Abstract

AbstractRapid set accelerating agents are added to shotcrete mixtures to speed up the hydration process targeting short setting time and high early strength. Silicate-based and alkali-free are the two main accelerating admixture categories that are being used in shotcrete. The effectiveness of these accelerators varies significantly based on the chemical composition of the binding material. Therefore, this study examined and compared the behaviour of shotcrete mixtures accelerated by silicate-based and alkali-free accelerators. Different accelerator dosages of 2, 4, and 6% by binder weight were tested. Flowability, and compressive strength development were evaluated. Results reveal that increasing the dosage had adversely affected the flowability of the mixtures. The threshold to achieve high strength was higher for silicate-based accelerator compared to that of the alkali-free accelerator. Based on the findings, it is recommended to contact trial batches to identify the optimum accelerator dosage based on targeted performance.KeywordsShotcreteSilicate-basedAlkali-freeAcceleratorsFlowabilityStrength

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