Analysis of Specially Configured Large Ferrocement Water Tank

Amol D. Sumbare; M. G. Shaikh

doi:10.3759/josem.v6i3.3394

Abstract

Ferrocement construction technology is quite popular throughout the world for a long time. Ferrocement, a thin element composite of cement concrete mortar, wire mesh with skeleton steel is used as a building construction as well as a repair material. In this work, a special configuration is selected with different bar arrangement used for supporting skeleton steel in a large ferrocement water tank. Welded wire mesh is used in this water tank with equally spaced skeleton steel. Use of welded wire mesh as reinforcement in ferrocement water tank increases the structural performance of ferrocement tank under water pressure. This ferrocement water tank is analyzed using the FEASTSMT software invented by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC). The tank is analyzed in three stages- tank with cement mortar, tank with cement mortar and wire mesh, tank with cement mortar and wire mesh along with supporting skeleton steel in the vertical and horizontal direction. Result and graphs of stresses and displacement for various nodes obtained from the analysis are included in this work with their various deformed shapes shown using contours. From this work, it could be concluded that ferrocement could be used for the construction of large capacity water tanks instead of reinforced cement concrete, plastic, bricks, etc. with a minimum thickness which will be more convenient and cost-effective.