Flexural Strength and Impact Behavior of Ferrocement Members Containing Waste Materials

Abstract

This study examines the behavior of ferrocement containing plastic waste fibers and synthetic Expanded Polystyrene( EPS) for ferrocement slabs in one and two directions under flexural and Impact loads. The first part resistance to compression, flexural (fracturing modulus), and ultrasound are considered in this research. The second part includes a study of the behavior of reinforced concrete slabs with various layers containing plastic fibers and synthetic EPS under the influence of impact and flexural loads. Two reference mixtures were designed in this research, which were adopted to develop other mixtures. Eight concrete mixtures containing different volumetric ratios of plastic fibers as percentage (Vf) were cast, a reference mixture that did not contain synthetic EPS with fibers ratios (0,0.25,0.75, and 1.25)%. A reference mixture (10%) of sand was replaced with synthetic EPS with proportions of fibers (0,0.25,0.75and1.25)% to compare with the reference mixture. Three groups of (9) cubes were cast to check the compressive strength and three groups of (9) prisms to study the fracture parameters. These groups are cast to determine the best ratio of fibers for the two reference mixtures at ages (7,14 and 28), and then to find the optimal mixture was poured with fibers for the reinforcing layers (2,3and 4) for each mixture. (10) slabs were cast in one direction to test the flexion, and (14) were cast in both directions to test the impact resistance. The mixtures were made by adding the proportion of EPS and PET fibers and specific reinforcement layers, and stacking was done for each layer. The results of the practical tests for the current study showed that adding plastic fibers to the ferrocement mixture had a positive effect by increasing the compressive strength and flexural resistance, as the increase was clear when the addition percentage (0.75%) compared to the reference mixture, which represents the best volumetric ratio of the fibers. The behavior of reinforced concrete slabs containing plastic fibers under impact loads was studied and compared with the behavior of the reference reinforced concrete slabs. The results showed a significant improvement in the impact resistance and energy absorption of concrete slabs containing plastic fibers and synthetic EPS powder. The highest increase in the number of blows was for a slab containing fibers,EPS and four layers of reinforced where the increase was (124) blows and increase the deflection was (11.61 mm). The flexural strength increased to nearly three times in the model that contains the fibers and four reinforcing layers and twice the deformation compared to the control model.