Sustainable structural behavior performance of ferrocement hollow beam reinforced by GFRP and steel wire rope under impact load

This study investigates the impact performance of nine hollow ferrocement beams measuring 1000×225×150 mm, reinforced with different materials including steel wire ropes, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), and a hybrid reinforcement approach. The primary objective is to evaluate how these various reinforcement techniques can enhance the structural behavior of ferrocement beams under impact loads. The experimental methodology involved subjecting the beams to controlled impact loads and measuring their deflection, damping time, and failure modes. Results indicated a significant reduction in maximum deflection, with steel wire rope-reinforced beams showing a decrease of 19.3%, GFRP-reinforced beams achieving a reduction of 47.78%, and hybrid reinforcement beams exhibiting a 37.5% decrease, all compared to the reference beam. Additionally, the damping time was reduced by 18.1% for steel wire ropes, 47.2% for GFRP, and 53.6% for hybrid reinforcement. These changes corresponded with an increase in the damping ratio, reflecting an inverse relationship between damping time and damping ratio; specifically, increases of 19%, 56%, and 45.6% were recorded for each reinforcement type, respectively. Regarding failure modes, the study found that the number of impacts required to reach primary failure remained unchanged for most beams compared to the reference beam, except for the hybrid reinforcement beam (2S3GI), which required more impacts. The number of impacts necessary to achieve secondary and final failure varied based on the type of reinforcement used. This research underscores the importance of selecting appropriate reinforcement materials in enhancing the structural integrity and performance of ferrocement beams under dynamic loading conditions, contributing valuable insights for future engineering applications in structural design.