Laboratory tests on shotcrete-rock joints in direct shear, tension and compression

A series of laboratory tests was performed on cemented shotcrete-rock joints to investigate the strength and stiffness of the interfaces, while simulating field conditions as close as possible. The direct shear test formed the core of the experimental work, while the tension and compression tests were complementary. To simulate loading conditions experienced in practical cases the direct shear tests were performed under fairly low normal stresses. In most practical cases when shotcrete is used with rock bolts, the normal load on shotcrete lining seldom exceeds 0.2 to 0.5MPa. The direct shear test results show that, for such normal load range the shear strength is determined by the bond strength for genuinely bonded shotcrete-rock interfaces. For higher normal stresses (σ^sub n^ > 1.0MPa), which rarely exist at the shotcrete-rock interface, the shear strength is largely influenced by friction resulting in the cohesive strength being less significant. Assessment of the shear surface revealed that the steel fibres in the shotcrete appeared to contribute significantly to the frictional component. The shear and normal stiffnesses of the interface were also determined, which were in principal the stiffnesses of the bond. An interesting observation was the complex interaction at the interface and the mechanisms that controlled the peak shear strength which depended on the surface roughness, the existence of natural flaws and the normal load.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]