BTSYM | WORKSHOP REPORT
SFRC & LOW CARBON LINING
BTSYM WORKSHOP:
BTSYM and Bekaert provide a report on the workshop held in March on low carbon tunnel lining. Bekaert’s Vini Casas and Ben Vanheuverzwijn provide a briefing on what was presented to young tunnellers, and BTSYM’s Jess Xu provides a report for the group
On 20 March 2025, Bekaert had the pleasure of collaborating with the British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSYM) to deliver an engaging and informative workshop for young engineers. The event, held at The Institution of Civil Engineers
(ICE), saw a full house with 20 enthusiastic attendees eager to learn about the latest advancements in steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) and its applications in tunnelling. We had the opportunity to cover different types of
applications for steel fibres in tunnelling construction, share insights from global case studies, design methodologies, and innovations in crack width control with the use of steel fibre reinforced concrete, that are reshaping how we approach concrete durability, sustainability, and performance.
IN-DEPTH The workshop kicked off with an introduction to Bekaert and an overview of SFRC, highlighting its tensile strength, crack control, ductility, anchorage, and aspect ratio. Attendees were introduced to various testing methods, including EN 14651, EN 14488-5 for energy absorption, and EN 14488-3 method B. The session also covered the transition from
temporary to permanent sprayed concrete linings, emphasising the benefits of SFRC in these applications. Following a short coffee break, the focus shifted to
low carbon segmental lining. The presentation detailed the advantages of SFRC in reducing carbon footprints and showcased several real-world examples. Crack control design principles and new applications, such as cut-and-cover tunnels, were also discussed.
Above: Vini Casas presenting – Bekaert Dramix Steel Fibres Underground Applications - Regional Manager, UK and Ireland IMAGES COURTESY OF BTSYM AND BEKAERT
26 | June 2025
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