MOTORWAY M5, JUNCTION 4 WIDENING PROGRAMME - BRIDGE DECK JACKING & STRUCTURAL MONITORING 20th February 2015

Hydra Capsule were awarded the contract to supply temporary / permanent transfusion-grout flat jacks to assist the pre-loading of bridge bearings and lifting of the newly installed reinforced concrete beams. The works involved using single, pairs and sets of grout flat jacks, rated at 50 tonnes, to pre-load newly installed bearings to the correct loads and defined bridge levels for the widening of two bridges. Initially, the bearings were loaded with temporary fluid (ie. water and/or water) to induce the calcuated bearings loads. Once the defined load and/or uplift had been achieved (uplift of + 2.00mm). The bearings were levelled to accommodate the settlement within the newly cased concrete support piers. The jacks were monitored for a period of time to observe (if any) movement, settlement and bedding-in occurred. Once these were achieved, the flat jacks was carefully transfused from its temporary state to the permanent grout-filled application. This operation involve gradually injection cementitiuos grout into the flat jacks' capsule, whilst releasing the temporary fluid. Maintaining load and levels throughout the operation. All works were carried out successfully within traffice managmenet possessions using Hydra Capsule's purposed built digital monitoring and injection system.