DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGH SPEED REPAIRS TO CONCRETE ROADS AND RUNWAYS

THE PLASTICS INSTITUTE

North Eastern Section

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Northern Counties Association

Paper 16

Symposium

RESINS AND CONCRETE

17 and 18 April 1973 University of Newcastle upon Tyne

For some years, Ronald Clarke Ltd. have provided a concrete preparation service as the first stage of concrete repair and were responsible for the introduction of the well known MacDonald Scabbling machines on the U.K. Market.

The need for an automated concrete cutting machine arose from specific problems at Gatwick Airport where low work ouput figures were obtained on the repair contracts. Under normal circumstances there would be an inconvenience but in this instance the situation was critical due to the combination of a single runway and increasingly heavy flying committments. During the closure periods, which occur during March and November, work can only be carried out at night and at these particular times of the year very low temperatures, as low as -5°C are experienced. It was found that operatives, using conventional tools and saws under artificial lighting conditions were not achieving sufficient output to enable the contracts to be completed at a reasonable economic rate. Also, accuracy of cut under such conditions was difficult to obtain.