We are currently designing a retaining wall, sloped at 1H:0.5V, 18 ft (5.5 m) high. We want to use shotcrete for this 12 in. (300 mm) thick structural wall. For strength requirements, we are able to use a 0.4 in. (10 mm) mesh; however, this does not satisfy for crack control requirements. For crack control, it is required that 1/2 in. (12 mm) individual reinforcing bars are used. Obviously, for cost and ease of construction, the mesh is the favorable choice of reinforcing. Is there a typical section for this type of application? Will shotcrete shrink less than placed concrete?

Each retaining wall needs to be engineered for the specific job conditions. It is fairly common, however, to see two layers of reinforcing bars in a wall of this thickness. In addition to reinforcing the wall, the steel would help support the shotcrete during placement. If drying shrinkage crack control is an issue, synthetic fibers may be added. Shrinkage in shotcrete mixtures may be higher than placed concrete with a 1 in. (25 mm) maximum-sized coarse aggregate due to smaller coarse aggregate size in shotcrete mixtures, higher fine aggregate content, and higher cement/cementitious material content. This may be partially offset by a slightly lower water-cementitious material ratio in a shotcrete mixture.