IMPREGNATION OF POROUS CONSTRUCTIONS AND NATURAL MATERIALS USING ULTRASOUND

Abstract

The results of the experimental and theoretical studies of the acoustical flows in the porous or microcrumbling building and natural materials are presented. Building constructions, walls or foundations of concrete, brick or natural facing stone material being porous media absorb water due to the natural capillary effect. This happens mostly in countries with humid climates and if the faces of building structures are not protected by a waterproof layer. The damp penetrates into the foundation if the waterproofing layer between the foundation and the wall is damaged, the damp comes up the wall due to the natural capillary effect. Just the same, if the protective covering of the concrete or brick wall is damaged, they begin to absorb the damp from the air, growing damp by and by and worsening their protective properties. There exist different ways to restore damaged waterproofing layers. One possible way is to impregnate walls or/and foundations by some special hydrophobic liquid using the ultrasound. Being then dried out, the elements of constructions become water-repellent, do not absorb damp more and remain dry. The usage of the ultrasound makes the impregnation much more effective and fast, being at the same time the nondestructive method. The speed of the penetration depends on the porosity or microcrack or porosity factor. The paper presents the results of the study of the dependence of the velocity of the hydrophobic liquid movement from the average diameter of the capillaries and from the acoustical intensity.