Anti-Washout Behavior in Underwater Concrete Applications
Summary
Anti-washout behaviour in underwater concrete refers to the capacity of a cementitious mixture to resist dispersion and loss of fines and cementitious materials when placed under water. This property is essential for the construction and repair of submerged infrastructures such as bridge piers, tunnel linings, dam outlets and marine foundations. Key factors influencing washout resistance include the use of specialised anti-washout admixtures, optimised particle packing through mix design, and control of rheological properties to maintain cohesion. Recent advances have explored the incorporation of nanoparticles, self-stress and expansive agents, and bio-based polymers to enhance stability, mechanical performance and durability in aggressive aquatic environments. Improved understanding of hydration kinetics, interfacial bonding under water and pore structure evolution has enabled more reliable placement methods, reduced environmental contamination and extended service life in global marine and hydraulic engineering projects.
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Anti-Washout Behavior in Underwater Concrete Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-washout behavior in underwater concrete applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Anti-washout admixture (AWA): A chemical additive designed to increase the cohesion of concrete and prevent dispersion of cement and fines when cast underwater.
Non-dispersible underwater concrete (UWC): A high-viscosity, self-compacting concrete formulated to maintain integrity and minimise washout loss in submerged applications.
Rheological properties: Characteristics describing the flow and deformation behaviour of fresh concrete, including viscosity and yield stress.
Slump flow: A measure of horizontal spread of fresh concrete under its own weight, used to assess fluidity and workability in self-compacting and underwater mixes.
Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H): The principal binder phase formed during cement hydration that imparts strength and cohesion to hardened concrete.
Orthogonal test design: A statistical method used to evaluate the effects of multiple factors simultaneously and determine optimal mix proportions with minimal experimental runs.
References
- The Mix Ratio Study of Self-Stressed Anti-Washout Underwater Concrete Used in Nondrainage Strengthening. Materials (2019).
- Evaluation of the Hydration Characteristics and Anti-Washout Resistance of Non-Dispersible Underwater Concrete with Nano-SiO2 and MgO. Materials (2021).
- Comparative Study of the Performance of Underwater Concrete between Anionic and Nonionic Anti-Washout Admixtures. Buildings (2024).
- An Orthogonal Test Study on the Preparation of Self-Compacting Underwater Non-Dispersible Concrete. Materials (2023).
- Using Biopolymers as Anti-Washout Admixtures under Water Concreting. Buildings (2024).
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