Strength of ligthweight ferrocement in flexure

Abstract Lightweight ferrocement has been made by replacing sand in the cement mortar by foamed blast-furnace slag (fbs) from 0 to 100% in steps of 20%. Ferrocement specimens of rectangular section, 200 mm wide × 25 mm thick, have been cast using this lightweight mortar and containing symmetrically distributed 2, 4 or 6 layers of 4 × 22 gauge galvanized iron wire-mesh. A total of 54 specimens were tested under four-point loading on an effective span of 900 mm and the modulus of rupture computed at first crack and at ultimate. A ‘strength-density parameter’ has been introduced to represent the effects of varying strength and density of the lightweight mortar. The influences of replacement of sand by fbs and wire meshes on the modulii have been studied with respect to a ‘mesh-mortar parameter’. The results are expected to be useful in the understanding of the flexural behaviour of lightweight ferrocement in flexure and in the flexural design of ferrocement building elements.