FLEXURAL BEHAVIOUR OF FERROCEMENT SLAB PANELS USING WELDED SQUARE MESH BY INCORPORATING STEEL FIBERS

Randhir J. Phalke, Darshan G. Gaidhankar

Abstract: The present study describes the results of testing flat ferrocement panels reinforced with different number of wire mesh layers. The main objective of this work is to study the effect of using different no of wire mesh layers on the flexural strength of flat ferrocement panels and to compare the effect of varying the no of wire mesh layers and use of steel fibers on the ultimate strength and ductility of ferrocement slab panels. The no of layers used are two, three and four. Slab panels of size (550*200) with thickness 25 mm are reinforced with welded square mesh with varying no of layers of mesh. Panels were casted with mortar of mix proportion (1:1.75) and water cement ratio (0.38) including super plasticizer (Perma PC-202) with dosage of 1% of total weight of cement. Some panels were casted with steel fibers (0.5%) of total volume of composite and aspect ratio (l/d) =57. Panels were tested under two point loading system in UTM machine after curing period of 28 days. Test result shows that panels with more no of layers exhibits greater flexural strength and less deflection as that compared with panels having less no of layers of mesh.

Keywords: Ferrocement; Wire Mesh, effect, Flexural Strength, Ductility, Ultimate Strength, Layers, panels, plasticizer and steel fibers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0305140