Published Online:January 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Structural Engineering
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJSE080126
DOI:10.71329/IUPJSE/2026.19.1.102-120
Author Name:Shrruthi M
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Engineering
Download Format:PDF
Pages:102-120
Across developing nations, a deepening housing crisis continues to unfold, exacerbated by explosive population growth, large-scale displacement, sociopolitical unrest, and the growing frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters. The cumulative impact of these pressures has overwhelmed institutional capacities, leading to systemic failures in delivering adequate shelter and forcing large segments of the population into informal or structurally compromised dwellings. In rural contexts, housing typically uses inexpensive, readily available materials such as untreated timber prone to termites, corrugated metal sheets, thatch, and various forms of earthen construction like mud, clay, and sand. Although accessible and rooted in vernacular traditions, these materials often fail to ensure safety, stability, or longevity. Any viable solution must fulfill key performance benchmarks: strength, durability, affordability, reduced environmental impact, ease of use, and resilience under environmental and seismic stresses. Among the emerging materials that meet these criteria is ferrocement, which is a composite material celebrated for its adaptability, tensile strength, lightweight composition, and sustainability. This paper explores ferrocement’s potential to bridge the housing gap, drawing on global literature, technical evaluation, and Indian case studies to illustrate how this underutilized material can revolutionize post-disaster and affordable construction.
The global housing crisis represents one of the most formidable socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges of the 21st century.