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1. FERRO-CEMENT
Ferro cement is a relatively new material, which was first used in France, in
the middle of the 19th century, for the construction of a rowing boat. It was
used in building construction in the middle of the 20th century in Italy.
Although its application in a large number of fields has rapidly increased all
over the world.

2. INTRODUCTION:
Ferro cement is a form of reinforced concrete using closely spaced
multiple layers of mesh and small diameter rods completely
infiltrated with mortar.
Ferro-cement consists of wire
meshes and cement mortar. It was
developed by P.L.Nervi, an Italian
architect in 1940.
Ferro cement is widely used due to
the low self weight, lack of skilled
workers, no need of framework etc.

3. Ferro cement is a thin construction element with thickness in the
order of 10-25 mm. and uses rich cement mortar; no coarse
aggregate is used; and the reinforcement consists of one or more
layers of continuous/ small diameter steel wire/ weld mesh netting.
It requires no skilled labor for casting, and employs only little or no
formwork.
In fibrocement, cement matrix does not crack
since cracking forces are taken over by wire
mesh reinforcement immediately below the
surface.
Husain Doshi Gufa, an underground ferro
cement shell structure which was built in
1993 at Ahmedabad, India has not only
withstood the 2001 earthquake but also has
remained crack-free.

4. What is Ferro-cement?
Highly versatile form of reinforced concrete.
Its a type of thin reinforced concrete construction, in which large
amount of small diameter wire meshes uniformly through out the
cross section.
Mesh may be metal or
suitable material. Instead of
concrete Portland cement
mortar is used.
Strength depends on two
factors quality of sand/cement
mortar mix and quantity of
reinforcing materials used.

5. 1. Cement mortar mix
2. Skeleton steel
3. Steel Reinforcing Mesh
4. water
MATERIALS USED IN FERRO CEMENT:
Ferro cement is a composite thin element which is constructed of
building materials-steel reinforcing mesh, cement, fine aggregate
(sand) and water.
Typical cross section of Ferro-cement structure

6. 1. CEMENT MORTAR MIX……..
Portland cement is generally used in Ferro cement. But the type
of cement should be selected according to the need or environment
in which the structure is built.
ordinary Portland cement and fine aggregate matrix is used.
Mineral admixtures, such as flyash, silica fumes, or blast furnace
slag, may be used to maintain a high volume fraction of fine filler
material as well as to enhance the properties at wet and hardened
state.
FA (sand), occupies 60 to 75% of the volume of the mortar
Plasticizers and other admixtures are used

7. MIX PROPORTIONS
Sand: cement ratio (by mass) 1.5 to 2.5
Water: cement ratio (by mass) 0.35 to 0.60
SAND
confirming to zone-I or Zone-II
free from impurities
WATER
Free from salts and organic impurities
Minimum to achieve desired workability
pH equal or greater than 7

8. 2. SKELETON STEEL…..
It support the steel wire mesh.
3 to 8 mm steel rods are used.
Reinforcement should be
free from dust, rust and
other impurities.
Used in the form of tied
reinforcement or welded
wire fabric

9. 3. STEEL MESH REINFORCEMENT….
Consists of galvanized steel wires of diameter 0.5 to 1.5 mm,
spaced at 6 to 20mm centre to centre.
Available as woven/interlocking mesh and welded mesh
Welded wire mesh has hexagonal or rectangular openings.
Expanded-metal lath is also used Made from carbon, glass etc.

10. PROPERTIES OF FERRO CEMENT…
It is very durable, cheap and versatile material.
Low w/c ratio produces impermeable structures.
Less shrinkage, and low weight.
High tensile strength and stiffness.
Better impact and punching shear resistance.
Undergo large deformation before cracking or high deflection.

11. ADVANTAGES OF FERRO-CEMENT…..
It is highly versatile and can be formed into almost any shape
for a wide range of uses.
20% savings on materials and cost.
Suitability for pre-casting.
Flexibility in cutting, drilling and jointing.
Very appropriate for developing countries; labor intensive.
Good fire resistance.
Good impermeability.
Low maintenance costs.

12. Thin elements and light structures, reduction in self
weight & Its simple techniques require a minimum of skilled
labor.
Reduction in expensive form work so economy & speed can be
achieved.
Only a few simple hand tools are needed to build any
structures.
Structures are highly waterproof & Higher strength to weight
ratio than R.C.C.
Ease of construction, low weight and long lifetime.
Low construction material cost. Better earthquake resistance

13. DISADVANTAGES OF FERRO-CEMENT….
Low shear strength.
Low ductility.
Susceptibility to stress rupture failure.
It can be punctured by collision with pointed objects.
It is difficult to fasten to Ferro cement with bolt, screw,
welding and nail etc.
Large no of labors required
Tying rods and mesh together is especially tedious and time
consuming.
Structures made of it can be punctured by collision with
pointed objects.
Corrosion of the reinforcing materials due to the incomplete
coverage of metal by mortar.

14. PROCESS OF FERRO-CEMENT
CONSTRUCTION:
Fabricating the skeletal
framing system.
Applying rods and meshes.
Plastering.
 Curing

15. APPLICATIONS OF FERRO CEMENT…..
1. Marine Applications:
Boats, fishing vessels, barges, cargo tugs, flotation buoys
Key criteria for marine applications: light weight, impact
resistance, thickness and water tightness
2. Water supply and sanitation:
Water tanks, sedimentation tanks, swimming pool linings,
well casings, septic tanks etc.
3. Agricultural:
Grain storage bins, silos, canal linings, pipes, shells for fish
and poultry farms

16. 4. Residential Buildings:
 Houses, community centers, precast housing elements,
corrugated roofing sheets, wall panels etc.
5. Rural Energy:
Biogas digesters, biogas holders, incinerators, panels for solar
energy collectors etc.
6. Miscellaneous uses:
Kiosks
Bus shelters
chemical resistant treatment
Precast Ferro cement structures

17. COMPARISION BETWEEN RCC & FERRO CEMENT:
Ferro cement is principally the same as reinforced concrete
(RCC), but has the following differences:
• Its thickness rarely exceeds 25 mm, while RCC components
are seldom less than 100 mm.
• A rich Portland cement mortar is used, without any coarse
aggregate as in RCC.
• Compared with RCC, Ferro cement has a greater percentage of
reinforcement, comprising closely spaced small diameter wires
and wire mesh, distributed uniformly throughout the cross-
section.
• Its tensile-strength-to-weight ratio is higher than RCC, and its
cracking behavior superior.

18. COMPARISION BETWEEN RCC & FERRO CEMENT:
• Ferro cement can be constructed without formwork for almost
any shape. Mortar composition.
• The essential ingredients of the mortar which represents about
95 % of Ferro cement are Portland cement, sand, water, and in
some cases an admixture.
• Hexagonal wire mesh, commonly called chicken wire mesh, is
the cheapest and easiest to use, and available almost
everywhere. It is very flexible and can be used in very thin
sections, but is not structurally as efficient as meshes with
square openings, because the wires are not oriented in the
principal (maximum) stress directions.

19. EXAMPLES OF FERRO
CEMENT CONSTRUCTION

26. EXAMPLE…. II