Vin civil world

Concrete is a versatile material, it has a seamless beauty that makes everything look aesthetically appealing. There is a wide range of diversity available in the grades, textures, design and functions of concrete. They are all formed based on the characteristics of being lightweight, heavyweight, porous, mass, cellular concretes, etc just to name a few.

Each type provides very specific properties to the material. One of the most widely used concrete all around the world is ‘shotcrete.’ The only difference between shotcrete and concrete is the placement method of both. Concrete is always discharged from a ready-mix truck where later on it is taken for compaction through vibration. Shotcrete, on the other hand, does not require any forming or compaction and due to this, it has an upper hand between both. Shotcrete allows design creativity and flexibility during construction projects. . Both of these qualities are perfect for design innovation and thought-provoking forms. The result of using shotcrete is that it ends up saving your building cost by a considerable amount.

The material shotcrete was originally known as ‘Gunite’ in the 1910s when Carl Akeley designed the double-chambered cement gun. The mixture he used included sand-cement kept at a higher velocity. Following the inspiration from Guncrete, other types like Pneu Crete, Blastcrete, Blocrete and Jetcrete, etc were soon developed. Although concrete and shotcrete are formed through a similar process, the difference is that the former is all about a dry mixture whereas the latter uses a wet mixture.

The dry mix process in shotcrete mixes only the required water at the application nozzle and the other aggregates are delivered through a gun. The nozzle then controls the consistency of the mix by adjusting the water addition.

The wet mix process in shotcrete uses the concrete that is delivered on-site and thoroughly mixed as well. The accelerator or admixtures are metered into the slurry under pressure to increase the overall velocity of the material.

Velocity here is the key, the impact in the shotcrete process instantly helps in compacting the material. This process impacts an ‘in-place mixture that is richer in cement and has a higher strength to increase the building quality and quantity.

In terms of designing with concrete, the ratio of water and cement defines the core of the compressive strength, shrinkage and durability of the material. The application process for the same is also complex as compared to the ready-mix. If the application process is not done correctly then it can lead to cracking and negative ramifications.

Therefore, the shotcrete process is more versatile than other concrete processes and it can be easily applied in complex areas as well. If you want to create unique designs like swimming pools with innovative shapes then shotcrete is the go-to solution for you. To know more, click on the website.

The technical differences between concrete and shotcrete are diverse. There are both positive and negative aspects of both of these construction vitals. Therefore, the final decision for choosing the right method should be based on the project design, the materials criteria and also the overall budget.