Expanded Wire Mesh Research Articles

Comparative study of eco-friendly wire mesh configurations to enhance sustainability in reinforced concrete structures

Recent and past studies mainly focus on reducing the dead weight of structure; therefore, they considered lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) which reduces the dead weight but also affects the strength parameters. Therefore, the current study aims to use varied steel wire meshes to investigate the effects of LWAC on mechanical properties. Three types of steel wire mesh are used such as hexagonal (chicken), welded square, and expanded metal mesh, in various layers and orientations in LWAC. Numerous mechanical characteristics were examined, including energy absorption (EA), compressive strength (CS), and flexural strength (FS). A total of ninety prisms and thirty-three cubes were made. For the FS test, forty-five 100 × 100 × 500 mm prism samples were poured, thirty-three 150 × 150 × 150 mm cube samples were made, and forty-five 400 × 300 × 75 mm EA specimens were costed for fourteen days of curing. The experimental findings demonstrate that the FS was enhanced by adding additional forces that spread the forces over the section. One layer of chicken, welded, and expanded metal mesh enhances the FS by 52.96%, 23.76%, and 22.2%, respectively. In comparison to the remaining layers, the FS in a single-layer hexagonal wire mesh has the maximum strength, 29.49 MPa. The hexagonal wire mesh with a single layer had the greatest CS, measuring 36.56 MPa. When all three types of meshes are combined, the CS does not vary in this way and is estimated to be 29.79 MPa. In the combination of three layers, the chicken and expanded wire mesh had the most energy recorded prior to final failure, which was 1425.6 and 1108.7 J, whereas it was found the highest 752.3 J for welded square wire mesh. The energy absorption for the first layer with hexagonal wire mesh increased by 82.81% prior to the crack and by 88.34% prior to the ultimate failure. Overall, it was determined and suggested that hexagonal wire mesh works better than expanded and welded wire meshes.

Axial Compression Behavior of Ferrocement Geopolymer HSC Columns.

Geopolymer concrete (GC) is a substantial sort that is created by utilizing metakaolin, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), silica fumes, fly ash, and other cementitious materials as binding ingredients. The current study concentrated on the structural behavior of the ferrocement geopolymer HSC-columns subjected to axial loading and produced using rice straw ash (RSA). The major goal of this research was to use the unique features of the ferrocement idea to manufacture members that function as columns bearing members. As they are more cost-effective and lower in weight, these designed elements can replace traditional RC members. The study also intended to reduce the cost of producing new parts by utilizing low-cost materials such as light weight expanded and welded wire meshes, polyethylene mesh (Tensar), and fiber glass mesh. For this purpose, an experimental plan was conducted and a finite element prototype with ANSYS2019-R1 was implemented. Nine geopolymer ferrocement columns of dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm × 1600 mm with different volume-fraction and layers as well as a number of metallic and nonmetallic meshes were examined under axial compression loading until failure. The performance of the geopolymer columns was examined with consideration to the mid-span deflection, ultimate failure load, first crack load with various phases of loading, the cracking patterns, energy absorption and ductility index. Expanded or welded ferrocement geopolymer columns showed greater ultimate failure loads than the control column. Additionally, using expanded or welded columns had a considerable effect on ultimate failure loads, where the welded wire mesh exhibited almost 28.10% compared with the expanded wire mesh. Columns reinforced with one-layer of nonmetallic Tensar-mesh obtained a higher ultimate failure load than all tested columns without concrete cover spalling. The analytical and experimental results were in good agreement. The results displayed an accepted performance of the ferrocement geopolymer HSC-columns.

Behavior of Self Compacted Concrete Ferrocement Beams

Many researchers have been conducted on the ferrocement as a low cost construction material and a flexible structural system. This experimental investigation on the behavior of ferrocement beams after exposed to different type of ferrocement and different of ferrocement layer are presented in this paper. The experimental program consisted of seven simply supported beams tested up to failure under four-point load. The dimensions of 150mm×250mm×2000mm. Each beam was reinforced using steel 2 f 12 in top and 2 f10 in bottom and the stirrups was 10 f 10/m. In addition to six of them contains ferrocement different steel wire meshes and different of ferrocement layer. The test specimens are divided in three groups and the results of each one compared with the control specimen. The first group (A) which used the welded wire mesh. The second group (B) which used the expanded wire mesh. But the third group (C) which reinforced using woven wire mesh. The mid span deflection, cracks, reinforcement and concrete strains of the tested beams were recorded and compared. The performance of the test beams in terms of ultimate flexure load cracking behavior and energy absorption were investigated. The experimental results emphasized that high ultimate loads, better crack resistance control, high ductility, and good energy absorption properties could be achieved by using the proposed ferrocement beams. The cracks propagation decreased and its number and width decreased by using woven, expanded and welded wire mesh especially in specimens with two layers of wire mesh. Theoretical calculation was carried out to compare the oplained results with the theoretical ones, which show good agreement.

Improving the compressive behavior of RC walls reinforced with ferrocement composites under centric and eccentric loading

This study discusses the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) walls reinforced with different types of ferrocement composites under concentric and eccentric loading. The study incorporated experimental examination and nonlinear finite element analysis of ten RC walls with dimensions of 1000 mm in height, 1500 mm in width, and 150 mm in depth with RC footing with dimensions 1900 mm X 500 mm X 200 mm. The specimens were divided into two groups, one examined under concentric load and the other examined under eccentric load with eccentricity of 50 mm. Also, the structural behavior of the tested walls was validated with numerical development of a finite element model utilizing Ansys 2019-R1 software. Expanded or glass fiber wire mesh ferrocement tested specimens under concentric and eccentric line compression loading exhibited enhanced ultimate loads compared to control specimens. Expanded steel wire mesh reinforcement increased the ductility ratio compared to glass fiber mesh reinforcement. Glass fiber wire mesh produced a higher first cracking load, serviceability load, load carrying capacity, and energy absorption compared to expanded wire mesh. Good agreement between numerical and experimental results in first cracking load, load-carrying capacity, crack pattern, and deflection was found. The agreement between the experimental load carrying capacity and non linear finite element (NLFE) ones is about 86 % with coefficient of variance equals 0.003 and standard deviation of 0.06. The finite element analysis gave suitable estimation for the structural performance of nonlinear ferrocement RC walls.

Structural Behavior of Fibrous-Ferrocement Panel Subjected to Flexural and Impact Loads.

Ferrocement panels, while offering various benefits, do not cover instances of low and moderated velocity impact. To address this problem and to enhance the impact strength against low-velocity impact, a fibrous ferrocement panel is proposed and investigated. This study aims to assess the flexural and low-velocity impact response of simply supported ferrocement panels reinforced with expanded wire mesh (EWM) and steel fibers. The experimental program covered 12 different ferrocement panel prototypes and was tested against a three-point flexural load and falling mass impact test. The ferrocement panel system comprises mortar reinforced with 1% and 2% dosage of steel fibers and an EWM arranged in 1, 2, and 3 layers. For mortar preparation, a water-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.4 was maintained and all panels were cured in water for 28 days. The primary endpoints of the investigation are first crack and ultimate load capacity, deflection corresponding to first crack and ultimate load, ductility index, flexural strength, crack width at ultimate load, a number of impacts needed to induce crack commencement and failure, ductility ratio, and failure mode. The finding revealed that the three-layers of EWM inclusion and steel fibers resulted in an additional impact resistance improvement at cracking and failure stages of ferrocement panels. With superior ultimate load capacity, flexural strength, crack resistance, impact resistance, and ductile response, as witnessed in the experiment program, ferrocement panel can be a positive choice for many construction applications subjected to repeated low-velocity impacts.

Strength characteristic of novel mesh embedment technique for new brick construction with least expensive material

An extensive experimental study aims to enhance the structural performance of masonry by using meshes on the surfaces of brick units and bed joints. The novel mesh embedment technique of masonry units is supported with the least expensive meshes. They are 0.71 mm thick GI expanded wire mesh (EWM), 0.41 mm thick SS stainless steel mesh (SSM) and 0.33 mm thick SS poultry netting mesh (PNM) or chicken wire mesh are the three types of embedded mesh used in this novel approach. The mesh embedded masonry technique (MEM) administers by alternative sides of bricklayer that passes through bed joints. To envisage brickwork quality, reasonable trial programs are necessary like the compressive strength of twenty masonry prism with height to thickness ratio of 1.6 as per the ASTM C1314, the flexural bond strength of thirty three masonry prism as indicated by the ASTM E518 Test method A and small-scale diagonal shear (Tension) test on six masonry panel as per the ASTM E519. The present study concedes that the embedment of meshes increases the strength and ductile performance of masonry units.

Out-of-Plane Behavior of Masonry Wall Strengthened Using Expanded Wire Mesh

Brick masonry is the principal part of the construction industry. This paper presents the result of the expanded wire mesh embedded into the masonry wall panel; expanded mesh (EM) is the inexpensive locally available material on the market. Through the experimental study, the primary affecting parameters recognized, and the methodology of the embedment details established, the preliminary survey was conducted as per the guidelines are given in the ASTM E518. Totally three numbers of control specimen and three numbers of EM embedded specimen are cast, and compressive strength test of masonry prism also evaluated to identify the crack propagation path. The test results turned out to be highly promising, out of plane damage was less in the EM embedded specimen also it was designated the cracks are reduced.

Improving shear strength of beams using ferrocement composite

The Paper opens up a new issue of shear behavior of beams reinforced by ferrocement. The significant parameters utilized were shear reinforcement, stirrups and wire meshes. The replacement of wire mesh occurred in respect of the weight with stirrups. The influence of ferrocement was studied using the experimental inspection, and results of nonlinear finite element analysis. The experimental program includes seven (7) beams were tested using two-point loading system. Beams with welded wire mesh exhibited some amount of increase in shear capacity in respect of beams with reference & expanded wire mesh. Nonlinear finite element analysis was performed using Ansys 14.5. The analytical results demonstrated good consistent with the experimental results. Also, beams with wire mesh showed less number of crack patterns compared to the reference.

Finite element modeling of exterior beam-column joints strengthened by ferrocement under cyclic loading

This paper aims to study the seismic performance of exterior beam-column joints in building frames strengthened by ferrocement using nonlinear finite element analysis. Firstly, the proposed model was used to predict experimental results successfully. Secondly, a parametric study was carried out to assess the behavior of such joints with different additional variables. The studied variables were the level of axial loading on the column, compressive strength of specimens, percentage of longitudinal reinforcement in the beam, and orientation of expanded wire mesh in ferrocement layer, for specimens strengthened by different number of ferrocement layers. It was found that strengthening specimens by ferrocement reduced the effect of axial loading level and longitudinal steel ratio in the beam on the ultimate load of studied specimens. In addition, changing the orientation angle of expanded wire mesh from 60° per ferrocement layer to 45° has a minor effect on the ultimate load but it has a significant effect on the ductility of studied specimens. The effect of orientation angle became less significant on the ductility with increasing the number of ferrocement layers used for strengthening. These findings would be helpful to the engineers to develop suitable, feasible and efficient upgrading technique for poorly designed building frame structural joints in seismic zones.

Experimental behavior of full-scale exterior beam-column space joints retrofitted by ferrocement layers under cyclic loading

A majority of the traditional reinforced concrete frame buildings, existing across the Middle East, lack adequate confinement in beam-column joints, or in other words, are shear deficient because they were constructed before the introduction of seismic codes for construction. This research studies the experimental behavior of full-scale beam-column space (three-dimensional) joints under displacement-controlled cyclic loading. Eleven joint specimens, included a traditionally reinforced one (without adequate shear reinforcement), a reference one with sufficient shear reinforcement according to ACI 318, and nine specimens retrofitted by ferrocement layers, were experimentally tested to evaluate a retrofit technique for strengthening shear deficient beam column joints. The studied variables were the number of layers, orientation angle of expanded wire mesh per layer, and presence of steel angles in the corners of joint specimen prior to wrapping with ferrocement layers. The experimental results showed that proper shear reinforcement for the test joints, according to ACI 318, enhanced the behavior of the specimen over that of the traditionally reinforced specimens without adequate shear reinforcement. The joints retrofitted by ferrocement layers showed higher ultimate capacity, higher ultimate displacement prior to failure (better ductility), and they did not suffer heavily damage as observed for the traditionally reinforced one. Increasing the number of ferrocement layers for retrofitted specimens led to improving performance for such specimens compared to the traditionally reinforced ones in terms of enhancing the ultimate capacity and ultimate displacement. Specimens retrofitted by ferrocement layers reinforced by expanded wire mesh of 60° orientation angle showed slightly better performance than those of 45° orientation angles. Retrofitting using steel angles in addition to ferrocement layers improves the seismic performance of the specimens, achieves better stability for stiffness degradation, attains higher capacity of the dissipated energy, and reduces the vulnerability of joints to excessive damage. Based on the experimental work in this study, it is recommended to retrofit beam-column joint specimens by two ferrocement layers in addition to steel angles as stiffeners taking the orientation angle of expanded wire mesh into consideration.

Thermal Performance Investigation of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Using Psychrometric Gun Technique

This paper presents an experimental work that studies the performance of a counterflow cooling tower with expanded wire mesh packing. Due to complicated configuration of the expanded wire mesh packing surface, it is not possible to measure the temperature of the air in the intermediate section of the cooling tower, but only that of the exit air and water temperature. In the experimental study a new concept of psychrometric gun technique is used to measure dry/wet bulb temperature of air at intermediate points of tower packing. First, the paper elaborates on the effect of atmospheric conditions, water mass flow rate and inlet temperature on the variation of the thermodynamics properties of moist air inside the cooling tower and thermal performance characteristics. Second, exergy analysis is applied to study the cooling tower potential of performance using the psychrometric gun technique. An analytical model was compared with experimental data.

Use of permanent ferrocement forms for concrete beam construction

The results of an experimental investigation to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of using precast U-shaped ferrocement laminates as permanent forms for construction of reinforced concrete beams are presented in this paper. The precast permanent ferrocement forms are proposed as a viable alternative to the commonly used wooden and/or steel temporary forms. The experimental program comprised casting and testing of three control reinforced concrete beams of dimensions 300 × 150 × 2000 mm and eighteen beams of total dimensions of 300 × 150 × 2000 mm consisting of a reinforced concrete core cast in a precast U-shaped permanent ferrocement form of thickness 25 mm. Each control beam was reinforced with two steel bars of 12 mm diameter at the top and bottom of the beam and stirrups of 10 mm diameter placed at 200 mm intervals. The concrete core of the beams incorporating permanent ferrocement forms was reinforced with two steel bars of 12 mm diameter placed at the tension side of the beam without any stirrups. Three types of steel mesh were used to reinforce the ferrocement laminate. These types are: woven wire mesh, ×8 expanded wire mesh, and EX156 expanded wire mesh. Single layer and double layers of each type of the steel mesh were employed. All specimens were tested under three-point flexural loadings. The performance of the test beams in terms of strength, stiffness, cracking behavior and energy absorption was investigated. The results showed that high serviceability and ultimate loads, crack resistance control, and good energy absorption properties could be achieved by using the proposed ferrocement forms.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF COUNTER FLOW WET COOLING TOWER

This paper presents an experimental work, which studies the performance of a counter-flow type cooling tower. The experimental trials have been carried out in a counter-flow type cooling tower test rig with mechanical draft. Expanded Wire Mesh type of film packing has been used for experimentation. The packing is made of mild steel with height ranging from 800 to 1255 mm. This study investigates the effect of the air and water flow on the cooling tower range, as well as the tower characteristics for different air flow and water flow quantities. The variation of temperature along the height of pack is measured by means of suitable thermocouples at five different places. The results show that the mass flow rate has adverse effect on the number of transfer unit. Also tower range would be increased by decreasing the inlet wet bulb air temperature.