ABSTRACT
The flexural behavior of six composite beams made of low strength concrete and encased in U-shaped ferrocement forms made of high strength mortar reinforced with square welded wire mesh, were compared with two reference beams by conducting flexural tests under two symmetrical point loads, in simply supported conditions.
This paper deals with an experimental and analytical investigation of the ultimate moment capacity, first cracking moment, ultimate shear load capacity and deformational behaviors of these beams. The only variable parameter of this study was the number of layers of wire mesh used in ferrocement form. The scope was to determine the effect of wire mesh and the skeletal steel bars as flexural reinforcement and shear force reinforcement.
In computing the ultimate moment capacities of the composite beams, conventional reinforced concrete theory was used. The test results are in good agreement with the calculated moments, shears and deformations. They also show that the wire mesh is fully effective and a full composite action between the ferrocement form and the core concrete is attained up to failure load.
