ENGINEERING MATERIALS

SUBJECT: ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TRISHAL UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER EIGHT: FERROCEMENT 📊

INTRODUCTION: 

➢ In 1943 Pier Luigi Nervi tested and presented in his

paper, new structural elements, an extremely thin

plate of concrete made of layers of small diameter

wire mesh and cement mortar with sand used as the

binder.

WHAT IS FERRO CEMENT?

➢ “Ferro cement is a type of thin wall reinforced concrete, commonly constructed of hydraulic

cement mortar, reinforced with closely spaced layers of continuous and relatively small size wire mesh.

The mesh may be made of metallic or other suitable materials.”

➢Mortar provides the mass and wire mesh imparts tensile

strength and ductility.

➢When building Ferro-cement structures the sand/cement

mortar is applied to the reinforcing wire with a trowel,

never poured like common concrete work. Often a form is

used to provide the desired shape.

➢Ferrocement is a super-reinforced concrete. It differs from

conventional concrete in that there is a higher ratio of steel

to cement mortar. By altering the cement/steel ratio to

make ferrocement we actually produce a material, which

exhibits properties, superior to either steel or cement

separately. Ferrocement has many of the properties of steel

and yet it will not rust. Although it looks and feels like

concrete it can flex without cracking.

MATERIALS USED IN FERRO CEMENT: 

➢Cement mortar mix

➢Skeleton steel

➢Steel mesh reinforcement or Fibre-reinforced polymeric meshes

Functions of SKELETON STEEL

➢ It support the steel wire mesh

➢ 3 to 8 mm steel rods are used

➢ Thickness varies from 6-20mm according to loading condition

 Generally, mild steel or Fe 415 or Fe 500 bars are used

 Spacing 7.5cm to 12m

➢ Used to impart structural strength in case of boats, barges etc.

➢ Reinforcement should be free from dust, rust and other impurities.