Wire Sawing
Wire sawing is best used for removal of thick sections of concrete or steel. The diamond wire sawing process uses a multi-strand wire-cable with embedded industrial diamonds and uses a series of pulleys to guide the wire through the concrete. Wire sawing equipment can cut in any orientation and in any location. Because the wire sawing cable can be of virtually any length, cutting depth and width are unlimited. Since no structure or cross-section is too large to cut, wire sawing is used where other cutting methods are impractical. Wire sawing is ideal for removing large sections of heavily reinforced concrete such as bridge piers and columns, abutment walls, press bases, building/footing separation, and cutting concrete and steel in areas where work space is restricted. Diamond's wire sawing systems can even be used to cut precise circular openings through walls and floors ranging in diameter from 2 feet to 11 feet.
Please see the related case studies on wire sawing and the Project Portfolio section of our site which illustrate many of the capabilities and uses for wire sawing. Please click here if you have a special wire sawing project or desire specific information on wire sawing.
Wire Sawing, Big Rock Nuclear Facility
Client
Big Rock Nuclear Generating Facility—MOTA Corporation and Consumer’s Energy—Charlevoix, Michigan
Project
Consumers Energy’s Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant was the first commercial nuclear power plant constructed in Michigan and the fifth in the United States. When the company notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, that Big Rock would permanently cease operations, it needed to saw and remove the reactor vessel walls into 16 large blocks for removal by overhead crane. This was necessary in order to provide adequate room for the subsequent dismantlement and removal of the reactor vessel.
Process
Diamond deployed a five-person team equipped with core drills and wire saws. In order to provide access for the diamond wire used to saw the reactor vessel walls several 4" holes needed to be core drilled over 25 feet vertical feet through the concrete. The team then proceeded to saw the reactor walls into 16 engineered blocks for removal. For environmental reasons, all the slurry generated during the sawing and drilling process was contained and disposed of appropriately, helping to reduce the environmental impact and cost associated with the radiological waste. After all the sawing was completed, Diamond's team prepared anchor holes and placed large capacity undercut anchors necessary to attach each piece to the crane for removal.
Outcomes
According to Greg Garlock with MOTA Corporation of South Carolina (the nuclear services company), who worked in conjunction with Consumers Energy, “Diamond performed the work as engineered, delivering concrete ready for removal on time and within budget. Diamond’s efficient management of the project, in a challenging environment, was key to its success.”