Strength evaluation of R.C.

C beam
section after retrofitting by
ferrocement

By
T. Praveen kumar
 ABSTRACT

Various retrofitting techniques are used in field and out of all plate bonding technique is
considered as the best. In this technique, the plates of ferrocement are bonded to the
surface of structural member to increase its strength. Ferrocement sheets are most
commonly used as retrofitting material these days due to their easy availability, economy,
durability, and their property of being cast to any shape without needing significant
formwork.
The need of the construction industry to look for a reliable and cheaper
strengthening component for reinforced concrete structure has led to the usage of
ferrocement which proves to be a promising solution. This paper describes the structural
short-term behavior of a beam strengthened with ferrocement laminate and identifies its
advantages. Beam which is strengthened with ferrocement laminate is compared to a
control beam for analysis of the advantages of using ferrocement.

The beams are stressed up to 75 percent of safe load and then retrofitted with
ferrocement jackets with wire mesh. From the experiment carried out, beam strengthened
with ferrocement proves to have a higher cracking load, ultimate load as well as having a
lower deflection in comparison to a normal beam.

( Keywords: ferrocement, retrofitting, jacket, wire mesh, orientation, beams. )

 Basic Concept of Retrofitting
Upgradation of lateral strength of the
structure;
Increase in the ductility of the structure
Increase in strength and ductility
 Earthquake Design Philosophy

Under minor but frequent shaking, the main members of the

building that carry vertical and horizontal forces should not be
damaged; however building parts that do not carry load may sustain
repairable damage;

Under moderate but occasional shaking, the main members may

sustain repairable damage, while the other parts of the building
may be damaged such that they may even have to be replaced after
the earthquake; and

Under strong but rare shaking, the main members may sustain
severe (even irreparable) damage, but the building should not
collapse.
 Typical cross section of ferrocement

Ferro cement is a form of reinforced concrete using

closely spaced multiple layers of mesh and/or small
diameter rods completely infiltrated with, or
encapsulated in, mortar
 HISTORY OF
FERROCEMENT/FERROGROUT
The use of ferrocement was first started as early as in
1848. It took the form of a rowing boat constructed by Jean
Louis Lambot. The boat, still in a remarkably good condition, is
on display in a museum at Brigholes, France. Since then,
ferrocement was mainly used in the marine environment.
In the early resurrected the original the Second World War,
Nervi demonstrated the utility of ferrocem1940s, Pier Luigi
Nervi
ferrocement concept when he observed that reinforcing
concrete with layers of wire mesh produced a material
possessing the mechanical characteristics of an approximately
homogeneous material and capable of resisting impact. After
ent as a boat-building material. His firm built the 165-ton
motor sailor Irene with a ferrocement hull about 36mm thick.
Reinforcing mesh
 Cement mortar mix

OPC and fine aggregate matrix is used

The matrix constitutes 95% of the composite
and governs its behavior
sand occupies 60 to 75% of the volume of the
mortar
Plasticizers and other admixtures are used
 Skeleton steel
Forms the skeleton of the structure
3 to 8 mm steel rods are used
Used in the form of tied reinforcement or
welded wire fabric
Used to impart structural strength in case of
boats, barges etc
Reinforcement should be free from dust, rust
and other impurities
 Steel mesh reinforcement
Consists of galvanized steel wires of diameter
0.5 to 1.5 mm, spaced at 6 to 20mm centre to
centre
Available as woven/interlocking mesh and
welded mesh
Welded wire mesh has hexagonal or
rectangular openings
Expanded-metal lath is also used
Made from carbon, glass etc.
 Shah (1974) in discussing different materials of
construction, defined ferrocement in a manner
similar to Bezukladov.
He called it a composite made with mortar
and a fine diameter continuous mesh as
reinforcement, with which has higher bond due
to its smaller size and a larger surface area per
unit volume of mortar. Accordingly, this ratio
may be as mush as ten times that which is
observed in conventional reinforced concrete;
this results in failure of ferrocement in tension
by the actual breaking of wire mesh and a much
higher cracking strength in the matrix.
As a composite, certain characteristics of ferrocement may thus be
summarised as follows:

a. Since the wire mesh (reinforcement) is much stronger in tension

compared to the matrix (mortar), the role of the matrix is to
properly hold the mesh in place, to give a proper protection and to
transfer stresses by means of adequate bond.

b. Compression strength of this composite is generally a function

of the matrix (mortar) compressive strength, while the tensile
strength is a function of the mesh content and its properties.

c. It follows from (b) above that the stress-strain relationship of

ferrocement in tension may show either a complete elastic
behaviour (up to fracture of reinforcing mesh) or some inelasticity
depending upon the yielding properties of the mesh.

d. Since the properties of this composite are very much a function

of orientation of the reinforcement, the material is generally
anisotropic and may be treated as such in the theoretical analysis.
 Properties of ferrocement
It is a very durable, cheap and versatile material.
Low w/c ratio produces an impermeable structures
less shrinkage, and low weight.
high tensile strength and stiffness
better impact and punching shear resistance
undergo large deformations before cracking or high
deflections
 Behavior of ferrocement in tension
RC in tension Ferro cement in tension
 Applications of ferrocement
RURAL APPLICATIONS SEWER LINES

MARINE APPLICATIONS BRIDGE

ELEVATION TREATMENT FOOT BRIDGE

FIRE RESISTANT STRUCTURES STRENGTHENING OF RCC STRUCTURES

SOIL STABILISATION SULPHATE RESISTANT CEMENT SAVING

PIPES PRE-CAST FERROCEMENT STRUCTURES

ANTICORROSIVE MEMBRANE TREATMENT REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES

FERROCEMENT BUILDINGS CHEMICAL RESISTANT TREATMENT

FERROCEMENT DUCTS IRRIGATION STRUCTURES

 EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

Figure a: Experimental set-up. Figure b: Cross section A-A

 Project content
Design of beam section
Calculating the Load carrying capacity
Loading & testing of beam
Finding out the maximum bearing capacity
Noting the load at which beam gets failured
Retrofitting of beam section by Ferrocement
Strength analysis after retrofitting
Comparative analysis and conclusion
 CONCLUSION

Summary of Phase 1
From the study of various literatures it is concluded that
this research work is to cast the beam using ferrocement
and study its behaviors accordingly. Initial collection of
materials such as cement, fine aggregate and coarse
aggregate have been conducted.

Future Plan
Planned to conduct test on composite beams and compare
the results with the control beam. The ultimate flexural
strength, compression test and the split tensile strength of
the cube, cylinder and beam are yet to be studied.
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