A Comparative Study on Punching Shear Strength Statistics for Ferrocement Slabs

Abstract

Ferrocement is a modern material that is considered composite as it is made of cement mortar and tightly packed layers of wire mesh. Recent ferrocement applications include prefabricated rooftop elements, load-bearing panels, and bridge slabs. However, in various parts of the world, particularly the eastern hemisphere, numerous individuals and research groups have made significant efforts to study the engineering of ferrocement which includes tensile, compressive, impact, and fatigue strength, as well as, cracking behaviour. Despite this, the shear strength of ferrocement slabs has received scant consideration. However, since ferrocement is increasingly used in structural applications, transverse shear has become a determining design factor. This paper presents the behavior of ferrocement slabs when subjected to punching shear. Eleven square slabs with dimensions 916 mm were cast, and their thicknesses were adjusted along with the wire mesh and mortar strength. After 14 days of curing, these slabs were removed from the water tank, de-moulded, and tested. Prior to testing, the top surface of these slabs was bleached to reveal the crack pattern clearly. The slabs failed in punching instead of flexural failure and they demonstrated ductile behaviour. A comparison for the observed results for the strengths and behavior of the slabs was made.