System and method for waterproofing railway structures
A protective waterproofing structure can include a waterproof membrane applied over a bed of the transportation structure. The protective waterproofing structure can include a layered membrane protection structure to protect the waterproof membrane. The layered protection structure can include a plurality of membrane protection layers. The plurality of membrane protection layers can include: a first layer including a first surface area, the first layer applied over the waterproof membrane; a second layer including a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area, the second layer transitioning to the first layer along an edge. Each layer of the plurality of membrane protection layers can include only an elastomeric fluid material and enable flow of water over the layered membrane protection structure toward a drainage outlet.
1 . A protective waterproofing structure for a transportation structure, the waterproofing structure comprising:
a waterproof membrane configured to be applied over a bed of the transportation structure; and
a layered membrane protection structure configured to protect the waterproof membrane, the layered membrane protection structure comprising a plurality of membrane protection layers comprising:
a first layer having a first geometrical shape comprising a first surface area, the first layer applied over the waterproof membrane; and
a second layer having a second geometrical shape comprising a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area, the second layer configured to transition to the first layer along an edge;
wherein each layer of the plurality of membrane protection layers comprises only an elastomeric fluid material, the elastomeric fluid material configured to cure to provide protection over the waterproof membrane, and the edge forms a slope along a perimeter of the second surface to enable flow of water over the layered membrane protection structure toward a drainage outlet.
2 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the edge is a tapered edge.
3 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the first geometrical shape is one of rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, or trapezoid.
4 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the first geometrical shape is same as the second geometrical shape.
5 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the layered membrane protection structure further comprises a third layer having a third geometrical shape comprising a third surface area, the third surface area smaller than the second surface area.
6 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a thickness of about 0.25 inch.
7 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric fluid material is a polyurea foam.
8 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 1 , wherein the drainage outlet comprises a drainpipe.
9 . A protective waterproofing structure for a transportation structure, the waterproofing structure comprising:
a waterproof membrane configured to be applied over a bed of the transportation structure; and
a layered membrane protection structure configured to protect the waterproof membrane, the layered membrane protection structure comprising a plurality of membrane protection layers comprising:
a first layer having a first surface area, the first layer applied over the waterproof membrane; and
a second layer having a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area, the second layer applied over the first layer and configured to transition to the first layer along an edge;
wherein each layer of the plurality of membrane protection layers is configured to provide a uniform non-porous layer and comprises a single elastomeric material excluding a filler material, and the edge forms a slope along a perimeter of the second surface to enable flow of water over the layered membrane protection structure.
10 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 9 , wherein the edge forms a right angle between the first layer and the second layer.
11 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 9 , wherein the water flows over the layered membrane protection structure to a drainage outlet.
12 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 9 , wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise a thickness of about 0.5 inch.
13 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 9 , wherein the layered membrane protection structure comprises polyurea foam.
14 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 9 , wherein the layered membrane protection structure comprises a third layer having a third surface that is smaller than the second surface, the third layer applied over the second layer.
15 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 14 , wherein the layered membrane protection structure comprises a fourth layer having a fourth surface that is smaller than the third surface, the fourth layer applied over the third layer.
16 . The protective waterproofing structure of claim 15 , wherein the layered membrane protection structure comprises a generally pyramidal cross section.
17 . A method for waterproofing a railway structure, comprising:
applying a waterproof membrane over a bed of the railway structure;
applying a first layer of a layered membrane protection structure over the waterproof membrane; and
applying a second layer of the layered membrane protection structure over the first layer such that the second layer comprises a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of the first layer, and the second layer forms a sloped tapered edge along a perimeter of the second layer to transition to the first layer;
wherein each layer of the layered membrane protection structure comprises only an elastomeric fluid material, the elastomeric fluid material configured to cure to provide protection over the waterproof membrane, and the edge forms a slope along a perimeter of the second surface to enable flow of water over the layered membrane protection structure.
18 . The method of claim 17 , where applying the layered membrane protection structure is performed with a spray gun.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the spray gun comprises a nozzle having a round tip, the spray gun configured to dispense less material around the perimeter of each layer of the layered membrane protection structure.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the second layer transitions to the first layer with a tapered edge to facilitate a flow of water over the layered membrane protection structure.