Performance Evaluation of Waterproofing Membrane Systems Subject to the Concrete Joint Load Behavior of Below-Grade Concrete Structures

Below-grade structures such as parking lots, underground subway tunnels, and basements are growing in scale and reaching deeper below-ground levels. In this type of environment, they become subject to higher water pressure. The concrete material of the structures is exposed to wet conditions for longer periods of time, which makes the proper adhesion of waterproofing membranes difficult. Joint movements from increased structural settlement, thermal expansion/shrinkage, and physical loads from external sources (e.g., vehicles) make securing durable waterproofing challenging. While ASTM Guides, Korean Codes, and BS Practice Codes on below-grade waterproofing stress the importance of manufacturer specification for quality control, ensuring high quality waterproofing for the ever-changing scale of construction remains a challenge. This study proposes a new evaluation method and criteria which allow for the selection of waterproofing membranes based on specific performance attributes and workmanship. It subjects six different waterproofing membrane systems (installed on dry and wet surface conditioned mortar slab specimens with an artificial joint to different cyclic movement widths) to 300 cycles in water to demonstrate that inadequate material properties and workmanship are key causes for leakages

Study on the Applicability of Dynamic Stability Evaluation Criteria by Comparison of Trackside Measurement Results of Different Track Structures

Countries such as Korea adopt design codes, evaluation criteria and specifications from standards originating abroad; this leads to a lack of distinction of the separate applications of dynamic stability evaluation parameters between various track structures of different track moduli. This paper discusses the applicability of the dynamic stability evaluation method of railway track structures by assessing 10 different types of railway track sections of a newly constructed railway operation line (5 ballasted and 5 concrete type track structures) by field instrumentation testing. Parameters of track support stiffness (TSS), wheel load fluctuation, derailment coefficient, and rail displacement are measured. The respective results are first compared to the standard criteria (design specification) and comparisons between the different track types are presented as ratios. Findings show that while all of the tracks satisfy the design specification requirements, each track type measurement result varies by a noticeable degree, particularly when comparing between concrete and ballast type track structures. Results of the study demonstrate that using the same dynamic stability evaluation criteria can lead to an incorrect assessment of the track performance evaluation of track structure, and a separate evaluation parameter for ballasted and concrete track structures is required

Property Analysis of Double-Sided Composite Waterproofing Sheet for Simultaneous Application on Asphalt Concrete and Latex-Modified Concrete Pavements for Bridge Decks

Waterproofing in pavements can determine the waterproofing performance of the entire bridge structure. In this study, two types of pavement layers, asphalt concrete (APC) and latex-modified concrete (LMC), are investigated as options to improve the waterproofing performance of bridge structures with either APC or LMC-type pavement by installing a double-sided adhesive waterproofing sheet. The material performance of the proposed waterproofing sheet was evaluated for deterioration factors such as temperature change, chemical erosion, cracking behavior, and water pressure as stipulated in the Korean industrial standards (hereinafter referred to as KS) for bridge waterproofing materials. The waterproof sheet was directly installed on to specimens with the respective two pavement types to evaluate the field application performance. As a result of the evaluation, the physical waterproofing performance of the proposed waterproofing sheet satisfies all standard quality conditions, and as a result of direct application to APC and LMC pavement, the waterproof performance is at least 8% to 130% higher than the standard quality standard in APC pavement, and LMC pavement shows high performance, up to about 320%. Therefore, it is expected that the newly proposed waterproofing sheet as a bridge deck surface waterproofing material can be considered as a feasible option to improve the waterproofing performance for both APC and LMC pavement

Study on the Applicability of Dynamic Factor Standards by Comparison of Spring Constant Based Dynamic Factor of Ballasted and Concrete Track Structures

Dynamic factor evaluation method calculation methods outlined by Eisenmann (DAFEisenmann) and the American Railway Engineering Association (DAFArea) are used to calculate the dynamic factor during design and for trackside measurement, respectively, in nations where the construction of concrete track structures is relatively new. In this situation, dynamic factor calculation methods may be incorrect, and this is demonstrated by comparison of the respective track types’ total spring constant. A finite element analysis of a standard design railway track is conducted, and the design total spring constant (TSC, or K) obtained from the time history function analysis is compared to the TSC of existing tracks through trackside measurement results. The comparison result shows that TSC obtained by finite element analysis result is 22% higher than that of the trackside measurement value, indicating that the TSC is conservative in the current track design. Considering the proportional relationship between TSC and dynamic factor, it is estimated that the dynamic factor currently being applied in track design is also conservative. Based on these findings, an assessment of the applicability of different dynamic factors (DAFEisenmann and DAFArea), theoretical calculation and field measurement (DAFField) using the probabilistic analysis of wheel loads from the field measurement data is conducted. A correlative analysis between DAFEisenmann and DAFArea shows that DAFEisenmann and DAFArea were estimated to be higher by 33% and 27% in ballasted track and by 39% and 30% in concrete track than the dynamic factor derived from field measurement, respectively, which indicates that the dynamic factor currently in use can potentially lead to over-estimation in track design and maintenance

Hydraulic Resistance Analysis Based on Cohesive Strength and Toughness of Synthetic Polymerized Rubber Gel Used as Water-Leakage Repair Material for Concrete Structures

As construction in urban centers increases internationally, many concrete infrastructures are being built at 100 m or more underground, and the influence of groundwater on these facilities is also increasing. Accordingly, the importance of waterproofing and leak-proofing technology for securing long-term durability and safety of underground concrete facilities has been greatly emphasized. The most important required performance of such leak repair technology is to withstand structural behavior and groundwater pressure well. Currently, as a leak repair material for underground concrete facilities, a synthetic rubber-based polymer rubber gel with adhesive flexibility is used internationally. However, quantitative data on how deep the material can perform underground are lacking. In general, the water pressure resistance evaluation of leak repair materials only checks whether it withstands the water pressure of 30 m (0.3 MPa) underground. Therefore, in this study, the toughness of the synthetic rubber polymerized gel (SPRG) leak repair material was calculated using three factors: viscosity, cohesive strength (adhesion strength), and elongation, and an analysis method that can be replaced with water pressure resistance was proposed. In addition, in the correlation between toughness and underground water pressure, it was possible to find out the thickness of the leak repair material used by the underground depth. As a result, it was possible to know the required thickness of the leak repair material according to the depth of the structure to be built underground

Evaluation of Viscoelastic Adhesion Strength and Stability of Composite Waterproofing Sheet Using Non-Hardening Viscoelastic Synthetic Polymer-Based Rubber Gel

Recently, a non-hardening type synthetic polymerized rubber gel (hereinafter referred to as NHV-SPRG) composite waterproofing sheet has been used on construction site as a new waterproofing technology. In this study, a test method is proposed in which a composite waterproof sheet is attached to an area of 150 mm in length and 100 mm in width on the mortar-based substrate specimen, and subsequently peeled off at 180 ° vertically to measure the “peel load (N)” at 10 points of 10 mm intervals (P1~P10, from 30 mm point to 120 mm point). Value obtained by dividing the average value of the measured peeling load by a width of 100 mm was defined as “viscoelastic adhesion strength (N/mm)”. The viscoelastic adhesive strength evaluated for the NHV-SPRG composite waterproof sheet of 4 types (VG-1, VG-2, VG-3, VG-4) was an average of 1.99 N/mm. To examine the effectiveness of the viscoelastic adhesive strength, the adhesion stability was evaluated based on the peel load’s coefficient of variation, grade of the linear regression line of the peel load, and peel load percent relative range in peel load for each section of the composite waterproofing layer. As a result, the VG-2 type was measured to have the highest viscoelastic adhesive strength, but the VG-1 type was confirmed to have the highest adhesive stability. Considering these results, it is judged that even a product with high adhesion can have varying stability in terms of performance that can affect construction precision. The test method and performance standard value for the viscoelastic adhesion strength proposed as an evaluation index through this study are expected to be used as a quality control standard to secure the on-site adhesion stability of the NHV-SPRG composite waterproof sheet

Hydraulic Resistance Analysis Based on Cohesive Strength and Toughness of Synthetic Polymerized Rubber Gel Used as Water-Leakage Repair Material for Concrete Structures

As construction in urban centers increases internationally, many concrete infrastructures are being built at 100 m or more underground, and the influence of groundwater on these facilities is also increasing. Accordingly, the importance of waterproofing and leak-proofing technology for securing long-term durability and safety of underground concrete facilities has been greatly emphasized. The most important required performance of such leak repair technology is to withstand structural behavior and groundwater pressure well. Currently, as a leak repair material for underground concrete facilities, a synthetic rubber-based polymer rubber gel with adhesive flexibility is used internationally. However, quantitative data on how deep the material can perform underground are lacking. In general, the water pressure resistance evaluation of leak repair materials only checks whether it withstands the water pressure of 30 m (0.3 MPa) underground. Therefore, in this study, the toughness of the synthetic rubber polymerized gel (SPRG) leak repair material was calculated using three factors: viscosity, cohesive strength (adhesion strength), and elongation, and an analysis method that can be replaced with water pressure resistance was proposed. In addition, in the correlation between toughness and underground water pressure, it was possible to find out the thickness of the leak repair material used by the underground depth. As a result, it was possible to know the required thickness of the leak repair material according to the depth of the structure to be built underground

Evaluation of Viscoelastic Adhesion Strength and Stability of Composite Waterproofing Sheet Using Non-Hardening Viscoelastic Synthetic Polymer-Based Rubber Gel

Recently, a non-hardening type synthetic polymerized rubber gel (hereinafter referred to as NHV-SPRG) composite waterproofing sheet has been used on construction site as a new waterproofing technology. In this study, a test method is proposed in which a composite waterproof sheet is attached to an area of 150 mm in length and 100 mm in width on the mortar-based substrate specimen, and subsequently peeled off at 180 ° vertically to measure the “peel load (N)” at 10 points of 10 mm intervals (P1~P10, from 30 mm point to 120 mm point). Value obtained by dividing the average value of the measured peeling load by a width of 100 mm was defined as “viscoelastic adhesion strength (N/mm)”. The viscoelastic adhesive strength evaluated for the NHV-SPRG composite waterproof sheet of 4 types (VG-1, VG-2, VG-3, VG-4) was an average of 1.99 N/mm. To examine the effectiveness of the viscoelastic adhesive strength, the adhesion stability was evaluated based on the peel load’s coefficient of variation, grade of the linear regression line of the peel load, and peel load percent relative range in peel load for each section of the composite waterproofing layer. As a result, the VG-2 type was measured to have the highest viscoelastic adhesive strength, but the VG-1 type was confirmed to have the highest adhesive stability. Considering these results, it is judged that even a product with high adhesion can have varying stability in terms of performance that can affect construction precision. The test method and performance standard value for the viscoelastic adhesion strength proposed as an evaluation index through this study are expected to be used as a quality control standard to secure the on-site adhesion stability of the NHV-SPRG composite waterproof sheet

Al2O3-Coated Si-Alloy Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Silicon-based anodes can increase the energy density of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their large weights and volumetric capacities. However, repeated charging and discharging can rapidly deteriorate the electrochemical properties because of a large volume change in the electrode. In this study, a commercial Fe-Si powder was coated with Al2O3 layers of different thicknesses via atomic layer deposition (ALD) to prevent the volume expansion of Si and suppress the formation of crack-induced solid electrolyte interfaces. The Al2O3 content was controlled by adjusting the trimethyl aluminum exposure time, and higher Al2O3 contents significantly improved the electrochemical properties. In 300 cycles, the capacity retention rate of a pouch full-cell containing the fabricated anodes increased from 69.8% to 72.3% and 79.1% depending on the Al2O3 content. The powder characterization and coin and pouch cell cycle evaluation results confirmed the formation of an Al2O3 layer on the powder surface. Furthermore, the expansion rate observed during the charging/discharging of the pouch cell indicated that the deposited layer suppressed the powder expansion and improved the cell stability. Thus, the performance of an LIB containing Si-alloy anodes can be improved by coating an ALD-synthesized protective Al2O3 layer

Properties of Fe–Si Alloy Anode for Lithium-Ion Battery Synthesized Using Mechanical Milling

Silicon (Si)-based anode materials can increase the energy density of lithium (Li)-ion batteries owing to the high weight and volume capacity of Si. However, their electrochemical properties rapidly deteriorate due to large volume changes in the electrode resulting from repeated charging and discharging. In this study, we manufactured structurally stable Fe–Si alloy powders by performing high-energy milling for up to 24 h through the reduction of the Si phase size and the formation of the α-FeSi2 phase. The cause behind the deterioration of the electrochemical properties of the Fe–Si alloy powder produced by over-milling (milling for an increased time) was investigated. The 12 h milled Fe–Si alloy powder showed the best electrochemical properties. Through the microstructural analysis of the Fe–Si alloy powders after the evaluation of half/full coin cells, powder resistance tests, and charge/discharge cycles, it was found that this was due to the low electrical conductivity and durability of β-FeSi2. The findings provide insight into the possible improvements in battery performance through the commercialization of Fe–Si alloy powders produced by over-milling in a mechanical alloying process