Flexural Capacity of Hollow Core Ferrocement Slabs Reinforced with WWM: Experimental and Analytical Assessment | ||||
| Port-Said Engineering Research Journal | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 17 August 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/pserj.2025.376118.1405 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
Waleed M. Nassef 
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| Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The present paper introduces an experimental and analytical evaluation of hollow-core ferrocement slabs (HCFCS) reinforced with welded wire meshes (WWM) under three core configurations (empty, foam-filled, and PVC pipes). All the involved material properties were determined experimentally including: mortar matrix, steel meshes, and PVC pipes. Flexural behavior was assessed via three-point bending tests, with results evaluated using a section analysis approach. Key findings reveal that HCFCS reduce self-weight by 26–38% compared to solid slabs, while flexural capacity increases with additional mesh layers but remains unaffected by passive (empty/foam) cores. PVC pipe cores significantly enhance flexural strength, stiffness, and ductility relative to hollow or foam cores. The strain compatibility method effectively predicts HCFCS capacity, though it underestimates performance for PVC-cored slabs, suggesting the need for nonlinear finite element (FE) modeling to capture composite action and other probable nonlinearities. This work highlights PVC pipes as active structural components in hollow-core ferrocement slabs (HCFCS). | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Ferrocement; hollow core slabs; welded wire mesh; flexural capacity; PVC pipes | ||||
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