A95 New Speybridge

Adding Life to Concrete – How MARKHAM applied hydrogel durability treatment to the ageing concrete structure, New Speybridge.

The older a concrete structure grows, the higher the potential maintenance costs. In fact, the process of ageing is a self-driving cycle of deterioration. It goes something like this:

• Concrete is somewhat porous, despite everyone’s best efforts. Moisture carries contaminants into and through the concrete.
• Stresses, ASR and/or corrosion of the steel begin to open fine cracks in the slab. More moisture gets in.
• The cause of the cracks gets worse. The cracks get wider. Parts of the structure start to fall off. The cycle repeats until the structure is unusable.

This is a very simplistic summary. The ageing of any given structure is typically caused by a combination of factors. But the overarching theme is to carry out maintenance as early as possible.

CHALLENGE

The New Speybridge is no longer new; it was built in 1931. The asset management team were concerned about the increased risk of corrosion of the reinforcing, as the concrete aged and cracking increased.

A number of options, including cathodic protection, were considered.

SOLUTION

As part of the ongoing maintenance cycle for this ageing structure, AQURON 7000 was selected as an alternative to cathodic protection to prevent further degradation.

This protected the steel reinforcing and the concrete itself, providing durable, corrosion-resistant concrete for the overall structure.