Rock and Slope Stabilisation
Geotechnical work features heavily in our workload, typical examples include slope and cliff stabilisation, land reinforcement and dentition works.
Sprayed concrete is frequently applied as a weather proof and hard wearing facing over reinforcing meshing anchored by soil nails, to offer long term solutions to degradation, erosion and slippage.
The benefits of Sprayed concrete (Shotcrete):
- High early and rapid strength gain
- High final set strength
- Low permeability
- Solid waterproof facing
- Does not require formwork
- Rapid cover in an extremely short space of time
Either steel reinforcement or steel fibres, or a combination of both can be used to increase flexural strength, and concrete admixture accelerators or retarders can be introduced into the nozzle by the built in dosing pumps on our Putzmeister units. Waterproofing agents can also be added at batching stage, or into the water supply for a dry spray operation if required.
Shotcrete is usually applied in conjunction with soil nailing or rock bolting systems, and GSSL have partnered with several leading specialist contractors over the years (and continue to do so) who carry out this type of specialist work.
GSSL have invested heavily in robotic sprayed concrete equipment and currently run two Normet Minimec remotely controlled units, together with remotely controlled Putzmeister concrete pumps. This aids the health and safety of the shotcrete crews, as the machinery does all the heavy lifting and mitigates manual handling and close proximity to the sprayed concrete nozzle operations. The sprayed concrete robots can also reach up to 9.00 vertical metres in height which negates the need to spray concrete by hand from MEWPS, and again, aids the health and safety issues usually associated with working at height. MEWPS are still required for steel fixing and various other operations, but in a reduced capacity.
Types of application:
- Rock and cliff stabilisation works
- Railway embankments and dentition works
- Protection against soil erosion and landslide
- Flood barriers
- Repair and reinforcement to existing failed concrete surfaces
- Facing or reinforcing of failing gabion baskets
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The increasing demands for cost-effectiveness and the protection of health and the environment mean that sprayed concrete has been in continuous development for the last few decades with a proven track record.