The impact of concrete breakers and jackhammers is not limited to deteriorated concrete. It can damage rebar and produce vibration that generates microfractures in sound concrete. Not to mention the noise and the dust. High-pressure water jets attack fissures in faulty concrete, preserving sound concrete and leaving it with an excellent texture for new bonding. Robotic systems make water jetting even more productive.
Request Our Services
Navigation menu
Hydodemolition is the controlled use of water to demolish and remove reinforced concrete for reconstruction projects. It could be considered directed, focused, concentrated and extremely efficient erosion. At Rampart Hydro, we use diesel power to generate ultra-high water pressures to clean surfaces and to remove reinforced concrete from various structures, such as bridges, dams, parking garages. While typical concrete can withstand forces of up to 3, psi, and high-strength concrete may withstand forces up to 10, psi, we apply surprisingly small volumes of water — 16 gpm per pump — at pressures up to 36, psi to literally blow it away. In fact, with dual units that contain both spray heads and large vacuum lines, the process may appear to be dry to an observer. With innovative and experienced employees, we build our own state-of-the-art equipment for use on surface cleaning projects, including airplane tire rubber removal on runways, to the demolition and removal of reinforced concrete on dams, bridges, parking garages, and other structures. Hand lancing technology also removes membranes from the tightest configurations, such as, behind guard rails, curbs, and corners. Bulk membrane removal is performed by programmed robotic equipment to ensure consistency.
North America
La Porte, TX Hydro-Demolition is a technology that uses extremely high pressure water jets that are capable of removing concrete while not damaging the rebar. The practical application of this technique makes it an extremely effective and efficient method of concrete removal. This is due to two main factors, one being the direct impact of the water jet on the surface. The other is the porous nature of concrete, the high pressure water is forced into the tiny cavities and cracks within the concrete mass, causing it to fracture and split. The variable parameters of the technique, water pressure, jet size and speed of application, make it possible to demolish and remove concrete in a very precise and controlled way. These variables enable selective removal of deteriorated or de-laminated concrete, as the jet stream penetrates the cracks and faults in the degraded material more quickly, leaving the sound concrete intact.
Who need jackhammers? Utah has begun to use hydro demolition to refurbish bridge decks on a highway. A hydro demolition tractor, which looks like a tractor with a giant hose, blasts water at 36, PSI to remove concrete damaged by salt and frost from the bridge deck. Once workers get down to the steel of the bridge they can pave over it with asphalt. A lance glides over the concrete, shooting a single high pressure water jet and removing the damaged material. The user sets the hydro demolition parameters how fast, how wide.
