FS-2011-National Conference on Ferrocement

A REPORT

National Conference on Ferrocement was organized on May 13-14, 2011 by the Ferrocement Society , Pune, India at International Convention Center of Maratha Chamber on Senapati Bapat road, Pune. The objective was to provide a forum to architects and civil engineers to present and discuss present and future applications, projects, research and developments of ferrocement technology.

Dr. P. Paramasivam inaugurated the conference in presence of Dr. Anil Sahastrabuddhe, Director, College of Engineering, Pune, Deepak Kandi, Executive Director, Maharashtra Krishna Valley development Corporation, Pune and Mr.A.V.S.N.Pantulu, DGM,(Marketing), Technical services, Orient Cement.

Number of authors was 26 and six sessions according to themes were organized for grouping the 39 papers. Delegates from Chennai, Pondicherry, New Delhi, Indore, Gujrath, Jaipur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Sangli and other parts of Maharashtra attended the event. Among them were Architects, civil engineers, students and researchers.

Ferrocement, a thin structural composite material, exhibits better crack resistance, higher tensile strength to weight ratio, ductility and impact resistance than conventional reinforced concrete. A team of researchers at The National University of Singapore has made an effort to popularise ferrocement as construction material through research and development since early 1970. Extensive research has been carried out on its mechanical properties and industrialized construction techniques. From the experience gained in these studies, the use of ferrocement structural elements in public housing is accepted by building authorities even though ferrocement design has not been regulated by formal code of practice. Recently, the International Society of Ferrocement produced a formal model code of practice on ferrocement construction. Today ferrocement is widely accepted and utilized in Singapore and various parts of the world.

Subsequent interest in this material can be gauged by the fact an International Ferrocement Information Centre (IFIC) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) was established in 1976 in Bangkok, Thailand to ensure the transfer of ferrocement technology and the Journal of Ferrocement was published for this purpose. In addition from 1981 until 2009, nine international symposia have been held in various parts of world including India.

International Symposia on Ferrocement

Sr. No	Month	Year	City	Country
1	July	1981	Bergamo	Italy
2	January	1985	Bangkok	Thailand
3	December	1988	Roorkee	India
4	October	1991	Havana	Cuba
5	September	1994	Manchester	U.K.
6	June	1998	Michigan, Ann Arbor	U.S.A.
7	June	2001	Singapore	Singapore
8	February	2006	Bangkok	Thailand
9	May	2009	Tuban, Bali	Indonesia
10	October	2012	Havana	Cuba

However, ferrocement proved to be in its place because of its properties such as strength, toughness, water-tightness, lightness, durability and environmental stability. Until now no national level convention was organized in India.

The first National Conference on Ferrocement organized in Pune, May 13-14, 2011 by the Ferrocement Society , Pune, India fulfilled this need. The objective was to provide a forum to architects and civil engineers to present and discuss present and future applications, projects, research and developments of ferrocement technology.

College of Engineering, Pune offered the conceptual sponsorship for this event. Dr. Anil Sahastrbuddhe is also associated with BHAU- the venture for entrepreneurs in COEP. Ferrocement will be given space in the syllabi of all engineering branches-he added. Ferrocement entrepreneurs can be looked upon as the target in BHAU.

Professor P. Paramasivam, Professorial Fellow, Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore delivered the Keynote address. Other enthusiasts presented papers on advances made in science, technology, research, and application aspects of ferrocement. These topics were discussed in 34 papers grouped in six different themes of the proceedings. The first theme covered general aspects of ferrocement, and its potential in rural areas. The second theme of materials included experimental work carried out for evaluating innovative applications possibilities such as strengthening masonry columns, geo-polymer mortar etc. The third theme was based on application in building either in form of precast or in-situ applications. The papers in this theme highlighted the do-it-yourself home construction potential of ferrocement. The fourth, fifth and the final sixth themes were for space structures, special applications such as waterproofing of RCC structures and architectural applications of ferrocement respectively. To make the proceeding compilation more comprehensive, select articles published in select journals and conferences were included for the benefit of readers.

About 100 participants from different parts of the country attended the conference. Orient cement company, Prasad and company, Hyderabad, NBM & CW magazine and Indian Concrete Journal were conference cosponsors.

It was agreed that an unprecedented range of new technologies and a large market for housing products in India could change the manner in which ferrocement is used today. Advances in binder materials technologies and reinforcing elements could open up new possibilities of ferrocement applications than envisaged so far. The conference noted that the use of additives and admixtures could lead to denser matrix and provide even greater protection to reinforcement than before. It was acknowledged that one of the most pressing needs was to develop a model code for ferrocement to help the structural engineers to consider its use in construction.

One hour panel discussion on Standardisation and code for ferrocement was anchored by Mr B.V.Bhedasgaonkar, the convener of the conference. Dr. P. Paramasivam, Dr. B. N. Divekar, J, A. Desai, Ravi Ranade, Prof. A G Joshi, T. P. Singh and Architect Kiran kalamdani participated in the subject wise discussions.

The conference was informed that the American Concrete Institute (ACI) first produced the state of the art report on ferrocement ACI 549R-97 in 1982 and the Guide for the Design, Construction and Repair of Ferrocement, ACI 549-1R-93 in 1988. Now 549.1R-93: Guide for the Design, Construction & Repair of Ferrocement (Reapproved 2009) supplements these earlier publications. The new publication provides technical information on materials and material selection, design criteria and approaches, construction methods, maintenance and repair procedures, and testing. The objectives are to promote the more effective use of ferrocement in terrestrial structures, provide architects and engineers with the necessary tools to specify and use ferrocement, and provide owners or their representatives with a reference document to check the acceptability of a ferrocement alternative in a given application.

Professor Naaman’s first definitive textbook Ferrocement and Laminated Cementitious Composites published in 2000 was cited as a reference document that pulled together the body of knowledge gained over 30 years of research and development. The International Ferrocement Society‘s ‘Model Code’ published in the same year Naaman’s book was considered as a tool for the designers to produce coherent designs with confidence.

However, the conference was sorry to learn that the International Ferrocement Information Centre (IFIC) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is no longer active and that the Journal of Ferrocement has ceased production. This prompted the Conference organizers to offer space for IFIC’s library in India if ever it were to consider relocating it. The participants were invited to attend the forthcoming X International Symposium on Ferrocement and Thin Reinforced Cement Composites (FERRO 10) in Cuba. A proposal was mooted to bid for the next symposium to hold the XI International Symposium in India. The Indian Concrete Journal extends its support for popularizing ferrocement technology and seconds the proposal for organizing the eleventh International Symposium on Ferrocement in India.

Delegates were impressed by the petals on the top of the Ramakrishna MATH at sinhgadh road in Pune. Design details were explained by Dr B V Bhedasgaonkar, Ferrocement consultant, Pune. Delegates moved for the field visit to the construction work at Talegav 40 km from Pune. The precast hollow beams and lost form work made of ferrocement was greatly appreciated. Dr. Divekar told about the patented innovation and actual use on a 5 storied D Y Patil Engineering college building. Dr. Divekar explained that his residence is also built with cavity walls in ferrocement.

The 264-page proceedings of the Pune Conference is available from Ferrocement Society, Pune Office, Construction Diagnostic Center, Kanchan Bhavan, 5, Shilavihar Colony, Karve road, Kothrud Phata, Pune 411 038, India.