Characteristics of Ferrocement Lightweight Wall

Abstract

This study presents the results of an investigation aimed to study the behavior of reinforced walls constructing of permanent precast lightweight ferrocement hollow blocks. For this objective, an experimental program was carried out extensively, and a finite-element model with ANSYS14.5 was adopted. The experimental program constructed and tested of four walls having the dimensions of 840 × 650 × 250 mm consisting of six permanent precast lightweight ferrocement hollow blocks having the dimensions of 200 × 400 × 200 mm filled with the core material. The core material was investigated: one layer of welded steel mesh and mortar. Single, double, and three layers steel meshes were used to reinforce the plastering as a bonding layer forms, namely, welded steel mesh. Shear connections between the permanent precast hollow blocks and the core mortar were investigated, namely, the mechanical shear connector between the two surfaces. The test specimens were tested as a fixed wall under uniform load. The behaviors of the walls were compared. The experimental results emphasized that better cracks resistance, high serviceability and ultimate loads, and good energy absorption could be improved using the proposed walls which verify the validity of used the proposed model. There is a good agreement between theoretical and experimental ones. Out of this research, this study presents applications of using light weight ferrocement units in building construction of low-cost housing, which is very useful for developed and developing countries alike with great economic advantages.