Concrete Cladding

Abstract

The invention is stay-in-place cladding for concrete, including reactive and slow-curing concretes, allowing for enhanced strength and durability of the contained concrete by allowing it to cure over time while enabling beneficial chemical reactions. The cladding is perforated with tubes or holes. A preferred embodiment is a caisson for concrete mixtures, where the caisson contains the concrete mixture, and the caisson is deployed in marine or terrestrial environments.

1 . A cladding for containment of concrete mixtures, comprising:
 A bottom floor;   a wall or walls with a thickness defined by an interior side and an exterior side, rising from the bottom floor;   the wall or walls on their interior side(s) is/are against the concrete mixture; and   the wall or walls include one or more holes.   
     
     
         2 . The cladding of  claim 1 , further comprising an open-top structure. 
     
     
         3 . The cladding of  claim 1  wherein each hole incorporates a removable plug. 
     
     
         4 . The cladding of  claim 1  wherein a mesh is affixed on the interior side of the at least one wall, covering the at least one hole. 
     
     
         5 . The cladding of  claim 4  wherein the plug is comprised of biodegradable foam. 
     
     
         6 . The cladding  claim 4 —wherein the interior mesh is a permeable fabric lining. 
     
     
         7 . The cladding of  claim 1  wherein the wall has a length rising from the bottom floor, and the thickness of a wall is 8% to 10% of the length of the wall. 
     
     
         8 . The cladding of  claim 1  wherein the at least one hole has a diameter between 15% to 40% the thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The cladding of  claim 1  wherein the area of the bottom floor is between 12% to 15% the area of the largest adjacent wall. 
     
     
         10 . The cladding  claim 1 —wherein the bottom floor has two or more channels configured for movement using a forklift or crane rigging. 
     
     
         11 . The cladding  claim 1 —wherein the at least one wall is reinforced. 
     
     
         12 . The cladding  claim 11 —wherein the at least one wall is reinforced with non-corrosive and biocompatible glass-fiber rods. 
     
     
         13 . The cladding  claim 1 —wherein the at least one wall is reinforced with non-corrosive basalt-fiber rods. 
     
     
         14 . A cladding system, that is a caisson, comprising:
 a solid base;   a wall or walls, rising from the base and formed of fast-curing or fast-setting cement said wall or walls having perforations to facilitate seawater penetration.   
     
     
         15 . The caisson of  claim 14 , wherein the wall or walls are comprised to include one or more of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), magnesium oxychloride cement, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, magnesium phosphate cement, geopolymer cement, or alkali-activated materials. 
     
     
         16 . The caisson of  claim 14 , wherein the wall or walls are reinforced with rebar or fiber-reinforced polymers. 
     
     
         17 . The caisson of  claim 14 , wherein the perforations include plugs initially sealing the perforations, said plugs made from a biodegradable material that degrades upon contact with water or seawater. 
     
     
         18 . A cladding for containment of concrete mixtures, comprising:
 A bottom floor;   a wall or walls with a thickness defined by an interior side and an exterior side, rising from the bottom floor;   the wall or walls on their interior side(s) are against the concrete mixture; and   the wall or walls include one or more holes;   one or more walls on the exterior comprise a surface of textured channels such that it is physically biocompatible with aquatic and marine life.   
     
     
         19 . The cladding of  claim 18 , wherein the walls exhibit a pH of between 6 and 11. 
     
     
         20 . The cladding of  claim 18 , wherein the walls and floor comprise an open-top box caisson.