Question

The water-cement ratio for ferrocement mix should be

1. Less than 0.35
2. Between 0.35 to 0.40
3. Between 0.40 to 0.50
4. Greater than 0.60

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Between 0.40 to 0.50

Concept

Ferroecement

• Developed by P.L. Nervi, an Italian architect, and engineer, in 1940.
• It consists of closely spaced wire meshes that are impregnated with rich cement mortar mix.
• The wire mesh is usually of 0.5 to 1.0 mm diameter wire at 5 mm to 10 mm spacing and cement mortar is of the cement-sand ratio of 1: 2 or 1: 3 with a water/cement ratio of 0.4 to 0.45.
• The basic idea behind this material is that concrete can undergo large strains in the neighborhood of the reinforcement and the magnitude of strains depends on the distribution and subdivision of reinforcement throughout the mass of concrete.
• It is impervious in nature, has the capacity to resist shock and no formwork is required to gain initial strength.