Controlled Cracking of Large Size Concrete Structures by a Steam Pressure Cracking Agent

Abstract

The dismantling of large concrete structures causes environmental pollution due to the dispersion of polluted micro-particles. The purpose of this study is to develop an environmentally friendly demolition method. Steam pressure cracking (SPC) is a method that can safely and quickly separate concrete because there is less vibration compared to the explosion method. To date, the authors have shown that the direction of cracking in a small sample can be controlled by an induction hole. The principle of control is that the elastic wave of compression stress generated from the SPC reaction changes to a tensile elastic wave at the induction hole, and a crack is initiated. In this study, it was shown that the direction of crack propagation can be controlled by using induction holes in large concrete structures that are 1m on each side. Further, in the SPC method, the large amount of concrete powder generated by the explosion method is not produced, and there is no risk of secondary contamination by fine concrete powder. It was also possible to separate small pieces from the end face of the large concrete by SPC and induction holes. The area over which the crack propagated depends on the energy generated from the SPC agent, and the relationship was linear. By applying an SPC agent to dismantling large concrete structures, we can achieve controlled cracking safely and quickly without any environmental pollution.