Determination of the early strength of

sprayed concrete with stud driving method

Hilti DX 450-SCT

BASF Sprayed concrete workshop

February 12, 2014

Hermann Beck, Christian Klein

Hilti Corporation
Business Unit Direct Fastening
Liechtenstein

www.hilti.com DX 450-SCT, BASF, October 30, 2013, XMT / Beck, XEB / Klein 1
Content

● Direct Fastening Technology

● Stud driving method for early strength testing

• Concept and history of early strength testing

• Guidelines and standards

● Operating instructions

● Practical session

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The usual objective of direct fastening is to fasten
components to steel or concrete in a one step
operation process.

www.hilti.com DX 450-SCT, BASF, October 30, 2013, XMT / Beck, XEB / Klein 3
Hilti DX-tool is basically a hammer driven by the
combustion of a powder cartridge.

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Direct Fastening applications

● Tunnel applications  Hilti Stollen

• Fastening of drainage membranes
• Fastening of wire mesh

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www.hilti.com DX 450-SCT, BASF, October 30, 2013, XMT / Beck, XEB / Klein 6
Stud driving method for early strength testing of
sprayed concrete

● Developed by Prof. Kusterle (University of Applied

Science, Regensburg, Germany) in 1983
Publication in Journal BETON- UND STAHLBETONBAU „Ein kombiniertes
Verfahren zur Beurteilung der Frühfestigkeit von Spritzbeton“, Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn,
1984

● Recognized in guidelines and standards

• ÖVBB Guideline „Sprayed Concrete“ published by
Austrian Society for Concrete- and Construction
Technology (since 1991)

• European Standard EN 14488-2:2006: Testing sprayed

concrete – Part 2: Compressive strength of young
sprayed concrete

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Current version of ÖVBB Guideline „Sprayed Concrete“
published by Austrian Society for Concrete- newly released in
English – 2013, http://bautechnik.pro

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DX 450-SCT method covers the need of fast
verification of sprayed concrete into early strength
class J1, J2 or J3.

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Application range of various test methods

Standard stud driving method: Hilti DX 450-SCT, GREEN Cartridge

Special method: YELLOW cartidge

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Test equipment

Powder-actuated fastening
Threaded studs tool DX 450-SCT
X-M6-8-52 D12
X-M6-8-72 D12 Green Powder
X-M6-8-95 D12 cartridge

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Test procedure – standard method GREEN Cartridge
● Drive stud Hilti DX 450-SCT, using GREEN cartridge Power Setting 1

● Measure and record standoff NVS in the target range: 8 mm ≤ NVS ≤ 30 mm

● Calculate depth of penetration hnom

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Test procedure – standard method GREEN Cartridge
● Measure and record pullout load Nu

● Calculate the ratio Nu/hnom

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Test procedure – standard method GREEN Cartridge
● Calculate sprayed concrete strength utilizing calibration curves

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Practical hints
● Number of samples  10
● Edge distance and spacing

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Practical hints
● For firing, make sure that the fastener guide is on a high spot, so that the
fastener guide remains compressed

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Practical hints – correction of pullout load readings

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 Specific „historical“ aspects
● Hilti DX 450-SCT was previously designated as DX 450-L.
● It was available with 2 different piston guides varying in the supplied driving
energy. The standard guide for the test method is the guide L 140.
● When DX 450-L is used, the type of guide should be checked. In case non-
standard guide L 125 is used, modifications of the power setting are required
(See Instruction Manual)
● Distinction between the guides is given with different gas exhaust slot
length

DX 450-SCT is equipped with the piston guide L 140

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Operating Instructions – current issue from Dec.
2011 updates version from Jan. 2009, making some
formal updates – no changes in test procedure

● References are made to the newest version

of the OVBB guideline Sprayed Concrete,
issue December 2009.
● Nomenclature change: Hilti Tester Mark 5 
HAT 28 (Hilti Anchor Tester 28)

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Notes on accuracy and calibration

● Scope description from EN 14488-2

● There is no calibration for the DX 450-SCT tool.

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Notes on accuracy and calibration
● In order to check the energy supply of the tool over time, reference driving
tests (e.g. into square steel hollow sections with a thickness of 3 to 5 mm)
can be made.

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Supplementary literature
● Leaflet on Early strength testing with Hilit DX 450-SCT
● Determination of the early strength of sprayed concrete with stud driving
method Hilti DX 450-SCT – Operating Instructions
● In English and German
● Hilti Direct Fastening Technology Manual
● In English and German
● Stahlbaukalender 2011: Powder actuated fasteners in steel construction

To order equipment or for further advice, contact the Hilti market

organization in your country,. Contacts are given on the Hilti web-site
www.hilti.com.

Additional contact: Hermann.Beck@hilti.com

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