Modern Shotcrete Applications - Find Out What's New in Our Industry
Shotcrete is simply hard to compare today. After all, which construction company would not love the benefits of a more affordable and convenient option? At Proshot Structures Ltd., we can help you save time and labour thanks to our experience, professionalism and a strong commitment to quality. With us, you will not only be able to make the best of the strength and durability provided by shotcrete but also leverage our affordable prices and quick service. If you have any questions about the application of shotcrete, read our FAQs.
At Proshot Structures Ltd., we are always researching the latest technologies. To help our customers understand the benefits of these new shotcrete applications, we are building a shotcrete project network and modern shotcrete applications page for builders and architects.
We work hard to earn your respect and business, so if you have an idea, we have a modern cost-effective shotcrete solution. Call now because we will start saving you more money, reduce your project build time and increase your bottom line.
That's Our Goal at Proshot Structures Ltd.
Our Commitment to Your Future Customers.
Why Structural Shotcrete?
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Reduced costs Reduced use of cranes and labour as well as reduced downtime are just some of the ways that shotcrete can save you money.
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More environment-friendly By using shotcrete, you will be significantly reducing your carbon footprint when compared to other construction methods.
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Reduced formwork You will save a lot on formwork because you will not require formwork for internal pressures, or for incorporating complex shapes and designs.
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Long-lasting With high-compressive strength and high fire retardation qualities, shotcrete can last longer, make your construction stronger and also keep the inmates safer.
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Convenience You can use shotcrete even on irregular, curved or otherwise difficult surfaces. It can be easily used in areas that are hard to reach, besides existing structures and so on.
FAQs
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What Is Shotcrete?
Think about Shotcrete as something like high-pressure water being sprayed by firefighters on fire. Concrete is shot at super-high velocity directly onto a surface through a nozzle. This can be done either with the wet-mix process, where a batch of pre-mixed concrete is pushed through the nozzle or the dry mix method, where water gets added to the dry mix at the nozzle, just before it gets shot out. The type you use depends on the need - for instance, wet mix suits structural concrete better.
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Does Shotcrete Also Suffer From Cracking Due to Shrinkage?
The water-cement ratio used for concrete affects the strength of the medium. Shrinkage occurs as the water used in the mixture starts drying up. This is what leads to cracking on surfaces - a similar principle to what causes clay models to crack. Along with the cement-water ratio, you should also consider the role played by cement paste demand. As a simple rule of thumb:
- If the strength required is higher, the water-cement ratio decreases.
- If the maximum nominal aggregate decreases, cement paste demand increases.
Compared to the maximum nominal aggregate size of 20 mm used by traditional concrete mixes, shotcrete is designed with only 14 mm, which has a much higher cement paste demand. This in turn leads to higher water demand when made with equal water to cement ratio. Naturally, this leads to lesser possibilities of shrinkage, and as a consequence, there are fewer cracks.
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How Are Structural Shotcrete Mix Design and Typical Formed Wall Mix Design Different?
- Shotcrete is made with a higher percentage of sand in the mix and a lower volume of coarse aggregate.
- Shotcrete a 14 mm nominal maximum aggregate size, whereas a typical wall mix uses 20 mm.
- Shotcrete is made of a higher cementitious mix.
- Shotcrete has a lower water to cement ratio, leading to lesser cracking.
- Shotcrete is used for greater compressive strength.
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What Design Considerations Must I Make?
Since shotcrete involves placing the concrete, you don’t need to make any special design considerations.
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Will I Need Control Joints?
As opposed to traditional walls where control joints are harder to incorporate, shotcrete can easily be incorporated with control joints to prevent cracking.
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What Kind of Curing Requirements Must I Implement?
Curing for shotcrete is almost as similar to curing for typical wall mixes. While all the typical known methods work great, constant misting is the best and placing wet mediums is a good option too. Curing compounds may not work as great but are still acceptable.
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What Happens to Cold Joints?
Cold joints must be treated in the same way as a typical wall mix. You should keep the exposed steel clean and free of debris.
References
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“ACI 209.1R-05 – Report on Factors Affecting Shrinkage and Creep of Hardened Concrete” ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. Comp. American Concrete Institute. 2012 ed. Vol. 6. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2012.
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“ACI 306R-10 – Guide to Cold Weather Concreting” ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. Comp. American Concrete Institute. 2012 ed. Vol. 6. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2012.
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“ACI 308R-01 – Guide to Curing Concrete” ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. Comp. American Concrete Institute. 2012 ed. Vol. 6. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2012.
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“ACI 506R-05 – Guide to Shotcrete” ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. Comp. American Concrete Institute. 2012 ed. Vol. 6. Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute, 2012.
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Morgan, D. R. “Understanding and Controlling Shrinkage and Cracking in Shotcrete.”Shotcrete: A Compilation of Papers. Farmington Hills, MI: American Shotcrete Association, 2008.
