Laboratory testing of early age bond strength of shotcrete on hard rock

This study investigates early age bond strength of shotcrete (sprayed concrete), in the case of shotcrete sprayed on hard rock. Shotcrete differs from ordinary, cast concrete through the application technique and the addition of set accelerators which give immediate stiffening. The bond between shotcrete and rock is one of the most important properties. During the very first time after spraying the physical properties and the bond to the rock depend on the set accelerator and the micro structure that is formed. In this work a laboratory test method for measuring early bond strength for very young or early age shotcrete is presented. The newly developed method was tested and evaluated and proved that it can be used for bond strength testing already from a couple of hours after shotcreting.