[Leica] IMG: Repair of WWII Concrete

[Jim Nichols]

I took a walk in the sunshine today at the local airport.  Felt good!

This airport was built during WWII as an US Army Air Force training base 
for B-24s, hence the concrete was very thick to withstand the wheel 
loads.  While much of it has held up well, places that received a lot of 
traffic have developed cracks.  A contractor has been hired to cut out 
these broken areas and replace them with new concrete.  ( It is 
interesting to me that, while concrete made today in our area uses 
crushed limestone as the aggregate, I have seen areas of the original 
pours that used creek gravel, including a few mussel shells, as the 
aggregate.)

This image gives an idea of the thickness of the original concrete.
  http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Thick+Concrete+3162.tif.html

To tie the new to the old, the old concrete is drilled and rebar is 
installed.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Drilling+for+Rebar+3163.tif.html

About half of this section has been replaced, as the crews work with 
manageable pour sections.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Working+Concrete+3157.tif.html

The rotating mixer drum must be washed out after each pour.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Wash+Job+3161.tif.html

And then, the truck heads back to the plant for another load. Multiple 
trucks were in use, to keep the job moving at a workable pace.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Going+to+Reload+3165.tif.html

Fuji X-E1 with Fujinon 35/2.0

Comments and critiques welcomed.

-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA