2. Background
Over the last two decades, many researchers initiated
studies to determine the mechanical properties of
ferrocement as well as its potential use in construction
applications. Muhlert [5] showed that the conventional
methods used for reinforced concrete analysis are valid
to predict load–deflection relationship of ferrocement.
Naaman and Shah [4], conducted studies on the tensile
properties of ferrocement which indicated that the
ultimate load of the composite material was equal to
the load carrying capacity of the reinforcement in the
loading direction and that the geometry of the mesh
influenced the behavior of ferrocement. Naaman and
Shah [4] investigated the behavior of ferrocement in
uniaxial tension. They considered various parameters
such as: fraction volumes of mesh reinforcement, mesh
size, mesh diameter, various number of mesh layers,
and different types of mesh reinforcement (square
woven, welded as well as hexagonal chicken wire
mesh). Balaguru [5] studied the experimental behavior
of ferrocement in bending. He suggested a mathematical
model to predict the moment–curvature and load–
deflection relationships of ferrocement beams under
flexural loads.
Moreover, to study the composite behavior of ferrocement,
Kahn et al. [6] tested forty composite beams
made of 0.25 in. thick steel plates and 1 in. thick plates
made of either reinforced concrete (R/C) or ferrocement.
They concluded the necessity of using sand-blasted
plates to improve the composite action between layers.
Ramualdi [7] showed that the most important property
of ferrocement is its higher cracking resistance capacity
which allows for a range of tensile stresses and strains
far beyond that of reinforced concrete. Ong and Mansur
[8] studied the composite action of steel-deck-reinforced
concrete slabs. Eleven one-way slabs were tested. Samples
were divided into three groups: group (1) used
epoxy resin, group (2) used end anchorage (to ensure
composite action) while group (3) used no connectors.
Fig. 2 illustrates the shape and arrangement of each
group. Samples in all three groups were tested under a
two-point loading as well as a uniformly distributed
load. It was observed that all samples failed in shearbond.
Specimens in which end anchorages were used as
shear transfer devices, showed adequate ductility. It was
also shown that it is difficult to achieve full composite
action when two different materials are used, such as
steel and concrete. This illustrates the need for using two
materials that have common or close properties. Mansur
and Ong [9] adopted this concept and replaced the steeldeck
by ferrocement. The specimens used had no special
treatment of the interface between the layers. Seven
composite slabs with different reinforcement ratios were
tested: three under two-point loading and four under a
uniformly distributed load. One of the tested beams