Structural behavior of thin ferrocement plates with and without stiffeners subjected to compression loading

Abstract

Ferrocement plates with or without stiffeners are presented for structural applications in construction instead of steel plates in some of its uses. Such as retaining walls, construction of ships and pontoons, irrigation gates, open channels and flood protection. The developed plates are lighter in weight with high strength, cracking resistance, better deformation characteristics and high ductility and energy absorption properties which are very usel for dynamic applications compared with conventional concrete plates. The present study focused on the structural behavior of thin ferrocement plates with and without frame subjected to axial compression loading. Extensive experimental program was carefully designed and a finite element model with ANSYS15 was adopted. A total of twelve samples thin ferrocement plates 50 mm in thickness, 1000 mm in width and 1000 mm in length were tested under compression loading up to failure. The main variables taken into consideration in this paper were the type of reinforcement (reinforced bar and welded steel wire meshes), a number of layers of steel meshes (one layer, two layers, three layers and four layers) and the direction of the load. The behavior of the tested thin plates was investigated with special attention to initial cracking, ultimate load, the deflection under different stages of loading, cracking pattern, energy absorption and ductility index. Test specimen with frame and reinforced with three layers of welded steel wire steel meshes combined with seven steel bars as steel reinforcement (FS7W3) has exhibited better deformation characteristics and high strength, ductility and energy absorption. Good agreement was found compared theoretical with the experimental results. The developed thin pates have great advantages and cost economic saving which are very useful for developed and developing countries alike.