Faulting and Settlement Repairs
Faulting and Settlement
Faulting and settlement are issues that occur at adjoining and abutting panels or segments separate vertically at cracks. Due to this separation, a significant difference in height between the panels or segments occurs creating a serious trip hazard and liability issue, which is known as settlement. Faulting is usually a downward step between panels or segments that occurs in the direction of traffic along transverse joints or cracks. Settlement usually occurs along longitudinal cracks. Both faulting and settlement occurs due to the settlement of soft base and subgrade, warping of slabs due to temperature changes, or the effect of moisture gradient changes on base and subgrade or on the slab.
Remedy
In most traditional remedies to faulting and settlement include removing and replacing the entire concrete area. As with concrete patching, this includes demolition and removal of the sunken area and re-pouring new concrete in its place.
More recently a remedy has included pumping a poly-urethane or epoxy type material into the base of the concrete panel to essentially lift it to the proper elevation. This involves drilling a small hole in the concrete surface that allows the material to be pumped into the base; this material fills the settled areas in the base and adjusts the surface. The hole is then plugged with new concrete to create a seamless surface. This remedy is only available in some geographic areas but is expanding quickly.
