Title: Tentative Recommendations for the Construction of Ferrocement Tanks

Author(s): S. P. Shah

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 61

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 103-114

Keywords: concrete construction; construction materials; ferroce-ment; quality control; shotcrete; specifications; structural design; tanks (containers); tests; water tanks; welded wire -- fabric; wire cloth.

DOI: 10.14359/6637

Date: 8/1/1979

Abstract:
Although some practical specifications are available for the construction of ferrocement boats, to the best of the author's knowledge no technical specifications for the construction of ferro-cement structures have yet been published. Specifications are essential if the use of ferrocement is to become widely accepted and if the gap between the "try and see what happens" approach and advanced research results is to be reduced. Based on 1) tests at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle of model pressurized ferrocement water tanks where cracking and leakage characteristics were studied, 2) the experience in ferrocement and knowledge of its mechanical behavior and 3) an extensive survey of ferrocement related literature where some forms of specifications or recommendations were found and analyzed, the author has developed tentative recommendations for the construction of ferrocement water tanks. Although these recommendations are written specifically for water tanks, they may be used either as a model for other types of ferro-cement structures or as part of a more general and complete specification document on ferrocement.