The Structural Behavior of Ferrocement Lightweight Walls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Structural Engineering, Shoubra Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, 108 Shoubra street, Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufia University, Egypt

Abstract

Experimental and theoretical study on the structural behaviour of ferrocement lightweight walls subjected to distributed compressive loads is presented in this investigation. Casting and testing nine walls with overall dimensions of 100x500x1000mm, divided into four groups with longitudinal reinforcement of 10Φ10 bars, was part of the experimental procedure. All groups contained four lightweight bricks with dimensions of 40x200x400 mm length, aligned along the specimen with interspaces between each brick. Ultimate loads, modes of failure, first crack loads, service. Loads, and ductility ratios were studied in relation to the characteristics of steel reinforcing type, namely welded and expanded wire meshes. In the theoretical study, NLFEA model using ANSYS R19 program was used to be compared with the experimental results which showed a good agreement with experimental program with approximately ratio of 88 %. The lightweight ferrocement walls in Groups II, III and IV that reinforced with welded and expanded wire meshes have showed enhancement ratios in all mechanical properties with respect to Control Group I with no meshes and using expanded wire mesh showed higher ratios of enhancement with respect to welded wire mesh. It is interesting to note that combining welded and expanded steel wire meshes showed superior mechanical properties.

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