Placing Concrete Under Water

Putzmeister America, Inc.
Created: May 16, 2011

Putzmeister concrete placing system places tremie concrete for the Olmsted Locks and Dam project using the In-the-Wet method.

SAB proposed a complete system approach made up of placing booms, truck-mounted concrete boom pumps, diversion valves, remix hoppers and trailer pumps as a solution for placing the tremie concrete for...
SAB proposed a complete system approach made up of placing booms, truck-mounted concrete boom pumps, diversion valves, remix hoppers and trailer pumps as a solution for placing the tremie concrete for the Olmsted Locks and Dam project.
The process of placing the tremie concrete begins with a Putzmeister 40Z-Meter truck-mounted concrete pump that delivers the concrete to the river side of the project through slickline across the lock...
The process of placing the tremie concrete begins with a Putzmeister 40Z-Meter truck-mounted concrete pump that delivers the concrete to the river side of the project through slickline across the lock chambers.
At the end of the slickline is a 31-Meter placing boom which delivers the concrete into the four stationary mixer drums on each of the two delivery barges.
At the end of the slickline is a 31-Meter placing boom which delivers the concrete into the four stationary mixer drums on each of the two delivery barges.
The delivery barges then go to the placing barge, where the stationary mixer drums dump the concrete into the Maxcrete remix hoppers. The remix hoppers then place the concrete into the hoppers of...
The delivery barges then go to the placing barge, where the stationary mixer drums dump the concrete into the Maxcrete remix hoppers. The remix hoppers then place the concrete into the hoppers of the BSA 2112 skid-mounted concrete trailer pumps.
Two DVH 5/2 diversion valves also help pump the concrete, along with the trailer BSA pumps.
Two DVH 5/2 diversion valves also help pump the concrete, along with the trailer BSA pumps.
From the trailer pumps, the concrete travels up to the two MX 43/47Z-Meter placing booms, where it finally moves into the tremie pipes, traveling underwater to its final resting place underneath the...
From the trailer pumps, the concrete travels up to the two MX 43/47Z-Meter placing booms, where it finally moves into the tremie pipes, traveling underwater to its final resting place underneath the precast concrete shells.
The placement of the concrete for each of the 28 shells is a non-stop 36-hour process.
The placement of the concrete for each of the 28 shells is a non-stop 36-hour process.
The concrete placing system is estimated to be on site through 2015.
The concrete placing system is estimated to be on site through 2015.

Two DVH 5/2 diversion valves are hooked up between the trailer pumps and the placing booms. "The diversion valves have been an added support of muscle within this system," Whitworth says. "They provide the flexibility to use either trailer pump with either placing boom, and provide cleanout routes. In addition, the valves can easily handle high pressures up to 1,885 psi without leaking."

After the trailer pumps and diversion valves, the concrete travels up to the two MX 43/47Z placing booms. It is then delivered to the tremie pipes that move it underwater to its final resting place underneath the precast concrete shells.

As of early January 2011, the concrete placing system had delivered 2,000 cubic yards of concrete for one precast shell. The system will deliver up to 5,000 cubic yards of concrete for each of the remaining pours and is estimated to be on site through 2015.

The Equipment

Putzmeister's Special Applications Business (SAB) helped decide what equipment would be best suited to deliver the tremie concrete. Equipment used for the placement process includes:

Two freestanding MX 43/47Z-Meter placing booms mounted on two freestanding pin towers
One 31-Meter placing boom
Two BSA 2112 skid-mounted concrete trailer pumps
One 40-Meter truck-mounted concrete boom pump
Four Maxon Maxcrete IV 18-cubic yard (13.7m3) remix hoppers
Two DVH 5/2 diversion valves