Advances in Dry Shotcrete Technology by Means of Microsilica

Herfurth, Eike A.; Nilsen, Terje; ,

Advances in Dry Shotcrete Technology by Means of Microsilica

by Eike A. Herfurth, Elkem GmbH Abt Elkem Materials, Allensbach, Germany,
Terje Nilsen, Elkem GmbH Abt Elkem Materials, Allensbach, Germany,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Shotcrete for Underground Support V

Abstract:

During the last decade microsilica has been increasingly used to improve both wet and dry mix shotcrete. In the traditional dry process microsilica is blended in the dry mixture. Since the time allowed for wetting the extremely fine microsilica particles at the nozzle is very short, the full potential of the system can hardly be realized. A new dry mix process has been developed utilizing microsilica as an aqueous suspension, where the microsilica particles are fully wetted and dispersed when added to the dry mix at the nozzle. The new process, combining the advantages from both the dry and the wet process in a small, flexible system, has been used in numerous projects in many countries during the last few years. During the last decade microsilica has been increasingly used to improve both wet and dry mix shotcrete. Experiments using microsilica in wet shotcrete began some 20 years ago in Norway, and microsilica was soon adopted throughout the industry. Microsilica has found widespread use in the dry system, especially in Canada, whereas its use in Europe and elsewhere has been rather limited.

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