Hydrodemolition

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hydrodemolition

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the water pressure range?Typically 10,000 to 40,000 psi
2. What is the development period?Originated in Europe during the 1980s
3. How does hydrodemolition clean concrete?The water jets shoot at 10,000 to 40,000 psi, sometimes with tiny sand to help. The jets cut the old concrete layer by layer. The water keeps the dust low and the surface clean.
4. Why does hydrodemolition use water instead of a hammer?Because water is gentle, it doesn’t shake the building. Traditional hammers make big vibrations that can crack the concrete. Water only pushes where it is needed, so the structure stays strong.

Hydrodemolition: A concrete removal process utilizing high-pressure water jets, characterized by its precision and lack of vibration.
Rebar Corrosion: The degradation of steel reinforcing bars within concrete, often due to moisture and chlorides, leading to expansion and cracking.
Micro-fractures: Subtle, often microscopic cracks within concrete caused by mechanical stress or vibration, potentially compromising structural integrity.
Cathodic Protection: A technique used to prevent corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell, often applied to rebar.