Structural Performance of Ferrocement Beams containing Plastic Waste Fibers and Longitudinal Holes Filled with Lightweight Concrete

Malallah, Abdulrahman Jamal; Al-Hadithi, Abdulkader Ismail; Aldosary, Muhannad Haqqi

doi:10.37650/ijce.2025.190101

	Structural Performance of Ferrocement Beams containing Plastic Waste Fibers and Longitudinal Holes Filled with Lightweight Concrete
Iraqi Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 1, June 2025, Pages 1-18 PDF (1.36 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.37650/ijce.2025.190101
Authors
Abdulrahman jamal malallah^* ¹; Abdulkader Ismail Al-Hadithi²; Muhannad Haqqi Aldosary³
¹University of Anbar
²Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Anbar
³Dam and water resource / collage of Engineering / University of Anbar
Abstract
Ferrocement is a type of concrete made from mortar combined with different wire meshes. It has a wide range of applications due to its strength and durability. This research aims to integrate ferrocement with sustainability, as the consumption of plastics, particularly plastic bottles, has increased over time, leading to serious negative effects when these materials are buried, burned, or chemically processed. Therefore, this study seeks to utilize plastic waste by incorporating plastic waste fibers into the concrete mixture, replacing a portion of the concrete mix volume at rates of 0.5% and 1% by volume. The research examined the mechanical properties of nine samples of ferrocement beams with dimensions of 1200 × 200 × 150 mm³. A longitudinal hole with a diameter of 50 mm was drilled at various locations in the beams and filled with lightweight concrete to allow for service passes when drilled. The study included an analysis of the initial cracking loads, the resulting deflection, and the failure modes associated with the maximum load. The results showed an improvement in load resistance along with enhanced deflection performance at maximum load, as well as increases in the toughness and stiffness of the ferrocement beams.
Keywords
Beams; Ferrocement; Lightweight; Steel mesh; PET

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