Wire Sawing Concrete
One of the latest innovative ways to cut large and thick concrete is by the use of Wire Sawing. Wire sawing is an accurate way to cut larger sections of concrete and steel.
Concrete wire sawing was created through great advances in diamond application technology. The steel braided wire is impregnated with small cutting diamonds similar to blades and bits used for cutting concrete. The wire is oriented in a looped fashion on the cutting plane. A hydraulic-driven wheel then forces the wire through the surface to be cut. The use of multiple pulleys allows the wire to cut any thickness at any angle, assuming there is access. The ideal applications include structures that are too thick or too large for conventional cutting means, tight areas, and submerged locations. Some examples include foundation concrete walls thicker than 30” that require openings, piers submerged in water, or large barrel chillers cut down for removal.
Planning, engineering, and creativity allow multiple cuts to happen simultaneously, which can reduce cutting time. Water is a necessary part of the process, keeping the cutting location cooled and any potential dust minimized. Rebar or other reinforcing is not an issue for the wire to cut.
This new technology was developed in the stone quarry industry. A wire saw consists of a wire coated with diamond-tipped cutting beads mounted on a flywheel driven by hydraulics and pulled through the concrete section being cut, executing the cut with precision.
With the use of the diamond wire saws it has become a more efficient way to remove large concrete structures such as foundations, bridges and equipment pads. It also provides a time savings when cutting openings in thick concrete walls.
Wire sawing benefits customers in any industry by consistently performing in confined spaces; the true advantage of wire sawing is that there is basically no limit to the depth that can be cut and the noise level is reduced considerably over the use of conventional breaking methods.
When materials are too tough, too thick or too large for conventional cutting techniques or space is limited, wire sawing has become the substituted technique of choice. JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing technicians are prepared with equipment and techniques to meet any complex project demands.
Advantages of the Wire Saw
- Allows for mass concrete removal without breakage while minimizing damage to structure
- Quieter Concrete Cutting
- Confined Space Wire Sawing
- Unlimited Concrete Structure Sawing
- Leaves a Smooth Cutting Surface
- Cuts through heavy rebar & embedded steel
- No Vibrations
