Comparative Model of the Physical-Mechanical Properties of Shotcrete with content of steel fibers and polypropylene used in the support of underground mining operations in Peru

In the underground mining of Peru, the most used support is shotcrete, due to its effectiveness against the stability of rocky massifs; however, it can present difficulties due to the natural aggressive agents of a mine, which results in a low support resistance. This research presents the study on the resistance of shotcrete when applying polypropylene fibers and steel fibers as reinforcing agent in an underground mine located in the province of Santander, Colombia. The reinforcement materials were chosen for their application in other countries, achieving improvements in the support capacity in underground workings. The application of Sika polypropylene fibers, in a curing time of 7, 14 and 28 days obtained results of 257.02kg/cm2, 293.58kg/cm2 and 342.25kg/cm2 respectively. On the other hand, the application of Dramix steel fibers, in a curing time of 7, 14 and 28 days, obtained results of 215.0kg/cm2, 301.42kg/cm2 and 346.05kg/cm2 respectively. In this sense, it is evident that shotcrete reinforced with both fibers is favorable for use in underground mining in work with the presence of water and a high presence of stress. However, for the effectiveness of this proposal, the scenario where it will be applied must be analyzed.