ABSTRACT
This investigation presents test results of a series of experiments to determine the flexural strength of cement mortar reinforced with steel wool. The strength of plain mortar is compared with the strength of mortars reinforced with different percentages of steel wool. The casting method used was impregnation of steel wool mat with a cementitious slurry. Different cement to sand ratios were used with a different volume percentage of steel wool. The steel wool has an irregular shape and can be quite long and thin, thus providing a reinforcing unit with a high aspect ratio. A regression analysis based on the test results was performed and an equation for the prediction of the flexural strength of mortar reinforced with steel wool was derived. It was found that the addition of steel wool enhanced the strength and toughness.
