Water Damage Abounds

Asphalt paving companies in Florida are going to have their work cut out for them, as water is number one nemesis of concrete and asphalt, and the number one cause for road repair. Irma dropped a ton of rain and caused extensive flooding over the state, which will result in ensuing road repairs all over the state.

A post shared by Ben Von Klemperer (@ben_von_klemperer) on Sep 11, 2017 at 9:39am PDT

In addition to winds over 100 mph, Hurricane Irma dropped so much water that Florida roads were able to accommodate leisure activities usually confined to our lakes rivers, like wakeboarding in Miami. Miami was hit super hard and asphalt paving companies are going to be tested.

A post shared by Sebastian Cruz Couture (@sebastiancruzcouture) on Sep 10, 2017 at 5:59pm PDT

Flooding in the roads was more prolific in southwestern parts of the state and the keys, and asphalt paving companies are going to be busy in the six months, because water is absorbed into the ground and the porous rocks beneath the roads, weakening their integrity and causing sinkholes. Studies conducted on the subject of water saturation and concrete confirmed the following facts about concrete and asphalt paving:

• The compressive strength of concrete is reduced when it is water-saturated. This is primarily caused by the absorption effect of water, manifested in its splitting action in the micro-fissures and micro-formations of stressed concrete. But with other conditions being constant, the fresher the concrete, the lower is the reduction in strength. The effectiveness of the advantageous infuence of deformation constraint of lateral expansion on the strength of compressed concrete in the water-saturated state is lower than in the air-dry state.
• If the tensile deformation of concrete is strongly constrained, like in strongly constrained conditions of action of concrete, then the absorption effect of water on its strength is negligible.
• Constraint on the expansion of water-saturated concrete in underwater or water-washed conduits in hydraulic structures, especially tunnel linings, may considerably improve its strength.

 

A post shared by Lola ? (@lee_ellie_legend) on Sep 11, 2017 at 5:00am PDT

Roads are going to be stressed and weakened from the rain dumped by Hurricane Irma, so be aware and careful as you drive. If your roads or parking lots need repair or fortifying after Hurricane Irma, or you need the best asphalt paving company who knows how to work with the elements and constantly changing situations to build long lasting roads and parking lots, we can help.