Protection of Concrete Bridge from Water & Chloride Damage
| Project: | Concrete Structure of Suspension Bridge, near Tianjin, China |
| Designer: | Tianjin Municipal Engineering Design Institute |
| Owner: | |
| Contractor: | Tianjin #3 Municipal Engineering Company |
| Products: | Gem-Gard SX |
| Objective: | Protection of a new reinforced concrete suspension bridge structure in Tianjin port area in northeastern China against water and airborne salt from the ocean nearby.
Suspended Span: 364 m Total length: 2,838 m Height of Towers: 140 m After a thorough testing of various sealers by an independent laboratory in China the Gem-Gard SX was selected as the best performing and cost-effective long-term protective sealer. Gem-Gard SX is a penetrating sealer preventing water & chloride intrusion into concrete that is suitable for vehicular traffic surfaces and concrete exposed to heavy chloride attack. Gem-Gard SX deeply penetrating sealer allows maximum penetration of into the pore structure of the concrete, where the active compounds react chemically with cement to provide water-repellent barrier. It is breathable & allows the moisture contained in concrete to escape freely, while preventing water and chloride ingress. The bridge towers were protected in 2003 by Gem-Gard SX spray applied onto the concrete surface and the project was completed in 2004 by protecting the suspended reinforced concrete slab, also with Gem-Gard SX. Tianjin bridge concrete surface protected by Gem-Gard SX was over 50,000 m2 (550,000 ft2). |
Figure 1 Hand Spray Application of Gem Gard SX Sealer
Figure 2 Tianjin Bridge
Figure 3 Tianjin Bridge