ABSTRACT Ferrocement addition in cement mortar or concrete increases the performance of material. The present paper describes the results of testing flat ferrocement panels reinforced with different number of wire mesh layers. The main objective of these experimental tests is to study the effect of using different numbers of wire mesh layers on the flexural strength of flat ferrocement panels and to compare the effect of varying the number of wire mesh layers on the ductility and the ultimate strength of these types of ferrocement structures. The used number of wire mesh layers is one, two, three and four layers. The experimental results show that flexural strength of the folded panels increased by 37% and 90% for panels having 2 and 3 wire mesh layers respectively, copared with that having single layer, while for flat panel the increase in flexural strength compared with panel of plan mortar is 4.5%, 65% and 68% for panels having 1, 2 and 3 wire mesh layers respectively. The strength capacity of the folded panels, having the particular geometry used in the present study, is in the order of 3.5 to 5 times that of the corresponding flat panels having the same number of wire mesh layers. Both types are also analyzed using finite element method to check the flexural stresses in these panels under self weight and cracking load. Keywords: Ferrocement, Flat Panel, Mortar, Wire Mesh.

1. By
M. Anil (114730053l)
K. Ravichander (114730052l)
P. Raghava (10473t0029)
P.Jagan (10473t0013)
K. Ramprasad (114730054l)
M. Ranjithkumar (10473t0033)
Department of Civil Engineering
Guide: Niranjan Reddy, Asst
Professor

2. INTRODUCTION
• Ferrocement composite consist of cement-sand mortar and
single or multi-layers of steel wire mesh.
• Ferrocement composite consist of cement-sand mortar and
single formulate-layers of steel wire mesh to produce
elements of small thickness having high durability, resilience
and when properly shaped it has high strength and rigidity.
• Mesh is usually 0.5-1.0mm diameter and 5-10mm spacing of
cement mortar.

3. • The present work is based on the cement
mortar for the base material for making
ferrocement flat plates with greater Tensile
strength using materials which are relatively
inexpensive, and can usually be obtained
locally.

4. Properties of Ferrocement
 Unique in material behaviour.
 Thickness <25mm.
 Greater toughness, ductility, durability, strength and crack
resistance than the other forms of concrete construction.
Fig: 3

5. Properties of Ferrocement
Tensile behaviour
Fire resistance
Impact resistance
Durability
Corrosion

6. Fatigue resistance
Flexural strength
Compression strength
Shear
Water Retaining Capacity
Contd…

7. Tensile behaviour
Contd…
• Tensile behaviour of ferrocement is considerably different than
the reinforced concrete. This is mainly because the reinforcement
is spaced closer and uniformly than in reinforced concrete and its
smaller diameter results in a larger specific surface area.
Fig: 4

8. Fire Resistance
Contd…
• A problem unique to ferrocement is potentially poor fire
resistance because of the inherent thinness of its structural form
and the abnormally low cover given to the reinforcement.
Fig: 5

9. Impact Resistance
Contd…
 Impact strength was defined as the energy absorbed by the
specimens when struck by a swinging pendulum dropped from a
constant height.
 Impact strength is a useful parameter in applications related to
offshore structures and boats.
Fig: 6

10. Durability
Contd…
 When ferrocement is exposed to aggressive environment, its
successful performance depends to a great extent on its durability
against the environment than on its strength properties.
Fig: 7

11. Corrosion
 All ferrocement marine structures, by virtue of their marine
environment are liable to corrosion attack.
 The severity of the attack on structure will depend basically on
how well it has been designed and built, the materials used
Fig: 8
Contd…

12. Fatigue Resistance
Contd…
 Fatigue strength plays an important role in restricting the use of
ferrocement in structures subjected to such a loading as in
bridges.
 Most fatigue failures occurred by fracture of the wires and the
range of repeated stress in the wires gave the greatest on the
fatigue strength of ferrocement.

13. Flexural Strength
Contd…
• An experimental investigation on behaviour and strength of
ferrocement flexure was found that the ultimate moment
increase with increasing matrix grade (decreasing water cement
ratio) and increasing volume fraction of reinforcement.
Fig: 9

14. Compression Strength
Contd…
 The high compressive strength of mortar contributes primarily to
the compressive strength of the ferrocement composite.
 The value of ultimate strength, strain at ultimate strength and
Young’s modulus increase with increasing of specific surface area.
Fig: 10

15. Shear
Contd…
 The shear strength depends upon mortar, strength of wire
mesh, volume fraction and shear span.
Fig: 11

16. Water Retaining Capacity
• The special property to be noted is that of water retention when
application of ferrocement is considered in liquid storage tanks.
The important aspect here is small crack widths so that leakage
may be minimal.
Fig: 12
Contd…

17. Applications of ferrocement
 Housing applications
 Marine applications
 Agriculture applications
 Water & sanitation applications
 Miscellaneous applications
Fig: 13

18. Fig: 14
Fig: 15

19. MATERIALS
• Fine aggregate (IS sieve 2.36mm)
• Cement (OPC 53grade)
• Ferrocement mesh
• Water
• Rectangular mould (500x100x30mm) Fig: 16

20. Method of Preparation
Selection of material
Batching
Casting
Curing
Testing
(flexural behaviour)
Fig: 17

21. Casting
Fig: 19 Testing
Fig: 18

22. Results and discussions
Fig: 20 Load and Deflection Curves for CM 1:1 with different layers
of Ferro mesh

23. Fig: 21 Load and Deflection Curves for CM 1:2 with different layers
of Ferromesh
Contd..

24. Fig: 22 Load and Deflection Values for CM 1:3 with different layers
of Ferromesh
Contd..

25. APPLICATIONS
 Ferrocement has been used for domestic over-head tanks.
 It is suitable for casting, curved benches for parks, garden and
open air cinema theatres.
 It became a popular material for prefabricated roof units.
 It is a suitable material for pressure pipes.
 It is also an ideal material for making tree guards.

26. CONCLUSION
• The cracking load was not significantly affected by the number
of the wire mesh .
• The percentage increase in the flexural strength using 2 and 3
layers is 65% and 68% compared with that of plain mortar
panel.
• Finally increasing the number of layers of wire mesh from 1 to
3 layers significantly increases the ductility and capability to
absorb energy of the panel.

27. references
1. Jain, A.K., "Ferrocement Folded Plate Roofing Industrial Sheds",
India Concrete Journal, Vol. 55, No. 6, June 1981, pp. 146-149.
2. Desayi, P., Viswanatha, C.S. and Hubli, G.K., "Ferrocement
Precast Elements for Roofing of Low-Cost Housing", Journal of
Ferrocement, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 1983, pp. 19-39.
3. Kaushik, S.K., Gupta, V.K. and Sehgal, V.K., "Performance
Evaluation of Ferrocement Box Girder Elements for Roofs and
Floors", Journal of Ferrocement, Vol. 18, No. 4, October 1988,
pp. 413-420.