Abstract:

Ferrocement is being used in several forms all over the globe but little attention has been paid towards the behaviour of its constituents. It requires more rational understanding of its constituents so that a strategy and methodology can be formulated to use the material efficiently.

Ferrocement, a mixture of cement-sand mortar and wire mesh, is treated traditionally as an elastic homogenous material instead of a composite. This study is focused on the numerical modelling of its two constituents i.e. cement-sand mortar and steel wire mesh first and then the collective behaviour of the two constituents combined using equilibrium and compatibility.
Non-linear numerical techniques are used to model the constituents and the composite, using smeared rotating crack model. Elastic non-linear models for cement-sand mortar include modelling of stress-strain curve in compression and pre- and post-cracking response. These models are built into a non-linear solution algorithm that satisfies the conditions of compatibility and equilibrium.

The developed non-linear solution algorithm is then validated using experimental studies carried out by different researchers. The experimental and analytical results showed good comparison throughout the loading regime. The study is further extended to carry out some analytical experiments on representative ferrocement specimens in order to develop insight in the mechanics of the material.