Waterstop Joint with Epoxy Injection for Concrete Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterstop systems in concrete structures face challenges in ensuring watertightness due to fissures and air entrapment issues during the concrete pouring process, leading to leakage problems, especially in large and underwater structures.
Innovation Solution
A waterstop joint design featuring bulged portions made of compressible materials and epoxy resin injection tubes mounted adjacent to these portions, allowing high-pressure injection of curing liquid to fill cavities and compress the bulged portions against the concrete for a tighter seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid rubber waterstop is used in concrete structures, then the waterstop provides basic sealing function, but fissures and gravel spots caused by shrinkage and pouring errors lead to leakage through the concrete
Solution Approach 1:
Epoxy resin is introduced as an intermediary substance to fill fissures, gravel spots, and cavities in the concrete around the waterstop. The resin acts as a mediator between the waterstop and the concrete, sealing defects that the rubber waterstop alone cannot address, thereby preventing leakage through the concrete structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and properties of the sealing interface by injecting liquid epoxy resin that cures into a solid sealant. This parameter change from liquid to solid state allows the resin to fill defects and then provide a durable, water-tight seal around the waterstop, addressing the leakage issue caused by concrete shrinkage and pouring errors.
2Reliability
If the waterstop is installed during concrete pouring, then the joint can be sealed, but air entrapment and porosity occur due to high concrete pressures and improper installation
Solution Approach 1:
Air vent channels are provided in the waterstop structure that allow air to escape from the sealing area during concrete pouring. This preliminary provision of escape paths prevents air entrapment before it becomes a problem, while the epoxy resin injection system is prepared in advance to seal any porosity that may develop during the pouring process.
Solution Approach 2:
The epoxy resin serves as an intermediary that seals porosity and cavities formed during concrete pouring. By injecting the resin into the concrete around the waterstop after pouring, the system addresses defects that occurred during installation without requiring perfect installation conditions.
3Strength
If the waterstop uses vulcanized steel strips for concrete bonding, then concrete adhesion improves, but the installation process becomes more complex and vulnerable to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The epoxy resin injection system acts as an additional intermediary bonding mechanism between the waterstop and concrete. While the vulcanized steel strips provide primary mechanical bonding, the epoxy resin fills gaps and enhances the bond, reducing the criticality of precise installation and compensating for any movement or misalignment that occurs during pouring.
4Reliability
If injection tubes are mounted to fixation strips for epoxy resin injection, then cavities can be filled, but the system requires precise positioning and additional mounting components
Solution Approach 1:
The injection tube mounting structure is merged with the existing fixation strip and waterstop assembly. The brackets and mounting mechanisms are integrated into the overall waterstop structure rather than being separate add-on components, reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to fill cavities effectively.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces leakage by ensuring a strong and tight seal, even under high concrete pressures, by filling cracks and compressing the bulged portions, thereby enhancing the watertightness of the joint.
Implementation Method 1
When the curing liquid is pumped under high pressure through the injection tubes, the curing liquid will not only fill any cavities and cracks in the neighborhood
Implementation Method 2
the curing liquid will also compress the bulged portions of the waterstop against the concrete, whereby a tighter seal is achieved
Implementation Method 3
injecting a curing liquid, such as epoxy resin
Data Source
AI summary
A waterstop joint includes a sealing strip made of an elastomer or a rubber like material, two bulged portions, each bulged portion extending along a different one of said two peripheries of the sealing strip, two fixation strips, each fixation strip extending from a different one of said two bulged portions, and extending in the same plane as the sealing strip, and a multitude of injection tubes for injecting a curing liquid, such as epoxy resin. One outer end of each of said injection tubes is mounted to, or in the vicinity of, one of the steel strips. The outer end of each of the injection tubes is mounted to, or immediately adjacent to, one of said two bulged portions.