Sustainability benefits of ferrocement аpplication in composite building structures

Abstract

Raising the level of sustainability in construction refers to reduction of negative environmental impact and resource consumption throughout the life cycle of built facilities, with a simultaneous increase in life quality. Ferrocement is a material that is nowadays increasingly used worldwide precisely because of the possibility to meet the numerous requirements which concern the ecological quality of buildings. Having in mind functional and design possibilitieswhich ferrocement offers as a constructive material, it is used for making of a wide range of structural elements, as well as for the strengthening of the existing structures. In addition to the above, ferrocement finds its application within the composite building structures. This paper analyzes the forms of application of ferrocement within composite building structures, as well as the benefits of its application in such systems in the context of sustainability. The analyzed systems are based on the composite action of ferrocement and conventional reinforced concrete, the composite action of ferrocement and steel load bearing elements, as well as on the composite action of ferrocement, steel load bearing elements and conventional reinforced concrete. The present analysis pointed to the key sustainability benefits of ferrocement application in composite building structures, as well as to the need for further research on possible use forms of this material within such systems, in function of raising the sustainability of the built environment.