In my last column, I discussed the need for early strength testing in underground shotcrete…
Shotcrete Makes for Smoother, Safer Skateboarding
Early skateparks may have been made out of wood, but as the sport grew in popularity, concrete became the recommended material, providing a smoother, safer, and more durable surface. Shotcrete, specifically, became the best placement option for concrete because…
Shotcrete Placement for Initial Support: Climate Pledge Arena Tunnel Project
The Washington State Coliseum was an arena built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. More than half a century later, in 2019, a $1B construction program began to redevelop and expand the arena. The redeveloped building, with a new name — Climate Pledge Arena — retains the historical roof, but below the surface is another story…
Shotcrete as Final Liner — Design Considerations
The use of shotcrete placement (often called sprayed concrete) for the final permanent structural lining of underground structures and facilities continues to increase around the world. Where non-uniform shapes are required, shotcreting provides…
Practical Benefits of Shotcrete on Geotechnical Projects
This article covers the advantages of using shotcrete placement for soil nail projects. In permanent soil nail structures, shotcrete offers a wide variety of architectural finishes that can be produced economically and efficiently. This is in stark contrast to…
Lessons Learned on Spillway Shotcrete Overlay
The original Request for Bids specified that cast-in-place concrete be used, with no substitutions provided. After multiple site visits to better understand staging and access, debris removals, and placement logistics, KISC began to develop a value-engineered approach involving the use of air-entrained wet-process shotcrete to replace the cast-in-place specification…
Shotcrete Contractor and Crew Qualifications (ASA Board)
Goose Pond Dam Improvements – 2024 Honorable Mention Project
The rehabilitation of the Goose Pond Dam was initiated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to address significant leaking of the dam that threatened multiple downstream towns. Improvements included flattening the downstream slope, updating and improving the seepage collection system along the downstream toe of the dam…
Slope Stabilization in Kicking Horse Canyon – 2024 Honorable Mention Project
The Kicking Horse Canyon Highway, part of the Trans-Canada Highway near Golden, British Columbia, has a rich history tied to the region’s rugged geography and vital transportation needs. Originally a narrow and winding route carved into the steep canyon walls, it was built in the early 1900s to connect the mountainous interior of British Columbia with the rest of Canada.
Ice Harbor Dam Rewinds and Turbine Runner Replacement – 2024 Outstanding Infrastructure Project
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1945. Constructed in 1956, the project includes a dam, a powerhouse, a navigation lock, two fish ladders, a removable spillway weir, and a juvenile fish bypass facility. It provides navigation, hydropower, flood risk management, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and incidental irrigation.