ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT. Shotcrete is a widely used material in the construction of swimming pools because of the advantages, such as achieving free-form structures, high strength and low permeability. High quality shotcrete pools can also be built to be watertight. However, the quality of shotcrete is highly dependent on the skills of the nozzleman, as he can shoot shotcrete to be dense and uniform, showing no sand streaks or voids. Sand streaks and voids provide pathways for water to be transmitted through the walls and the floor of pools. They also provide weakened areas in the structure to promote drying shrinkage cracking, and subsequently allow water through such cracks. The importance of suitable materials as well as early and adequate curing should be understood. Attention to such details will result in less cracking and water loss and will produce a pool surface with fewer defects. This paper presents methods available for determining the ability of nozzlemen to produce good quality shotcrete. Procedures for petrographic examination of the shotcrete materials and hardened shotcrete are presented.
