Grout containment sheet and method

Abstract

A water-impermeable grout containment sheet and a method for using the sheet, for example, during the construction of a roadway to support vehicular traffic. An excavation is first cut into a road bed, and a moisture (i.e., water) impermeable grout containment sheet is laid inside the excavation. A plurality of concrete panels are positioned adjacent one another to be coupled together within the excavation, such that at least one of the panels sits on top of the water-impermeable grout containment sheet. Grout is then pumped below the one panel to hold the panel in place within the excavation. The water-impermeable grout containment sheet lies between the grout and the road bed to establish a containment envelope to stop the grout from migrating away from the panel and prevent water from seeping outwardly from the grout into the road bed and into the grout from the excavation.

1 . A method for installing at least a first panel on a surface, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing a moisture-impermeable sheet over the surface;   laying the first panel on top of the moisture-impermeable sheet; and   pumping an adhesive bonding material between the first panel and the moisture-impermeable sheet such that said sheet lies between the adhesive bonding material and the surface over which the sheet is placed.   
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of cutting an excavation into a road bed such that said excavation forms the surface upon which said moisture-impermeable sheet is placed. 
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 2 , comprising the additional step of positioning said moisture-impermeable sheet within the excavation so as to form a containment envelope around the adhesive bonding material for preventing said bonding material from migrating away from the first panel. 
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 2 , comprising the additional step of manufacturing said moisture-impermeable sheet from a material that is impervious to the passage of water therethrough so as to separate the adhesive bonding material from the excavation. 
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 2 , comprising the additional steps of laying a second panel within the excavation adjacent said first panel; and coupling said first and second panels to one another to establish a roadway to support vehicular traffic thereover. 
     
     
         6 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive bonding material is grout. 
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of manufacturing said first panel from concrete. 
     
     
         8 . A method for constructing a roadway to support vehicular traffic thereover, said method comprising the steps of:
 cutting an excavation into a road bed;   placing a moisture-impermeable sheet inside the excavation;   laying a plurality of concrete panels adjacent one another within the excavation such that at least a first of said concrete panels sits on top of said moisture-impermeable sheet;   pumping grout between the first concrete panel and the moisture-impermeable sheet such that said sheet creates a barrier between the grout and the excavation for preventing the grout from migrating away from the first concrete panel within the excavation; and   coupling said plurality of adjacent concrete panels one to the other to establish said roadway.