FERROCEMENT HYPER SHELL FOUNDATIONS

Abstract

Ferrocernent is a composite material made of rich cement sand mortar and reinforced with layers of wire mesh. In recent years, ferrocement has received wide attention as a cheap and feasible material for jeep cost housing and other domestic uses in developing countries where housing problem has assumed fearsome dimensions. The use of ferrocement as a construction material for roofs, wall panels, silos, water tanks, boats, chimneys, septic tanks, under ground grain stora-ge tanks etc. has been established in various countries, but its behavour in the foundations has yet to be observed. R.C.C. Hyper shell type of foundations have been constru-cted and found-feasible in case of low bearing capacity of soils. An investigation was undertaken to study the strength and behaviour of ferrocement hypar shell foundations subjected to column load. Two specimens were tested and their ultimate strength, crack pattern, settlement, stresses were studied. Foundation performed well upto the first crack load and then deviate from membrane theory of shell analysis. Crack pattern observed was similar to the one assumed theoretically Failure was due to inadequate strength of edge beams and in-adequate punching strength of foundation. To establish thefeasibility of ferrocement Hyper shell foundations extensive research work must be carried out. A load factor of 2.0 is recommended for ferrocement hypar shell foundatio