An Experimental Investigation on Effect of Alternate Wetting and Drying on Impact Strength of Fibrous Ferrocement Using Round Steel Fibers

Dr. N. K. Patil, Director, S.B. Group of Institutes, Miraj- Sangli & Dr. K B.Prakash, Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Department, K.L.E. Society's, College of Engineering and Technology, Belgaum.

Water retaining and marine structures are invariably subjected to alternate drying and wetting phenomenon. Ferrocement is considered as versatile construction material and is highly suitable for a variety of structures such as water tanks, marine structures, etc. Ferrocement, which utilizes welded mesh and woven rectangular chicken mesh in its construction, has many applications in the civil engineering field. Ferrocement is extentensivly used in USSR for roofing large spans and it has been reported that about 10 million sq. meters of ferrocement components have been used in various types of structures. Most of the roofs have spans ranging from 24 to 30 meter and thickness is only in the order of 20mm. Use of ferrocement has also been reported from the Eastern Europe for the lining of shafts and tunnels.