Application of BCN test for controlling fiber reinforced shotcrete in tunnelling works in Chile

Abstract

In many tunnelling projects currently under construction in Chile, the quality of fiber reinforced shotcretes (FRS) is controlled by means of its energy absorption capacity determined by testing squared panel following the EFNARC recommendation. Nevertheless, this test requires large and heavy specimens, which have to be filled when concrete is sprayed into the tunnel and does not allow testing the concrete actually placed onto the support. Due to these difficulties, the quality of fiber reinforced shotcretes used in some projects has been controlled by means of the Barcelona (BCN) test, which is an indirect tension test, using cores drilled from the hardened tunnel support. To apply the BCN test, the dissipated energy measured by means of this test has been correlated with the energy absorption capacity of the fiber reinforced shotcretes using experimental data obtained from works. The aim of this paper is presenting this correlation and it application.