Drainage Systems – Repair of Leaking Joints and Compaction of Weak Soils

PROBLEM

Leaking joints in drainage box culverts or pipes allow foundation soils to be removed from the pavement system. The soils are carried out with the water that moves through the pavement system and out through the leaking joints. This causes loss of support for the pavement system—causing settlement and premature cracking of the pavement.

This can also cause voids around the culvert or within the pavement system that can lead to sudden movement in the pavement and at times catastrophic failures. Some drainage system joints are intact but simply have poor compaction over the culvert or pipe that needs stabilization.

SOLUTION

Apply UDI with URETEK 486 Star® water-resistant, expansive polymer into the foundation soils beneath the pavement system at various elevations to compact loose soils to properly support the roadway. Continue injection into the soils as needed to raise the pavement to grade. Inject the polymer around leaking joints to fill voids and compact the soils around the drainage system and to allow material to enter the leaking joints while expanding to provide a positive encasement seal of the joint.

EXPECTED RESULTS

  • Compact the loose soils around and above the drainage system to provide sufficient support for the roadway.
  • Seal any leaking joints in the culverts or pipes to prevent foundation soils from leaving the area via the drainage system.
  • Lift the pavement system with continued injection into the soils, if needed.

BENEFITS

  • Zero daytime lane closures.
  • Complete reconstruction of the drainage system is not required.
  • Tear out and replacement of the pavement and support soils to excavate the drainage system is not required.
  • Tremendous dollar savings over replacement.
  • Injection to seal the leaking joints in the drainage system can be easily controlled to prevent filling of the pipe and waste of material.
  • Yearly re-sealing of the drainage system joints from the inside is not required as is often the case with traditional methods.
  • Injection can be accomplished in wet soil conditions as URETEK 486 STAR® hydro-insensitive polymer will form a dimensionally stabile polymer even when injecting into saturated soils. The expansion process will also drive the water out of the soil system.

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