Study the flexural behavior of ferrocement flat panels

• Published in: Journal of building pathology and rehabilitation 2023-06, Vol.8 (1), Article 20
• Main Authors: Zareei, Sayed Alireza, AL-Thairy, Haitham, Sallal, Ali Kadhim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building Materials; Building Repair and Maintenance; Energy Efficiency; Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Research Article; Structural Materials
• ISSN: 2365-3159; 2365-3167
• DOI: 10.1007/s41024-022-00260-4

In this experimental work, different layers of galvanized woven wire mesh (GWWm) were used to reinforce panels. This work aims to look into the effect of using a wire mesh on the flexural strength of ferrocement slab panels. A total of twenty four ferrocement slab panels were cast with dimensions of (500 mm × 250 mm × 25 mm, 500 mm × 250 mm × 30 mm, 700 mm × 250 mm × 35 mm, 700 mm × 250 mm × 40 mm) and divided into eight groups according to the length of panel, number of wire mesh used and panel thickness and each group have three specimens. All panels were strengthen with two or four layers by galvanized woven wire mesh and then tested in flexure until failure by using universal testing machines in the university’s laboratory. All panels were simply supported on two short edges and were tested under four-point bending until failure. The mesh panels tested in compression behaviour were hinged at both ends. From experimental results, the structural behavior and the ultimate load of panels were affected by the length of panel, thickness of the specimen and the number of meshes. The flexural strength of the panel at initial crack and at ultimate load stage increases by increasing the length of the panel but decreases by increasing its thickness also modulus of elasticity for a panel decreases by increasing the thickness of the panel while it increases when the length of the panel increases. The yield strength of wire meshes decreases by increasing the thickness of the panel and the number of wire mesh used while increasing the length of the panel cause increase the yield strength in all wire meshes of panels.