Induction Welded Waterproofing

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, A water-proofing laminate includes a drainboard having a first surface positioned against a hydraulic source and a second surface opposed to the first surface, a fastener plate positioned against the second surface of the drainboard securing the drainboard to the hydraulic surface, the fastener plate comprising a conductive element and a thermoplastic resin, and a self-healing hydraulic barrier comprising a thermoplastic surface adjoined to a geotextile and carrying a water-absorbent material, the thermoplastic surface inductively welded to the fastener plate.

1 . A water-proofing laminate comprising:
 a drainboard having a first surface positioned against a hydraulic source and a second surface opposed to the first surface;   a fastener plate positioned against the second surface of the drainboard securing the drainboard to the hydraulic surface, the fastener plate comprising a conductive element and a thermoplastic resin; and   a self-healing hydraulic barrier comprising a thermoplastic surface adjoined to a geotextile and carrying a water-absorbent material, the thermoplastic surface inductively welded to the fastener plate.   
     
     
         2 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1  further comprising a fixing member (mechanical fastener) that secures the drainboard to the hydraulic source, wherein at least a portion of a fixing member passes through the fastener plate and the drainboard and into the hydraulic source. 
     
     
         3 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the drainboard comprises a geotextile; wherein the geotextile is positioned against the hydraulic source. 
     
     
         4 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 3 , wherein the drainboard further comprises a drainage core adhered to the geotextile. 
     
     
         5 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 4 , wherein the drainage core comprises a geonet. 
     
     
         6 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 4 , wherein the drainage core comprises a dimple core. 
     
     
         7 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic source comprises an sub-grade retaining and/or shoring wall. 
     
     
         8 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic source comprises a tunnel wall. 
     
     
         9 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic source supplies a hydraulic force on the drainboard. 
     
     
         10 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener plate consists essentially of a plate-like main member made of the thermoplastic resin, and a conductive sheet made of the conductive element that is adhered to the main member. 
     
     
         11 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 10 , wherein the conductive sheet is provided as a layer within the plate-like main member. 
     
     
         12 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener plate comprises a conductive support having a securing surface, a welding surface, and comprising the conductive element; the welding surface carrying the thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         13 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the self-healing hydraulic barrier comprises a water-impermeable layer carrying the thermoplastic surface, the water-impermeable layer adhered to the geotextile; wherein the water-absorbent material is impregnated in the geotextile and adhered to the water-impermeable layer. 
     
     
         14 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 13 , wherein the water-impermeable layer further comprises a thermoplastic layer that carries the thermoplastic surface, and an adhesive layer that adheres to the geotextile and the water-absorbent material. 
     
     
         15 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the self-healing hydraulic barrier carries the water-absorbent material between the thermoplastic surface and the geotextile. 
     
     
         16 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the water-absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of a super-absorbent polymer, a clay, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the water-absorbent material comprises a salt-water swellable composition. 
     
     
         18 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 17 , wherein the salt-water swellable composition comprises:
 about 30 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a smectite clay;   about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of a partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer;   about 3 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of at least one elastomeric resin;   about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a cationic flocculant; and   about 0.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of at least one primary plasticizing agent for the elastomeric resin.   
     
     
         19 . A water-proofing laminate comprising:
 a hydraulic surface exposed to a hydraulic source and carried by a drainboard;   the drainboard held in a fixed position by a fastener plate; and   the fastener plate welded to a thermoplastic surface carried by a shelf-healing hydraulic barrier.   
     
     
         20 . A water-proofing laminate comprising:
 a hydraulic surface carried by a drainboard;   a dry surface carried by a self-healing hydraulic barrier; and positioned between the hydraulic surface and the dry surface;   a fastener plate affixed to the drainboard and welded to a self-healing hydraulic barrier.   
     
     
         21 . A water-proofing laminate comprising:
 a plurality of fastener plates individually comprising a conductive element and a thermoplastic resin; and   a self-healing hydraulic barrier comprising a thermoplastic layer adjoined to a geotextile and carrying a water-absorbent material; wherein the self-healing hydraulic barrier is adjoined to the plurality of fastener plates by a plurality of induction welds formed between the thermoplastic layer and the thermoplastic resin.   
     
     
         22 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 21 , wherein an induction weld comprises three heat effected zones: a fastener plate zone, a fusion zone, and a self-healing hydraulic barrier zone; and wherein the fastener plate zone comprises a volume larger than the individual volumes of either the fusion zone or the self-healing hydraulic barrier zone. 
     
     
         23 . The water-proofing laminate of  claim 22 , wherein the fastener plate zone is approximately coextensive with the volume of the thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         24 . A method of preparing a water-proofing laminate comprising:
 positioning a thermoplastic surface of a self-healing hydraulic barrier against a fastening plate secured to a hydraulic source; and then   inductively welding the thermoplastic surface and the fastening plate.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising securing the fastening plate to the hydraulic source. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the fastening plate is secured to the hydraulic source by passing a fixing member through the fastener plate and into the hydraulic source. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fixing member is selected from the group consisting of a concrete fastener, a screw, a drive pin, and a nail. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising
 positioning a drainboard between the hydraulic source and the fastening plate; and then 
 securing the fastening plate to the hydraulic source by passing a fixing member selected from the group consisting of a concrete fastener, a screw, a drive pin, and a nail through the fastener plate and drainboard and into the hydraulic source. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising sealing a seam that comprises overlapping layers of the thermoplastic surface. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising providing a structural anchor through the self-healing hydraulic barrier. 
     
     
         31 . A method of preparing a water-proofing laminate comprising:
 fixing a fastening plate to a hydraulic source by powder actuating or pneumatic actuating a fixing member through the fastener plate; and then   inductively welding a self-healing hydraulic barrier to the fastening plate.   
     
     
         32 .- 46 . (canceled)