The M4-M5 Link Tunnels in Sydney, Australia, is approximately 7.5 km (4.7 mi) long and accommodates up to four lanes of traffic in each direction. It connects the New M4 Tunnels with the M8 Tunnels to form the 33 km (20 mi) long Westconnex Motorway, mostly underground.
Artistic Shotcrete Use in Exhibit Fabrication
The zoological and aquarium industry has been successfully using shotcrete placement within animal habitats for several decades. The flexibility and durability of shotcrete provides natural settings that allow for better animal enrichment over caged habitats. Zoo guests also benefit from viewing animals in a more organic habitat where the animals exhibit their natural behaviors
The Outstanding International Project
Project Name:
South East Asia Jungle Track
Location:
Auckland Zoo, New Zealand
Shotcrete Contractor:
Aqua-Environs Construction
Architect/Engineer:
Studio Hanson Roberts
Material Supplier/Manufacturer:
Atlas Concrete
Equipment Manufacturer:
Concrete Pumping Equipment NZ, Ltd & Putzmeister Products
General Contractor:
NZ STRONG; Project Owner: Auckland Zoo – Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Skateboarding in Barbados
People have been traveling to the small Caribbean island of Barbados to surf the ever-present waves arriving across the Atlantic for as long as humans have pursued wave riding. The same can be said about skateboarding as the parish of Christ Church now boasts a regional concrete skatepark! This was a long and thorough process shepherded by a consortium of firms and associations, all working to provide the Bajans a modern concrete skatepark through proper planning and processes. This all began with one phone call from Paul Wilson, a local skateboarding advocate with the tireless passion to bring proper skateboarding to the youth (of all ages) of Barbados.
Repairs and Strengthening of Brick Arch Masonry Storm Water Drains for MCGM
The storm water drains in the city of Mumbai, India, are over 100 years old and constructed with brick arch masonry during the British Era (Fig. 1). The storm water drains (SWD) were prone to frequent cave-ins. To prevent cave-ins, enhance their safety, and maintain the SWD system, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), under the Central Government of India “BRIMSTOWAD” Scheme, initiated a detailed survey and mapping of the SWD for the City of Mumbai.
Outstanding International Project
Project Name:
M4-M5 Link Tunnels
Location:
Sydney, Australia
Shotcrete Contractor:
Acciona Bouygues Samsung Joint Venture
Architect/Engineer:
Jacobs Aurecon Joint Venture
Material Supplier/Manufacturer:
Bekaert
Equipment Manufacturer:
Normet Asia Pacific Ltd
General Contractor:
Acciona Bouygues Samsung Joint Venture
Project Owner:
Jacobs Engineering Group
Honorable Mention Project
Project Name:
Surface Reef Silo 4
Location:
North-West Province, South Africa
Shotcrete Contractor:
Shotcrete Africa SCP
Architect/Engineer:
Royal Bafokeng Platinum
Material Supplier/Manufacturer:
FSE Engineering Services
Equipment Manufacturer:
Amsteele Systems
General Contractor:
Shotcrete Africa SCP
Ayla Golf Academy and Clubhouse
For the Ayla Golf Academy and Clubhouse in Aqaba, Jordan, Oppenheim Architecture took inspiration from the surrounding landscape and Bedouin tradition to deliver a distinctive building that evokes the aelemental beauty of the desert and mountains. The design amakes innovative use of shotcrete to create a continuous
The Pretoria Canopy
A 26 m (85 ft) long, highly unusual concrete portico over the entrance of a government building (The Pretoria Canopy), located in Silverton, Pretoria, South Africa, transforms a fairly ordinary
We are constructing a new custom roundabout with water running through the bridges on the Coast of Zintan, Tripoli, Libya, using a three-dimensional (3-D) panel system. It’s basically a system with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) panel with a wire mesh and shotcrete on both sides. Because of the heat, sea salt, and high humidity of the region, we are looking for a mixture formula for a waterproof shotcrete for the exterior coating with the right aggregate size to help prevent moisture migration to the interior and prevent cracks. Do you have any recommendations for the shotcrete?
If looking for a low-permeability concrete mixture for shotcrete placement, you should consider using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as silica fume, fly ash, or slag to reduce the permeability. You should also be sure to require a minimum 4000 psi 28-day compressive strength to assure good paste content and the ability to fully encase your reinforcement. The addition of microfibers and early wetting of the finished shotcrete surface will help to reduce the potential for early-age plastic shrinkage cracking. Proper curing for at least 7 days is also important to help increase strength gain and reduce the potential for drying shrinkage cracking. You can consult our Buyer’s Guide to locate our corporate members, who may consult with you on the mixture design. However, please be aware that many of the panel systems with an EPS core don’t use high-velocity (60 to 80 mph) shotcrete for consolidation and compaction of the sprayed concrete, but use a low-velocity sprayed mortar (LVSM). Because LVSM doesn’t have the compaction of shotcrete impact, it depends on a more sophisticated and expensive cementitious mixture, often with a latex or other admixture to improve adhesion and reduce permeability. You’ll need to consult with the material supplier of the LVSM product to verify the permeability of their in-place product.