FORTA‘s non-corrosive fibers have been used in a wide variety of air-placed shotcrete concrete projects as a valuable performance-rated reinforcement that is extremely easy to add, mix, and shoot. In both above-ground artificial rock and waterscapes, and underground tunnel linings, the non-corrosive characteristic of FORTA-FERRO® is extremely attractive. FORTA-FERRO has also been used successfully in thousands of cubic yards of wet-mix shotcrete that were produced from pre-blended dry-bagged materials, primarily in underground tunnel projects.
High dosages of polypropylene fibers have actually been utilized in shotcrete projects for many years, including the tunnel wall at the Oldman River Dam in southern Alberta, Canada. In this case, 10.1 lbs. of the FORTA polypropylene fiber served as a user-friendly and performance-surpassing alternative to the 118 lbs. of steel fiber per cubic yard that had been used to start the project. The synthetic fibers in the concrete also eliminated any risk of injury from rebounding fibers and were easy to add, mix, and shoot, without build-up in the mixer trucks or shotcrete lines.
Underground tunnel projects have become the largest volume users of the FORTA-FERRO structural fiber in shotcrete applications for municipalities, wineries, railroads, and utility companies. FORTA-FERRO’s non-absorptive and non-corrosive characteristics are very valuable in these underground project conditions both here in the United States and abroad.
The ‘Keep It Wild’ project is the largest artificial reef ever placed in Texas waters and is crucial to improving and enhancing marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. The concept for artificial reefs is not new, but the usage of FORTA-FERRO® to replace steel reinforcement inside of them is a new idea. The fibers make the structures more durable and longer lasting while also benefiting the environment and decreasing the overall project budget. FORTA-FERRO® also replaces the need for steel, which is more corrosive and difficult to place, in comparison. By using FORTA-FERRO®, the project made a durable and safe environment for marine life for years to come.
FORTA-FERRO® was used to replace other synthetic fibers in this tunnel lining project in Redwood City, California. The contractor switched to FORTA-FERRO® in the middle of this project due to its ability to easily mix and finish. Approximately 300 cubic yards of shotcrete with 7.5 lbs. / cu. yd. of FORTA-FERRO® were used inside the wine storage tunnel. The FORTA-FERRO® reinforcement provided outstanding crack control, as well as reduced water permeability.
FORTA-FERRO® was used in a small residential swimming pool in Germantown, Tennessee. The FORTA-FERRO® added to the shotcrete mix was delivered in a ready-mix concrete truck in two loads of three cubic yards each. The FORTA-FERRO® was used in a 10 lbs. / cu. yd. as a replacement for the hassle of traditional wire mesh and other steel reinforcement. The concrete was pumped through a two-stroke piston type pump with a 4″ diameter hose. The concrete was very cohesive and had less rebound compared to concrete without fibers, which aided in applying it to this swimming pool base.
