Importance of Formwork in
Concrete Construction
RMD Kwikform Philippines, Inc
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Concrete Samples
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Concrete Samples
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Failure Samples
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Formwork Design
• A form is a mold to hold the concrete in its proper place until
it is strong enough to hold itself.
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Formwork Samples
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Formwork Samples
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Formwork Samples
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Formwork Samples
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Formwork Samples
PLYWOOD
WALER
SOLDIER
TIE
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Basic Formwork Design
• Concrete Pressure on wall formwork
• Determination of Waler Spacing (Secondary Support, Joist)
• Determination of Soldier Spacing (Primary Support)
• Determination of location of ties (for 2 sided forms) and
anchors if needed.
• Checking against allowable bending / stresses.
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Concrete Pressure
Basis of calculation of concrete pressure is derived from CIRIA (Construction
Industry Research and Information Association) Report No. 108
Or Pmax = ɣh
where: ɣ is the density of concrete and h is the height of form.
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Concrete Pressure
• Concrete pressure - 7 Factors :-
– The concrete density
– The shape of the form
– Type of concrete (concrete mix design) used
– Concrete temperature
– Form height
– Rate of rise
– Vibration (increases the viscosity of the concrete)
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Formwork Shape
• Field tests show that greater concrete pressure occurs in
pours which are small on plan
• Plan shapes determines if the poured structure is a column or
wall.
• Columns are defined as any structure when both plan
dimensions are smaller than 2000mm. All other structures
are walls
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Formwork Shape
0.5m 0.5m
1.9m
2.5m
4m
4m
Column Wall
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Type of Concrete
• Chemicals or additives in the concrete mix
e.g. Plasticizers may affect the concrete pressure on the formwork.
• Chemicals with a retarding effect can result in a high concrete pour acting
hydrostatically with a dramatic increase in the concrete pressure
OPC – Ordinary Portland Cement
RHPC – Rapid Hardening Portland Cement
SRPC – Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement
LHPBFC – Low Heat Portland Blast Furnace Cement
PBFC – Portland Blast Furnace Cement
PPFAC – Portland Pulverized Fuel Ash Cement
ggbfs – Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slug
pfa – Pulverized Fuel Ash
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Temperature
• As the weather becomes warmer concrete goes solid in a
shorter time, than when the weather is cold.
• Flow of concrete in warm weather is more difficult than in
cold i.e. the pressure is lower.
• A temperature change from 15º C to 5º C can result in a
50% increase in pressure for the same pour.
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Height of Formwork
2m
1m
• Low concrete pours say up to 2000mm high
25mPa 50mPa
usually act hydrostatically. pressure pressure
• Higher concrete pours display a more complex
pressure distribution which is lower than
hydrostatic
• The impact resulting from dropping the concrete
from a height can increase the pressure on the
formwork.
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Rate of Rise
• If concrete is poured into the form quickly, there is a greater
head of fluid concrete in the form than if more time is taken
• We need to determine the rate at which the concrete rises
up the formwork in metres per hour
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 20
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 21
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 22
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 23
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 24
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Module 6, Page 25
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Rate of Rise
Fast Pour
Maximum Pressure Envelope
Slow Pour
Module 6, Page 26
Maximum Pressure Envelope
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Effect of Vibrator
• CIRIA 108 only applies where internal poker vibrators are used
i.e. poker inserted in top layer of concrete only
• Deep vibration will cause the concrete to act as a fluid
increasing pressure considerably
• Prolonged vibration causes very high local pressure
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Single Sided Formwork
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Single Sided Formwork
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Failure Samples
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Failure Samples
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Failure Samples
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Sample Calculation
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Sample Calculation
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Sample Calculation
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Sample Calculation
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Sample Calculation
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Basic Formwork Design
Any Questions?
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