UNDER WATER

CONCRETING
UNDER THE PRESENDED
GUIDEANS OF BY
Prof. Sohan Aldar
M.M.Bhalerao
TOPICS TO BE COVERED

• Introduction
• Concrete Specification
• Laying Techniques
• Repair Works
• Conclusion
Introduction
• Underwater concreting is a critical concreting
process performed for offshore construction.
• It involves the process of carefully placing fresh
concrete underwater.
• As construction in water results in many difficulties,
the start to end of an underwater construction
requires special care, supervision and planning.
• For example, the construction of the foundation and
piles to support the bridge crossing a river, or a dock
construction.
Performance requirements for UWC
a. Workability & self compaction
b. Cohesion against washout &
segregation
c. Low heat of hydration
d. Controlled set time
e. Compressive strength
f. Adequate bond

Problems faced
a. Segregation of fine aggregates from coarse
aggregates
b. Increased w / c ratio
c. Water pollution
d. Washout
Types of materials used:
Cement
Coarse Aggregates
Fine Aggregates
Admixtures
CEMENT :
Types of cement used in UNDERWATER CONCRETING :-

• Ordinary Portland Cement ( OPC )

• Sulphate Resisting -Portland Cement ( SRPC )

• Low Heat - Portland Cement ( LHPC )

Aggregates
 Coarse Aggregates :
The coarse aggregate for intruded in concrete shall conform to the following
gradation
• Maximum Size 1.5-2 inch ( 100 % shall pass a 75 mm sieve )
• Minimum Size material passing a 19 mm sieve shall not exceed 5 % by mass of
the coarse aggregate
  Fine aggregates

The sand for the intruded grout shall be well

gradedpreferably of round grains and shall conform to the
following gradation

• Passing 1.18 mm sieve 95-100 %

• Passing 600 um sieve 60- 85 %
• Passing 300 um sieve 20- 45 %
• Passing 150 um sieve 15- 30 %
• Passing 75 um sieve 0- 10 %
Use of different admixtures
 Anti - washout admixtures
• Hydrocem
• Mellose

 Viscosity modified admixtures

• Naphthalene Formaldehyde
• Sulfonated Melamine Formaldehyde
Concrete particles with adding MELLOSE

Concrete particles without adding MELLOSE

Black dots indicates water

Concrete laying techniques

• Tremie method 

• Bucket placing 

• Pump method 
 Tremie method
• A Tremie is a watertight pipe
• Generally 250mm in dia.
• Funnel shaped hopper at its upper end and
a loose plug at the bottom
• It is supported on a working platform
above water level .
 Specification of concrete to be
used in Tremie method :
•Sand , 45-50 % of the total aggregate by weight

•Water / Cement Ratio : 0.42 ( 0.45 Maximum )

•Water - Reducing Admixture ( preferably it is also plasticizer )Do not use super plasticizers

•Coarse Aggregate : Gravel of 3/4 " ( 20mm ) max . size . Use 50-55 % of the total aggregate by
weight
•Air - Entrainment Admixtures : To give 6 % total air

•Retarding Admixture : To increase setting time to 4 -24 hours , as required

•Slump : 6 1/2 " + 1 “

•This mix will develop compressive strength in the range of 5,600 - 7,000 psi at 28 days .
Laying of concrete by using tremie
Divers using Tremie concreting
Bucket placing :
1. The concrete is deposited under water by a bottom opening

bucket

2. The buckets usually are fitted with a bottom roller or drop

bottom gates.

3. The bucket is filled with concrete and its top covered with

gunny sack and lowered slowly

4. Tremie method is more suitable as compaired to bucket placing

 Pump method
• Pumping concrete directly into its final position ,
involving both horizontal and vertical delivery of
concrete
• Pumping concrete has the advantage of operational
efficiency with potential savings of time and labour
Thanks you