Hydro Demolition is the controlled removal of concrete and other structural materials using high-pressure water. This engineering method may seem like a touchstone of human technological advancement; however the inspiration for the use of water jets in construction was pulled from the natural world. The Guorami species of fish utilize their mouths to spit, thus creating a miniature water jet to feed, build nests, tend to their offspring, and display excitement. Similarly, snapping shrimps, or pistol shrimps, are able to utilize their claws to create a focused jet or bubble of water for stunning or killing other animals. Observing this behavior allowed intrepid scientists and engineers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to imagine other practical applications for this watery method of destruction, eventually leading to the hydro demolition technology of today.
In this article we will cover:
- What is hydro demolition?
- Hydro demolition videos
- Hydro demolition and concrete
- Hydro demolition equipment
- Hydro demolition contractors
What is Hydro demolition?
The earliest human-made water jets were used for the purpose of material removal in mining applications, particularly for removing soil and accessing valuable ore via hydraulic mining. In the modern construction industry, water jets are used for de-clogging sanitation pipes; cleaning industrial surfaces; cutting rocks, minerals, glass, and ceramics; stripping paint and lacquer; and more. The specific water jet technology used for removing, cleaning, and demolishing concrete substrate and reinforced concrete structures is known as hydro demolition or hydroblasting, and the flexibility and power of this technology makes it particularly important for structural rehabilitation, like bridge and road infrastructures or commercial pool and amenity decks.
Hydro Demolition Videos
Hydro Demolition at the Florence Water Treatment Plant
Crews used hydro demolition to remove an old layer of concrete at a water treatment plant in South Carolina. The resulting rough texture allows a new concrete surface to be poured.
Using Hydro Demolition to Remove Concrete While Preserving Rebar
The high pressure of water jetting allows degraded concrete to be removed from structures, while leaving rebar intact. This saves both time and money in structural repairs.
Hydro Demolition for Bridge Repair
The 10,000-40,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure saves contractors both time and money by allowing roadways to be demolished and resurfaced without the need for jackhammers.
Hydro Demolition for a Dam Expansion in Colorado
The work to raise the height of a dam involves removing the top 3 inches of existing concrete, which allows new concrete to bond to the old concrete when poured. The machine used for this project produces 20,000 psi, which is ten times the power of a household power washer at 2,000 psi.
Hydro Demolition Concrete
Hydro demolition of concrete is a cost-effective and time-saving technique to refresh, rebuild, and rehabilitate any concrete surfaces. This technology utilizes the natural permeability of concrete to create an overpressure, which breaks the substrate apart. As seen in the second video above, hydro demolition can blast through entire blocks of concrete, even beyond the surface layer, while salvaging the internal supporting structure of rebar. Because the hydro demolition removes rust and scale from the rebar, the metal rebars can be assessed for structural soundness or corrosion. The minimal vibrational output is an additional benefit of hydro demolition over other methods, particularly pneumatic demolition with jackhammers, which can cause microfractures in surrounding materials as well as soft tissue damage for the jackhammer operators.
Hydro Demolition Equipment
Hydro demolition is completed using handheld or robotic machines, which vary in size and use case. Ideally, the machine should be automated, which reduces the need for human involvement and labor costs while increasing safety at the work site. Each hydro demolition machine is built with the use case in mind, from larger machines used for demolishing horizontal road surfaces to compact machines that can fit into an opening less than three feet wide to robots designed specifically to deconstruct a vertical concrete column. Newer technology allows for customization in attachments, such as a kit designed specifically to demolish tunnels and enclosed spaces from the inside out.
Hydro Demolition Contractors
Bengoa Construction – Bengoa Construction is a specialized water-proofing and repair company for commercial amenity decks in Miami, Florida. We utilize hydro demolition to remove surface layers from any damaged concrete in pool deck areas before installing a new surface. Because we specialize in commercial spaces like above ground pools, hydro demolition allows us to complete the concrete pool deck rehabilitation in South Florida with minimal noise and construction dust, and maximum safety and efficiency.
Clean Sweep Hydroblasters – Located in West Palm Beach, Clean Sweep Hydroblasters offers a range of commercial and industrial surfaces, such as removing coatings and surface layers from stucco buildings and concrete patios. They also offer additional specialty surface preparations and demolition treatments on antique planes, ships, and steel and concrete tanks.
Aggregate Technologies Inc. – A firm that operates all over the southern United States, Aggregate Technologies has spent 25 years gaining experience in hydrodemolition, while celebrating the increased safety afforded by water jetting compared to other demolition techniques. They utilize sophisticated, automated robotics systems with precision cutting heads to remove concrete up to a precise depth in nearly any type of project you can imagine.
