IMPREGNATION OF POROUS CONSTRUCTIONS AND NATURAL MATERIALS USING ULTRASOUND

Abstract

The results of the experimental and theoretical studies of the acoustical flows in the porous or
microcrumbling building and natural materials are presented. Building constructions, walls or foundations of
concrete, brick or natural facing stone material being porous media absorb water due to the natural capillary
effect. This happens mostly in countries with humid climates and if the faces of building structures are not
protected by a waterproof layer. The damp penetrates into the foundation if the waterproofing layer between
the foundation and the wall is damaged, the damp comes up the wall due to the natural capillary effect. Just the
same, if the protective covering of the concrete or brick wall is damaged, they begin to absorb the damp from
the air, growing damp by and by and worsening their protective properties. There exist different ways to restore
damaged waterproofing layers. One possible way is to impregnate walls or/and foundations by some special
hydrophobic liquid using the ultrasound. Being then dried out, the elements of constructions become waterrepellent, do not absorb damp more and remain dry. The usage of the ultrasound makes the impregnation much
more effective and fast, being at the same time the nondestructive method. The speed of the penetration depends
on the porosity or microcrack or porosity factor. The paper presents the results of the study of the dependence
of the velocity of the hydrophobic liquid movement from the average diameter of the capillaries and from the
acoustical intensity.