1. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 108-111 © IAEME
108
ROLE OF FERROCEMENT CAVITY WALL IN EARTHQUAKE
RESISTANT STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION METHOD
Dharane Sidramappa Shivashaankar
Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering Department SVERI’s College of Engineering Pandharpaur,
Maharashtra India
Patil Raobahdur Yashwant
Assistant Engineer Grade I, Public Works Projects (pvt) Subdivision Pune,
Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT
Ferrocement is a versatile material and can be used on self-help basis. The ferrocement walls
are economical as well as it gives better earthquake performance. In addition to this the earthquake
performance, sound and thermal insulation property can be improved by constructing the
ferrocement cavity walls. Also ferrocement cavity walls are economical and can be constructed on
self-help basis. This paper also presents the construction procedure of ferrocement cavity wall.
Keywords: Ferrocement, Cavity Wall, Earthquake Performance, Sound and Thermal Insulation.
INTRODUCTION
In civil engineering structures the various types of bricks and blocks are in use for the
construction of partition walls in framed structures. Day by day the cost of earth bricks and concrete
blocks are increasing as well as they do not give the better property like sound and thermal insulation
property. Also the earthquake performances of these types of walls are poor. To overcome these
limitations the ferrocement cavity walls can be used.
The very important factor in design of earthquake resistant structures is that the dead load
should be less, the structure should be monolithic and as for as possible the center of gravity should
be shifted as lower level.
The important aspect of this research paper is that if the ferrocement cavity walls filled with
water will absorb the energy developed in earthquakes as the motion of water waves are opposite to
motion of structure when it vibrates in horizontal direction or oscillates because of its inertia force.
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2. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 108-111 © IAEME
109
Because of this reason the ferrocement cavity walls plays very important role in small structures as
well as in high rise buildings, which makes the building safer, fire resistant, economical along with
sound and thermal insulation property.
DEFINITION
American concrete institute committee defines ferrocement as “a type of thin wall reinforced
concrete Construction where in usually hydraulic cement is reinforced with layers of continuous and
relatively small diameter mesh.
TECHNOLOGY
Ferrocement construction requires less skilled personnel and can be constructed on self-help
basis. Hence it has gained popularity throughout the world. The wire meshes are usually 0.5mm to
1mm in diameter and spaced at 5mm to 25mm apart and volume of mesh ranges 1% to 8% of the
total volume of the structural element. The thickness of ferrocement section varies from 10mm to
40 mm. The cover to the outermost layer of wires is usually 1.5mm to 2mm. The cement mortar
consists of ordinary Portland cement, water and fine aggregate, generally below 5mm to 7mm in size
is often around 2mm in order to permit a more closely spaced mesh. The mesh may be made of
metallic material or other suitable material.”
APPLICATIONS
The confidence in the behavior of the material has increased with wide range of applications.
Though the material properties are not fully investigated, its applications are increasing to a great
extent. Many marine structures were constructed with ferrocement and it is finding place in
terrestrial structures also in recent years. Ferrocement initially gained popularity with the
construction of small boats. Almost during the same period corrugated sheets made of ferrocement
were used as roof element in place of conventional asbestos sheet in Sri-Lanka which are 25%
economical that the conventional one. Also it facilitates repair of damaged zones simply by
plastering. It is also used for complex curve units, curved panels, shells or domes, septic tanks, tanks
for storage of water, oil or grains, fishing boats, small vessels, roof or wall panels for low cost
housing, bio-gas holders ,sewers and pipes etc.
CAVITY WALL
Ferrocement cavity wall consists of two wythe’s of ferrocement walls separated by air space
connected by corrosion resistant metal ties. The thickness of external and internal ferrocement
wythes may be from 12 mm to 25mm separated by air cavity of thickness depending upon the
requirement of sound, thermal insulation. The thickness of cavity also depends on the earthquake
zone when these ferrocement cavity walls will fill with water after construction to absorb the
earthquake forces.
CONSTRUCTION
The cavity wall consist of
1. Vertical and horizontal spacer bars
2. Welded mesh on two sides of the wall

3. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 108-111 © IAEME
110
3. Car board to support the external plastering/concreting work
4. Sand which will be filled inside the cavity to increase the internal support for plastering
5. Top and bottom openings which gives the facility to fill the sand and remove the sand after
completion of constriction of cavity wall
6. The same watertight top and bottom openings with end caps can be used to fill the cavity by
water to increase the earthquake performance, sound and heat insulation and fire resistance of
the building.
The construction of cavity wall consists of following steps
1. First oninside and outside planes of cavity wall the vertical and horizontal mild steel spacer
bars are placed at the time of constructing the beams and columns (including plinth beam) so
that the structure will become more monolithic and give the better earthquake performance.
2. The small thick card boards which are generally used for packing purposes can placed on
inside sides of the vertical and horizontal spacer bars and can be tied with the spacer bars. So
that the sand which will be filled to give the support for external plastering will not be
drained out.
3. The welded meshes should be well tied with the vertical and horizontal spacer bars on both
the sides.
4. In addition to this the inside card boards can be well tied with the external welded meshes to
get the well support for the concreting action which can be done by gunniting gun or
manually.
5. Also to increase the internal support for external concreting/ plastering the cavity should be
completely filled with sand by providing one top and bottom opening which will provide the
facility to fill and remove the filled sand respectively.
6. The openings can be used to fill the water in the cavity of wall to provide the facility of
curing as well as to improve the earthquake performance of the structure after the
construction of cavity wall.
7. The openings can be made simply by using bigger diameter pipes so that sand can be filled
easily from the top openings. And filled sand can be removed after the plastering/concreting
the both sides of the wall. The end cap can be used for the top and bottom openings of the
pipe so that sand or water can be stored and removed as and when required.
SALIENT FEATURES AND CONCLUSIONS
1. Ferrocement provides the facility of water tightness.
2. Ferrocement cavity wall can be constructed on self-help basis.
3. Ferrocement cavity wall provides sound and thermal insulation property.
4. Ferrocement cavity wall provides faster construction along with economy.
5. Ferrocement cavity wall reduces the dead load of the structure along with the better
earthquake performance.
6. Ferrocement cavity walls save the life of people during earthquakes.
7. Ferrocement cavity wall filled with water improves the earthquake performance of the
building.

4. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 108-111 © IAEME
111
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