Is Sprayed Concrete – the Most Important Element in Mining Ground Support?
Sprayed concrete technology has revolutionized tunnel construction and mining operations since the middle of the 20th century. The development of material science and performance together with advances in spraying equipment technology have made sprayed concrete the building material of choice for today's underground construction projects.
Due to its nature as a spray-applied material, sprayed concrete offers excellent surface sealing and ground strengthening as it perfectly fits the excavation contour, hardening and gaining strength in a remarkably short time frame. It has allowed the construction of subsurface structures that were not possible before.
The development of modern wet-mix sprayed concrete in particular has contributed considerably to this effort. Furthermore, the proven quality of sprayed concrete has led to it being used more and more as a permanent support solution, replacing the traditional cast in-situ inner concrete lining.