Developing new shotcretes

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Shotcrete is a concrete application method which usage has grown exponentially over the last 3 decades, both in the concrete repair industry as well as the mining/ground support field. This increase is mainly related to the fact that it is a rapid intervention method, mostly because of the fact that it requires very little or no formwork and can be applied to difficult to reach area. In the repair industry, the capacity to finish the shotcrete to nearly any kind of shape and texture has also been an important factor in its selection. The side effect of such popularity is that it has brought new and more stringent requirements on the quality and durability of the shotcrete produced. The goal of this CRD project is investigate some of the most sensitive aspects of shotcrete today, namely the control and reduction of the cracking potential, the improvement of the green value of specific mix design, the understanding and reduction of rebound and the development of ultra-high performance shotcrete.The expected outcome of the research is significant, both in terms of marketable deliverables and personnel training. The results of the project will rapidly benefit owners and Canadian society as a whole by contributing to the greater life expectancy of repaired concrete structures and cleaner and safer mining operations. Furthermore, based on these results, Canadian manufacturers of concrete construction products could optimize their existing products and develop new ones, thereby maintaining their competitiveness and strengthening their position on the international market. The proposed research venture will help prepare many highly qualified concrete engineers and scientists for an industry that is in need of a polyvalent and well-educated workforce.