There are several methods to carry out underwater concreting such as tremie

method, pumping methods, preplaced aggregate concrete etc. which are

described.

The underwater concreting techniques designed mostly to prevent cement

washout. These methods did not obtain the full purpose of avoiding cement wash
out at early stages of using under water concreting apart from cases where large
masses of concreting were employed.

However, more recent techniques could obtain the objective of preventing

washing out of concrete. In this article, various methods will be explored.

Methods of Underwater Concreting

Following are the methods of underwater concreting:

1. Tremie method

2. Pumping technique
3. Hydro valve method

4. Pneumatic valve method

5. Skip method

6. Tilting pallet barge method

7. Preplaced aggregate concrete

8. Toggle bags method

9. Bagged concrete method

1. Tremie Method of Underwater Concreting

Underwater concreting using tremie method is convenient for pouring large
amount of high flowable concrete. The concrete is moved to the hopper by either
pumping, belt conveyer or skips.

Tremie pipe, which upper end connected to a hopper and lower end continuously
submerged in fresh concrete, is used to place concrete at the exact location from
a hopper at the surface. The reason to immerse the tremie pipe lower end is to
prevent intermixing of both concrete and water. Tremie pipe typical arrangement
is shown in Figure-1.
 Figure-1: Typical Arrangement of Tremie Method of Underwater Concreting
Process of Underwater Concreting using Tremie Method
There number of factors that should be considered during Tremie pipe technique
of underwater concreting:

Tremie Equipment
The tremie pipe might be configured in three different ways such as constant
length that is raised during concreting, pipe with different sections which
dismantled during concreting and telescope pipe.

An aluminum alloy pipe can adversely affect the concrete due to chemical
reactions between them therefore it should be avoided. The pipe should have an
adequate diameter to prevent blockage because of aggregate size.

The usual diameter is between 200- 300 mm and occasionally 150 mm and 450
mm could be used but aggregate size should be considered for example 19 mm
and 40 mm aggregate size is lower limit for 150 mm 200 mm pipe diameter
respectively.
Tremie seal
To avoid intermixing water and concrete in the pipe, a wooden plug of plat is
used to seal the end of the pipe. This prevents entering water in to the pipe and
keeps it dry.

After the pipe reach the intended position the concrete is poured and break the
seal. Then concrete flow out of the pipe and creating a seal by accumulating
around the lower end of the pipe
Placing the concrete
As soon as concreting began the pipe mouth should be submerged up to 1- 1.5
m into fresh concrete to prevent water entering the pipe. The concrete flow rate is
controlled by lowering and raising the pipe and either decrease or increase in
concrete discharge indicates the loss of the seal, therefore flow of concrete
should be continuous and carefully monitored.
Flow pattern
Two types of flow pattern are recognized namely, layered and bulging. The
bulging flow is desired because it displaced the concrete uniformly which leads to
lesser laitance deformation and flatter slopes.
2. Underwater Concreting using Pumping Technique
Underwater concreting using pumping technique is a developed version of
Tremie pipe and it is quicker method for concreting in areas that is difficult to
access such as under piers.

Pumping provide several advantages that Tremie pipe is lacking for example,
pouring concrete from mixer to formworks directly, solve blockages in the pipe
because concreting is through pumping instead of using gravitational force, and
risk of segregation is decreased. Figure 2 show typical pipeline configuration.

Figure-2: Typical Configuration of Underwater Concreting Pump Line

3. Hydro Valve Method of Underwater Concreting
This method of underwater concreting is developed and employed by the Dutch
in 1969. A flexible hose which hydrostatically compressed is employed to pour
concrete.

As soon as concrete placed in the upper of the pipe, both friction inside the pipe
and hydrostatic pressure is overcame by concrete weight. This leads to move
concrete slowly in the pipe and avoid segregation. A rigid tubular section is used
to seal the end of the hose. This method is not costly and quite simple. Figure 3
shows typical hydro valve arrangement.

Figure-3: Hydro Valve Apparatus for Underwater Concreting

4. Underwater Concreting using Pneumatic Valves
Pneumatic valves are joined to the end of the pipe line of concrete. There are
different types of valves which are employed for underwater concreting such as
Abetong-Sabema and Shimizu. These two valves are alike apart from a sensor
that attached to the latter; its function is to close the valve when concrete reach
determined thickness.

Another type of valve is available which can be used to pour concrete at a depth
of 52m without immersing end of the pipe. The function of the valves is to permit,
restrict, stop the discharge of concrete and this method is the useful technique.
Figure 4 show Abetong-Sabema valve.

Figure-4: Abetong-Sabema Pneumatic Valve

5. Underwater Concreting using the Skips Method
The equipment that is used for conveying concrete is a bucket with double door
opening at the bottom and overlapping canvas flaps which is fitted at the top to
prevent concrete washing. The skip is lowered down through water slowly as
soon as it filled with concrete and when it reaches the location the doors are
opened either automatically or manually.

The Skip technique of underwater concreting is suitable for cases where a large
mass of concrete is required for stabilizing foundations and small amount of
concrete is needed for different locations. Shows opened and closed skips.

Figure-5: Skips for Underwater Concreting (a) Closed and (b) Opened
6. Underwater Concreting using Tilting Pallet Barge
This technique is useful for shallow water and the concrete is poured in thin
layers. Along the deck of the barge a tilting pallet is constructed upon which
concrete is spread uniformly and then fell into the water freely.
7. Underwater Concreting using Preplaced Aggregate
Concrete
Preplaced aggregate concrete method is quite good for cases where pouring
ordinary concrete is difficult or improbable. It includes placing aggregate in the
forms then injecting concrete into the bottom and filled the forms to the top.

To prevent trapping water and air, concreting is beginning from the bottom. That
is why it is necessary to position the tubes in the forms before placing the
aggregate.

Concrete strength about 70 to 100 percent of conventional concrete can be

obtained in this technique. The pipes are distributed with the maximum distance
of 1.5 m and their diameters ranges from 19 – 35 mm.

Figure-6: Preplaced Aggregate Concrete with Injecting Tubes

8. Toggle Bags Method
Toggle Bags method is useful when small amount of concrete is required. A
reusable canvas bag is sealed at the top with chain and secured with toggles is
filled with concrete and dropped carefully into the determined location then
through opening at the bottom of the bag the concrete is discharged.
9. Bagged Concrete Method
Bagged concrete method used for renew ballast or to seal holes temporarily. The
bags are produced from considerably strong fabric with capacity of 10 -20 liters
and it carried by divers to the selected position.

The concrete slump is between 19- 50 mm and 40 mm is the maximum

aggregate size that can be used. The installation of the bags is similar to bricks in
order to create bonds.

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