Effect of using different types of reinforcement on the flexural behavior of ferrocement hollow core slabs embedding PVC pipes

This paper provides an experimental investigation to study the effect of using different types of reinforcement on the flexural behavior of ferrocement thin hollow core slabs with embedded PVC pipes. Twelve slabs of 1100 × 400 × 55 mm dimensions were casted and tested till failure. The effect of four different types of reinforcement was investigated in this study including; steel wire mesh, macro and micro steel fibers or a combination of both, steel bars and CFRP bars. The results showed that the slab reinforced with only macro steel fibers provided the highest flexural strength, while that reinforced with steel bars showed the highest stiffness and lowest deflection among all tested slabs. Also, the dry design density for all the hollow core slabs was determined to be below 2000 kg/m3 which is within the requirements of light weight concrete as set by most codes of practice.