DIAMOND GRINDING
Concrete diamond grinding removes roadway imperfections caused by construction and/or heavy usage. The immediate result is an improvement in pavement smoothness, surface texture, skid resistance, safety, and noise reduction. This service can also be applied to asphalt pavement.
Advantages of diamond grinding over other rehabilitation techniques:
- Costs are reduced versus other rehabilitation techniques.
- Work is usually conducted during off-peak hours, which shortens lane closure times and minimizes encroachment into adjacent lanes.
- Fewer lane closures, as diamond grinding in one lane does not require grinding of adjacent lanes which may have acceptable surface characteristics.
- Smoother ride for all vehicles, better skid resistance when braking, and increased fuel economy due to less rolling resistance.
Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS)
Penhall also provides Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS), which is a newer concrete texture designed to provide a substantially quieter and safer driving surface. The process starts by conventionally grinding the existing surface and then removing the corduroy texture left by conventional grinding. Lastly, the concrete surface is grooved longitudinally to provide the negative texture that has been proven to be the quietest concrete pavement surface in use today.
At a post-project completion open house, at which Penhall displayed a PC-6000 diamond grinder, local mayors raved about the reduction in the amount of noise coming from the adjacent freeway.
One mayor described how he could, for the first time, have a game of catch with his son in his backyard without yelling to be heard.
A TxDOT report on the project claimed the noise reduction after the NGCS application was equal to a 72% reduction in traffic.
Corrective / Profile Grinding
Penhall’s corrective and profile grinding services reliably correct pavement that has been found to be out of spec, or which has experienced a failed ride test. For clients that need surface testing or re-testing, Penhall owns and operates profile testing equipment that uses the latest in pavement surface testing laser technology. After the testing-for-ride is performed, our highly trained and experienced team can also help clients evaluate the results.
Concrete diamond grinding is also often performed alongside other concrete pavement preservation and restoration (CPP / CPR) techniques, such as:
- Full- and partial-depth repair and spall repair
- Cross stitching
- Dowel bar retrofit
- Slab stabilization
- Joint / crack resealing
DIAMOND GROOVING
The purpose of concrete grooving is to improve vehicle traction and reduce roadway accidents. By cutting patterned groves into the concrete deck, water is displaced, thus reducing the risk of hydroplaning and improving vehicle control and overall safety. Penhall’s grooving machines use diamond-tipped saw blades to cut grooves transversely or longitudinally into the surface.
Concrete grooving provides a variety of enhancements to roadways and highways, including:
- Improved drainage
- Faster pavement drying time
- Increased friction