Advanced Construction Methods

UNDERWATER
CONSTRUCTION
Prepared by P.A.Nadgouda
Assistant Professor
DYPCET
what is underwater construction?
 Introduction
• During the construction of bridges, dams or any other
structure where the foundation part of the structure is
most likely to lie underwater, we have to opt for
underwater construction

• Construction in water poses many difficulties especially in

the places where there the depth is considerable
 Activities include

• Power generation

• Bridges
• water utilities

• ship husbandry
• Industria
l

mining pipeline

• power and
gas
transmission
underwater construction techniques

almost any construction

technique that can be used
abovewater can also be used
underwater
underwater construction techniques

There are a number of

products and materials that
have been formulated or
developed specifically for
underwater work
underwater construction techniques

• wet construction
&
• dry
construction
wet construction
• a diver evaluate the overall
cost of the work considering
time , equipment needs
• the capability of a diver to
accomplish the specific task
Dry construction

Caisson

&

Cofferdam
Caisson
• permanent structure
• large hollow structure that sunk down
through the earth
• used in construction of bridge piers,
building columns, dams, repair of ships...
• keeps working environment dry
working area of caissons
 Advantages of caisson

• economic
• slight less noise and reduced vibrations
• easily adaptable to varying site conditions
• high axial and lateral loading capacity
 Cofferdams
• temporary structure
• allows enclosed space to be pumped out, creating dry environment
• enclosed coffers are commonly used for construction and repair of oil
platforms , bridge piers and other support structures built within or over
water
• a cofferdam involves the interaction of the structure, soil and water. Loads
imposed include the hydrostatic forces of the water as well as the dynamic
forces due to currents and waves
• used for shallow construction having depth less than 10m.
working area of cofferdams
 advantages of cofferdam

• provides safe environment to work

• contractors have design responsibilty
• steel sheet piles are easily installed and removed
• materials typically reused on other projects
 placing concrete under water
The satisfactory method of placing concrete underwater is by the use of tremie pipe

tremie method
• a tremie is a water tight pipe
• generally 250 mm in diameter
• capable of easy coupling for increase
or decrease of length
• Funnel shaped hopper at its upper end and a
loose plug at the bottom
• the concrete having a very high slump of about
15 to 20 cm is poured into the funnel
 placing concrete under water
tremie method
• lifted up and slight jerk is given, so that the
concrete gets discharged
• again concrete is poured over the funnel, the pipe
is slightly lifted amd given jerk
• in this way concrete work is progressed without
stopping till the concrete level comes above the
water level
placing concrete under water
Thanking you