Ferrocement is a versatile construction material that is composed of layers of cement mortar reinforced with metal mesh or wire mesh. It is a form of reinforced concrete that has a higher ratio of mortar to aggregate than conventional concrete, allowing for a greater amount of reinforcement and less material used. Ferrocement is relatively lightweight, durable, and can be adapted to complex shapes that are not easily made with other construction materials. It is commonly used for walls, tanks, and other structures that need to be highly resistant to corrosion and other degenerative actions. One of the key advantages of ferrocement is its flexibility and scalability in construction. It can be used for both small and large structures, such as boats, tanks, swimming pools, bridges, and buildings. From a design perspective, ferrocement offers a wide range of possibilities, as it can be molded into any shape or form. Furthermore, ferrocement is resistant to seismic activity and its lightweight properties make it ideal for structures situated in high-risk seismic zones. Another advantage of ferrocement is its durability and cost-efficiency. It is a low-cost material that requires minimal maintenance, making it an attractive option for a wide range of applications. Additionally, ferrocement is resistant to fire, rot, and insect damage, making it a popular choice for outdoor structures such as fences and retaining walls. In conclusion, ferrocement is a versatile and durable construction material that has a wide range of applications. Its flexibility and scalability in construction, resistance to seismic activity, and cost-efficiency make it an attractive option for a variety of structures. Its durability and resistance to corrosion, fire, rot, and insect damage make it a popular choice for outdoor structures.
construction material, reinforced concrete, metal mesh, durability, cost-efficiency
Ferrocement is a method of constructing reinforced concrete using thin layers of cement, reinforced with wire mesh or chicken wire. It is an economic method of creating strong, durable structures, such as tanks and silos, found in a variety of settings internationally. Common alternative names for ferrocement include ferro-cement, fibre cement, and reinforced thin-shell concrete. In French, it can be referred to as ‘béton armée-armature’, ‘béton fibre’, ‘béton mince’ or ‘béton tuyaut.’ In Spanish, it is called ‘hormigón armado-armadura’, ‘hormigón fibroso’, and ‘hormigón delgado-fino’. In Italian, it is referred to as ‘calcestruzzo armato-travature’, ‘calcestruzzo fibroso’, and ‘calcestruzzo sottile’. In German, it is known as ‘Bewehrter Beton’, ‘Faserbeton’ and ‘Dünnbeton’. In Portuguese, it is referred to as ‘concreto armado-estruturas’, ‘concreto fibroso’, and ‘concreto fino.’ In Russian, it is called ‘армированный бетон’, ‘волокнистый бетон’, and ‘тонкий бетон’. Finally, in Japanese, it is known as ‘ばりのコンクリート’, ‘繊維コンクリート’, and ‘薄いコンクリート’.
ferrocement, fibre cement, reinforced thin-shell concrete, béton armée-armature, béton fibre, béton mince, béton tuyaut, hormigón armado-armadura, hormigón fibroso, hormigón delgado-fino, calcestruzzo armato-travature, calcestruzzo fibroso, calcestruzzo s
Ferrocement has commonly been used to refer to a construction material composed of a layer of mortar or plaster reinforced by an embedded wire mesh. Its history begins with the discovery in 1822 of ferrous cement, a form of concrete made from iron oxide, silica and lime. It was then developed as a building material, and during the 20th century, it was popularized and used successfully for diverse applications, such as boat hulls and prefabricated houses. From a linguistic perspective, the term “Ferrocement” is derived from its two component words, “ferrum” and “cementum”. From a morphological standpoint, “Ferrocement” is a portmanteau word—a combination of two existing words that have been fused into a new one. Its historical evolution has been marked by the idea of combining strength (from “ferrum”) with a relatively inexpensive and durable material (“cementum”). Pragmatically, the term is used to indicate a concrete substance that has been reinforced with a wire mesh.
Etymology, Morphology, Ferrocement, Cementum, Ferrum, Portmanteau, Reinforcement.
Ferrocement is a noun, and can be defined as a reinforced concrete in which steel rods and wires are embedded in mortar or cement. The synonyms of ferrocement include reinforced concrete, wirecrete, and steel-reinforced concrete. Its antonyms are concrete without reinforcement, and non-reinforced concrete. Cognates to ferrocement include the Italian term ‘ferrocemento’, and the Spanish ‘ferrocemento’ and ‘fierrocemento’. Variants of the word ‘ferrocement’ include ‘ferro-cement’ and ‘ferro cement’.
Etymological, morphological, concrete, reinforcement, linguistics
Ferrocement is a building material and construction technique used for constructing reinforced thin-shell concrete structures with numerous applications in civil and marine engineering. It is a composite material made of cement, sand, and steel mesh or fibers. The steel reinforcement gives the material strength and resistance to corrosion, while the cement and sand give it the desired shape and form. The material is suitable for small structures, such as boats, tanks, and swimming pools, as well as large structures like bridges and buildings. From a design perspective, ferrocement offers flexibility and scalability in construction, as well as durability, cost-efficiency, and ease of maintenance. Additionally, ferrocement is resistant to seismic activity and its lightweight properties make it ideal for structures situated in high-risk seismic zones. Furthermore, ferrocement is versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications, such as floors, roofs, walls, cladding, and sculptures.
cement, steel, mesh, fibers, reinforced, concrete, marine, civil, engineering, flexible, scalability, durable, cost-efficient, maintenance, seismic, lightweight, floors, roofs, walls, cladding, sculptures.
CITATION : "Ji-Soo Park. 'Ferrocement.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=192928 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Ferrocement is a construction material that is made with layers of cement mortar reinforced with metal mesh or wire mesh. It is a form of reinforced concrete with a higher ratio of mortar to aggregate than conventional concrete, allowing for a greater amount of reinforcement and less material used. Ferrocement is relatively lightweight, durable and can be adapted to complex shapes that are not easily made with other construction materials. It is commonly used for walls, tanks and other structures that need to be highly resistant to corrosion and other degenerative actions.
Ferrocement, cement mortar, reinforcement, metal mesh, wire mesh.
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