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See the popular outdoor exhibits and event areas showcasing a continuous, hands-on supply of solid ideas, techniques, demonstrations and resources. Participate in the industry’s top education program with seminars packed with powerful strategies and knowledge you need.

If you work in the commercial construction and masonry industries, there is no better place than World of Concrete to get what you need to keep your business running strong all year long!

The 2009 Space Draw resulted in more than 825,000 square feet of exhibit space
booked by exhibitors from around the globe gearing up to display the latest products,
tools, education, equipment, technologies, and more for attendees looking to sustain and
grow their businesses in 2009.

WOC 2009 once again featured special product and action areas including The
Producer Center, a dedicated marketplace of materials, equipment, demos, and
seminars for concrete producers; Material Handling, offering trucks, excavators and
more for material delivery, distribution, concrete placement, and earth moving; Concrete
Repair and Demolition, featuring surface preparation products & equipment, scarifying,
grinding, sawing equipment, and other demolition products; World of Masonry,
showcasing a full range of products, tools, information, and technology for masonry
professionals; and Technology for Construction, featuring the latest products and
technologies for the commercial construction industry from top information technology
and systems providers.

Returning in 2009 was be the GREENSITE exhibits & presentation area of the show floor
located in the South Hall, Level 2. In this high-traffic area, exhibitors showcased green
build technologies and products along with interactive displays, video and live
presentations, and valuable information on this popular and growing topic of concern in
the commercial and residential construction industries.

The World of Concrete Education Program is lauded as a world-class feature at the
show with targeted 3-hour sessions covering everything from Concrete Fundamentals to
Decorative Concrete and Business & Project Management in addition to 90-minute
topics including Leadership & Management, Technology for Construction, Green
Building, Safety/ Risk Management, and more. This year, look for sessions dealing with
key topics relevant to sustaining and growing the concrete and masonry industries.

As a member of the 2009 International Buyer Program, World of Concrete Management
and the U.S. Commercial Service will work closely in the global promotion of the show
bringing international buyers and exhibitors together to expand business both
domestically and overseas. As part of the program, delegations from all over the globe
attend World of Concrete to network, see new products and connect with U.S. exhibitors
interested in exporting goods and services.

Returning favorites will include the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®; Artistry in
Decorative Concrete; the CIM Auction; Women in Concrete Luncheon & Forum; Most
Innovative Products Contest; plus challenges, demonstrations and competitions
throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center. Several MCAA (Mason Contractors
Association of America) events and competitions will also take place as part of the
MCAA Annual Convention, which will once again be held concurrently with WOC 2009.
Get more information at www.masoncontractors.org.

With such a wide variety of events, demonstrations, educational sessions, networking
opportunities and much more, it is no wonder why World of Concrete continues to create
an important and vital marketplace for both attendees and exhibitors and was named by
Tradeshow Week as one of the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Tradeshows in 2007.

View the latest show information at www.worldofconcrete.com with upcoming news
regarding the debut of the New Product Showcase at WOC 2009 and much more!

One widely used specialty concrete is known as “shotcrete.” The major difference between shotcrete and its close cousin, concrete, is the placement method. Concrete is discharged from a ready-mix truck, placed on the ground or in forms and then must be vibrated for compaction. By contrast, the shotcrete process, whether using wet or dry material feed, does not require forming or compaction thereby enhancing design creativity and application flexibility, often resulting in a savings of time or money

Shotcrete, was originally called “Gunite” when Carl Akeley designed a doubled chambered cement gun in 1910. His apparatus pneumatically applied a sand-cement mixture at a high velocity to the intended surface. Other trademarks were soon developed known as Guncrete, Pneucrete, Blastcrete, Blocrete, Jetcrete etc. all referring to pneumatically applied concrete. Today Gunite equates to dry-mix process shotcrete while the term “shotcrete” usually describes the wet-mix shotcrete process. At point of application, both are typically referred to as shotcrete.

Dry-mix process shotcrete, introduces and mixes the required water at the application nozzle as the dry cementitious materials (fly ash, slag, silica fume etc.) and aggregates are delivered through the “gun” The nozzleman controls mix consistency, adjusting water addition to suit the changing conditions of the work area. The dry-mix process also is well suited for sporadic application operations since the majority of the water only comes into contact with the cementitious materials as it leaves the nozzle.The wet-mix process utilizes concrete delivered to the job that is thoroughly mixed excluding of any required accelerators. The ingredients are generally delivered in ready-mix trucks as with normal concrete. Accelerators or other admixtures may still be metered into the slurry at the nozzle along with air under pressure to increase the velocity of the material and improve control of the application or “shooting” process.

The impact velocity of properly applied shotcrete instantly compacts the material, yielding an “in-place” mix that is richer in cement and higher in strength than the same mixture prior to placement. Typically, a fine aggregate dry-mix shotcrete mix delivered in a 1:3 cement to aggregate proportion upon entering the application gun results in a 1:2 cement to aggregate ratio when in place. What appears to be a waste of materials and a dust nuisance known in the trade as “rebound” and overspray, actually results in dense, high-strength shotcrete as a portion of the aggregate ricochets off the receiving surface and away from the placement location. The loss through rebound will vary depending upon the dryness of the mix, the shooting distance from the surface, wind conditions, etc. The intended thickness is generally overshot, trimmed back to the design thickness and finished to the desired surface texture and appearance.

While the dry mix process sounds quick and economical, it requires precautions to ensure application quality. The nozzleman’s workmanship and experience are critical, since the nozzleman controls the critical water-to-mix ratio going into application equipment. With the wet-mix process, the nozzleman has no control over the consistency of the mix delivered to the job site, but can control the velocity of the materials and the addition of accelerators as the mix leaves the nozzle.

Just as in concrete mix designs, the water-to-cementitious materials ratio remains the single most important parameter influencing the compressive strength, shrinkage and overall durability of the final product. Application technique is also crucial and less forgiving than ordinary ready-mix. Good “shooting” technique can mean the difference between a dense high-strength material or one that looks good on the finished surface but actually has underlying sand pockets, voids and poorly encased reinforcing steel. Poor application technique increases the probability of cracking and its negative ramifications.The shotcrete process is more versatile than conventional concrete placement. If the shooting surface is sound, clean and accessible, shotcrete can be applied in very difficult or complex shapes or sections where conventional concrete formwork would prove difficult or impossible as well as cost prohibitive. Shotcrete is especially applicable for unique shapes desired in complex shapes, swimming pools and other unique features of aquatic parks. It can also be an excellent overlay and repair material for existing structures because of its potential to achieve good bond strength and low permeability.

The nuances and differences between concrete and shotcrete are too numerous to cover in a short article. Selecting a concrete placement method, whether it be conventional concrete, wet-mix or dry-mix process shotcrete, can be a challenging task, since there are positive aspects of each for almost every application. While it is true that one approach may be more applicable, adaptable or economical than another, the final concrete placement selection for the project should be based on project design, material performance criteria and overall budget.

By George W. Seegebrecht and Steven H. Gebler