (20mm) max. size. Use
50-55 % of the total aggregate by weight.
Sand, 45-50% of the totalaggregate by weight
Water/Cement Ratio: 0.42 (0.45 Maximum).
Water-Reducing Admixture (preferably it is also
plasticizer): Do not use super plasticizers.
Air-Entrainment Admixtures: To give 6% total air.
Retarding Admixture: To increase setting time to 4-24
hours, as required.
Slump: 6 1/2" 1"
This mix will develop compressive strength in the range
of 5,600 7,000 psi at 28 days.
 Laying of concrete by using Tremie
14

Basic principle behind Method Method of underwater

concreting Tremie
of underwater concreting - method (inside view)
Tremie method

Divers Using Tremie Concreting
Bucket placing
 17 PUMP METHOD:
Pumping concrete directly
into its final position,
involving both horizontal
and vertical delivery of
concrete.
Pumping concrete has the
advantage of operational
PUMP METHOD OF
efficiency with potential
LAYING CONCRETE
savings of time and labour.
Repair works
Defining the Area
Cleaning the Affected Area
Equipment Haulage
Personnel requirements
Inspection methods
Environment considerations
At present, the Tremie placement method is
the standard way of placing high-quality
concrete underwater. The other placement
method are not able to reliably place high-
quality underwater concrete for major
structures, although they may find
application in special cases.
 References :
www.ce.berbley.edu/~parmont/165/tremie
www.vulcanhammer.net
www.ce.gatech.edu/~kk92/classpress/uwater/in
dex.htm
www.scanecm.com.au/products/additives/hydr
ocem/index.htm
www.ce.ecn.purdue.edu/cem/cliproj/civil/mello
se.htm
www.masterbuilder.com/uc.htm