Structural integrity of ferrocement panels exposed to fire

The structural fire integrity performance of a ferrocement jacket was experimentally determined based on its flexural characteristics and damage after exposure to fire. The main parameters investigated were the volume fraction of wire mesh and mortar cover. A sandwich-sample configuration was adopted to simulate the actual conditions of exposure to fire in which the maximum temperature of 1060 degrees C was reached within 3 h. Tests showed that a ferrocement jacket was a satisfactory fire protection material due to its post-fire strength compared with that of plain mortar. Although an increase in wire mesh content significantly improved the mechanical properties of ferrocement under normal conditions, after fire exposure the content of wire mesh was no longer significant and higher volume fractions of wire mesh resulted in in-plane cracking. Mortar covers had negligible influence on the mechanical properties of ferrocement jackets under both normal and after fire exposures. However more visible fire damage occurred in ferrocement with thinner mortar cover. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.