Flexural Behaviour of Ferrocement-polystyrene Aggregate Concrete Composites

Ferrocement containing steel wire-mesh reinforcement in cement mortar and polystyrene aggregate concrete are combined to construct a two-layer composite. This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation into the behaviour of this laminate under pure bending. The parameters studied include the amount of wire-mesh reinforcement in the ferrocement skin, quality of mortar used in the ferrocement and the quality of the polystyrene aggregate concrete. Using transformed section and ultimate section principles and conventional reinforced concrete theory, the laminates were analysed and the predicted strength and deformations were compared with the experimental data.