Study on Flexural Behavior of Flat Ferrocement Panels

Prefabricated elements are used in construction industry as an alternative system to overcome the formwork problems in addition to getting better quality control. The prefabricated elements made of reinforced concrete are extremely heavy and difficult to transport, placing in position and to construct. Alternatively, ferrocement panels are being used in construction industry due to its good structural performance and low cost. Ferrocement is suitable for the construction of roofing/floor elements, precast units, manhole covers, and construction of domes, vaults, grid surface and folded plates. It can also be used for making water tanks, boats, and silos. An experimental investigation on flexural behavior of flat ferrocement panels reinforced with skeletal steel and galvanized iron wire mesh with varying number of wire mesh layers is presented. The slabs are tested under flexural loading by applying line loads at 1/3rd points. It is concluded that the first crack and ultimate loads increase with the increases number of layer wire mesh. From the studies, it is observed that the load carrying capacities, deformation at ultimate load and energy absorption capacities are high in the case of increasing the number of wire mesh layers. Further, it is observed that there is a reduction in crack width and increase in number of cracks indicates are delay in crack growth.