Laser Drilling of Small Holes in Different Kinds of Concrete

Abstract

Recently, in Japan, safety measures such as earthquake-resistant reinforcement work and tile-reinforcement work are increasing. Current concrete drilling methods have issues such as noise, vibration, dust, and reaction force. These methods are causing stress for the residents. Consequently, solutions are being sought for work taking place on skyscrapers and at facilities that cannot shut down during construction, such as hotels, schools, hospitals and geriatric facilities for instance. This study investigated how laser drilling change the conditions, depending on the type of concrete in order to determine the possibility of using laser drilling for tile-reinforcement work and repairing concrete on building exterior. The results confirmed that it's possible to successfully drill holes for drilling diameters of 4 to 6 mm and depths of around 50 mm in concrete with a compressive strength within the range of 20 to 100 N/mm 2 by adjusting laser conditions. In case of deep holes the CW-mode should be chosen. Furthermore, by controlling laser irradiation conditions, it is possible to change the shape of the holes. These different kinds of holes are suitable for different applications. It is expected that laser irradiation drilling will be applied to new construction methods.

Using a High-Power Fibre Laser to Cut Concrete

“…In this study, we have used a portable fibre laser, which is convenient to carry. Furthermore, the author has been studying the use of lasers in the construction field [8,[14][15][16]. We have shown that these results confirmed that, the level of effectiveness differs depending on different heat volumes, even if the materials are the same.…”

“…The benefits of laser technology include its low noise, vibration, and dust, as well as its no reaction force [7]. Therefore, the introduction of lasers to construction sites will contribute to a better working environment owing to their low noise and cause less burden on the operator, owing to their minimal reaction force [8].…”

The Effect of Silica Sand Proportion in Laser Scabbling Process on Cement Mortar

“…The results pointed out that 100 mm in thickness of concrete slabs was completely cut after 21 passes. In laser drilling concrete field, Kaori et al [11] obtained drilling diameters of 4 mm to 6 mm and depths of around 50 mm in concrete samples with a compressive strength of 20-100 N/mm 2 by using the appropriate laser settings. Meanwhile, the use of laser for scabbling on cement-based materials has not seemed to be attractive.…”