Underwater Construction Services

There are many differences between normal construction and underwater construction. We have a workforce with special expertise for this purpose. Underwater construction comprises of many things. For many structures, which are either fully or partly located under the water, the concrete construction that forms the base of the structure is extremely important.

Underwater Construction

A way of placing the concrete under the water is underwater construction. When the foundation of structures like bridges and dams need to remain under the water, engineers opt for underwater construction. In the places where the depth is very much, construction in water becomes difficult. Creating a dry and water-free environment for working is a major requirement during this type of construction. This is to ensure proper stability of the structure. Caissons and cofferdams are two techniques of underwater construction.

The different types of caissons are:

  • Open caissons
  • Box caissons
  • Pneumatic caissons
  • Suction caissons

The following are the different types of cofferdams:

  • Rock-fill cofferdams
  • Earthen cofferdams
  • Single-walled cofferdams
  • Cellular cofferdams
  • Crib cofferdams
  • Doubled cofferdams

Bracing frame, sheet piling and concrete seal are the components of cofferdams.

Underwater Concreting

It is the process of pouring the prepared concrete below the water surface using:

  • Pumping technique
  • Tremie method
  • Pneumatic valve method
  • Hydro valve method
  • Tilting pallet barge method
  • Skip method
  • Bagged concrete method
  • Toggle bags method
  • Preplaced aggregate concrete

Underwater Concrete Treatment

The repairing of underwater concrete structures is necessary to ensure longevity.

The procedures of underwater concrete structure repair include:

  • Surface spalling repair
  • Preplaced aggregate concrete
  • Large scale repair of underwater structural concrete
  • Guniting or shotcrete method for repairing an underwater concrete structure
  • Injection technique to restore the underwater concrete structure
  • Steel sleeve repairing technique of underwater concrete

Micro Concreting

The popularity of micro concrete is continuously increasing. At a very little cost, it gives the feel and looks of concrete. It does not also have the heaviness of real concrete. As it is waterproof, engineers often use it for underwater construction. There are many advantages of micro concrete over conventional concrete.

Some of these are:

  • Low permeability
  • No need for heavy machinery as it requires no compaction
  • Becomes strong immediately after applying
  • Bonds well to almost any surface
  • A safe and durable option as there is no use of chlorine while making it
  • No cracks or folds in the structure as it will not shrink after applying

The following are the steps of applying micro concrete:

  • Preparing the surface
  • Mixing
  • Application

Grouting

A mixture of cement, sand and water or chemicals is grout. The use of it is for repairing concrete cracks, filling gaps for sealing and waterproofing and soil stabilization. Another important use of it is to give additional strength to the foundations of load-bearing structures. The process of injecting a pumpable material into a structure is grouting, which changes its physical properties.

The following are the different types of grouting:

  • Cement grouting
  • Chemical grouting
  • Resin grouting
  • Bentonite grouting
  • Bituminous grouting

Grouting can also be divided into G1 grouting and G2 grouting.

Grouting is effective for use in many underwater constructions like:

  • Dams
  • Bridge columns
  • Pillars
  • Piles
  • Slipways

The advantages of grouting include:

  • No significant ‘wash-out’ of cement phase when placed in underwater
  • Shrinkage compensating properties
  • Effectively displaces water
  • Does not segregate or bleed
  • Good impact, vibration and thermal resistance
  • Non-corrosive to steel or iron

Underwater Dredging and Desilting

The removal of sediments and other unwanted materials from a body of water is the purpose of dredging and desilting.

These are necessary for various reasons, which include:

  • Maintaining an already existing waterway for improved navigation
  • Creation of a new waterway
  • Preparing an area for future construction projects
  • Removing contaminants
  • Making a waterbody healthier and less murky

For underwater dredging and desilting, we use the best tools and technologies. Our wide range of tools enables us to handle projects of any scale.

Underwater Sealing and Seal Breaking

Leakages can happen in underwater constructions due to many reasons. As systems get older, the leakages can become more prevalent. In any part of a system, leaks can occur. These lead to additional damage and reduce the efficiency of the system. Often contaminated groundwater can mix into the rivers and lakes due to leakage in pipelines. When there are leakages in hydroelectric dams, the turbine components are worn down. This leads to a decrease in efficiency during electric generation and subsequent problems. We are expert in underwater leak detection and leak sealing. Our expert diver technicians, modern technologies and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) enable us to efficiently serve our clients. We provide cost-effective, safe and innovative solutions for sealing leaks. We repair damaged gates and walls of any underwater construction by effective methods including proper sealing of cracks.

Sealing of any underwater construction becomes necessary when it is of no use. However, if there is any need for building new construction at such an abandoned place, we break the seal with the help of our advanced machinery.