Dam Freeze-Thaw Repair

This 100 year old, multiple-arch concrete dam, had experienced years of cyclic freeze-thaw damage on its downstream face. The depth of freeze-thaw attack varied greatly and achieving a sound substrate was difficult to visually evaluate in many areas.

Voss Labs worked with the dam owner and repair contractor to evaluate the substrate preparation methods and determine whether or not additional chipping was required. Tensile pull-off tests were performed per ASTM C1583 on the prepared substrate to verify that the repair material would be applied to a sound layer and that a good bond was capable of being achieved. Additional pull off tests were performed after the repair material had been applied to verify that a proper bond strength had been successfully attained.