Grout containment sheet and method

Abstract

A water-impermeable grout containment sheet and a method for using the sheet, for example, during the construction of a roadway to support vehicular traffic. An excavation is first cut into a road bed, and a moisture (i.e., water) impermeable grout containment sheet is laid inside the excavation. A plurality of concrete panels are positioned adjacent one another to be coupled together within the excavation, such that at least one of the panels sits on top of the water-impermeable grout containment sheet. Grout is then pumped below the one panel to hold the panel in place within the excavation. The water-impermeable grout containment sheet lies between the grout and the road bed to establish a containment envelope to stop the grout from migrating away from the panel and prevent water from seeping outwardly from the grout into the road bed and into the grout from the excavation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to a moisture (i.e., water) impermeable grout containment sheet and to a method including the step of locating the sheet within an excavation so as to lie between a (e.g., concrete) panel that has been lowered into the excavation and grout that has been pumped below the panel. The group containment sheet and method have particular application during roadway construction or repair where a plurality of concrete panels are laid in excavations formed in a road bed and connected to one another to support vehicular traffic.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]As new communities are built, it is essential to have a roadway system to link each community with neighboring communities. Therefore, a series of highways and freeways are constructed to support vehicular traffic. A common technique for building such roadways is to lay a number of heavy concrete panels or slabs end-to-end and side-by-side one another. All...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The panel is placed in the hole and secured with grout. The grout containment sheet prevents the grout from spreading away from the panel and keeps it moist without getting too wet or drying out. This results in stronger and more stable support for the panel.

Problems solved by technology

However, with the heavy panels sitting on top, the grout has been known to migrate underneath adjacent panels located within a single excavation or within adjacent excavations.

Such migration can adversely affect the stability and level of the concrete panel relative to other panels.

What is even more, the grout lying below the panel within the excavation is susceptible to the negative effects of being exposed to too much water.

Until it is completely cured and hardened, which could take up to seven days or more, grout which becomes either too dry or too wet may become brittle or weakened and lose its maximum structural integrity and load-bearing ability.

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