Impact Resistance of Ferro-Cement

To facilitate rational design in this relatively new material, influence of matrix composition and wire mesh properties on impact and tensile strengths were studied. The possibility of increasing strength to weight ratio by substituting foamed lightweight sand for natural sand was investigated. Leakage tests were performed for specimens under tension and subjected to impact. Ductility of steel and specific surface of wire mesh appear to be the most important properties influencing cracking performance and thus the leakage rate. Lightweight sand gives the same tensile strength but lower compressive strength of ferro-cement specimens than those for natural sand. Ferro-cement can be designed to have tensile strength which is comparable to its compressive strength and it can be watertight under design conditions. Results suggest that it may be a potential material for construction of thin shells such as for boat hulls, for transportation of LNG and for deep submersibles.