Underwater Magic

by James E. McDonald, (M.ASCE), U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES); Structures Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS,
Alberto Scuero, CARPI USA, Roanoke, VA,
Matthew A. Marcy, Oceaneering International, Inc., Upper Marlboro, MD,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1997, Vol. 67, Issue 10, Pg. 65-67


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

Applications of geomembrane systems to arrest concrete deterioration and control leakage in hydraulic structures have been accomplished, with a few exceptions, in a dry environment by dewatering the structure on which the geomembrane is to be installed. Dewatering, however, can be extremely expensive and in many cases may not be possible because of project constraints. Consequently, a procedure for underwater installation of geomembrane repair systems was developed as part of an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' research initiative. The design and underwater constructibility demonstration of the innovative geomembrane repair system are described. Compared to dewatering of a structure for repair, a geomembrane system that can be installed underwater minimizes the impact of the repair on project operations such as hydropower generation, and recreation. Also, the underwater repair system eliminates the potentially adverse environmental impacts associated with dewatering of many structures.

Subject Headings: Underwater structures | Geomembranes | Dewatering | Rehabilitation | Project management | Hydraulic structures | Concrete structures

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