1 FORMWORK

Definition
 A form is defined as a temporary structure or mold for the support
of concrete while it is setting and gaining sufficient strength to be
self-supporting.
 Formwork is the total system of support for freshly placed concrete
including the mold as well as all supporting members, hardware,
and necessary bracing.
2 Requirements for Formworks

i. Economy
 Formwork is the largest cost component for a typical multistory
reinforced concrete building.
 Formwork cost accounts for 40 to 60 percent of the cost of the
concrete frame.
 Approximately 10 percent of the total building cost in
developed country.
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Formwork economy is achieved by considering four important

factors:
i. Cost of form materials
ii. Ease of form fabrication
iii. Efficient use of forms — erecting and stripping
iv. Planning for maximum reuse to lower per use cost
 4 ii. Speed

 Faster formwork cycle from erection to stripping would allow for

faster removal of shoring and reshoring and faster overall project
progress.
 Several floors may be blocked, preventing the progress of any other
construction activities, if the formwork system is not efficient.
5 iii. Quality

 If the surface of the concrete is good, the cost of finishing to

be applied on the surface will also be less.
 On the other hand if concrete surfaces are of less quality,
which results from poor quality of formworks, cost of grinding
and plastering will be higher.
 All joints should be sealed to stop grout leaking from the
formwork.
 Grout loss causes ragged edges, hydration staining and honey
combing, which in turn can affect strength, durability and
appearance
6 iv. Safety

 Formwork operations are risky, and workers are typically exposed

to unsafe working conditions.
 Partial or total failure of concrete formwork is a major contributor
to deaths, injuries, and property damages within the
construction industry.
7 The possible hazards related to
formwork:

i. Sawdust: respiratory hazards

ii. Form oil: respiratory and other Health hazards
iii. Physical and other hazards
 Causes of Formwork Failure
 Faulty formwork structural design
 Improper stripping and shore removal
 Inadequate bracing
 Vibration
 Inadequate control of concrete placement:
8 Form Work Pressure

 Concrete starts off acting as though it were a fluid.

 9 Classification of Formworks

 Classification According to Size

 Classification According to Location of Use
 Classification According to Nature of Operation
 Classification According to Brand Name of the Product
 MIVAN Formwork Systems
 Peri Formwork Systems
 Doka Formwork Systems
 Other International Formwork Systems(WACO,TITAN etc.)

Classification According to Materials of

Formwork
 Classification According to Materials of
10
Formwork
A. Steel Formwork
 Advantages
 Has very high reuse rates
 Very smooth surfaces are possible
 Strong and fast to install.
 Disadvantages
 Costly, heavy, rust & Low versatility.
 11 B.Aluminum Formwork
 The formwork does not depend upon heavy lifting equipment and
can be handled by unskilled labors.
 Fast construction is assured.
 has exceptionally good quality with accurate dimensions
 Durable
12 C. Glass-Reinforced Plastic
 is a composite material made of a plastic matrix reinforced by
fine fibers made of glass.
 The major problems associated with glass-reinforced plastic
forms are attack by alkalies in the concrete and form
expansion because of exposure to hot sun or heat from
hydration of cement
13 D. Concrete as Formwork
It is commonly called "pre-cast" concrete.
14 E. Stremaform Formwork
• Stay-in-place formwork for working joints
• divides large structural components into concreting sections.
• No interruption of reinforcement.
• The main application of Stremaform is for concrete construction
joints and for expansion joints
15 F. Cardboard Formwork
16 G. Plastic Formwork
17 H. Timber Formwork

 Compared to the other major construction materials, timber as a

renewable resource is environmentally acceptable.

Sand

Wood
Concrete low energy materials

Light weight concrete

Plaster board

Brickwork Medium energy materials

mineral fiber
glass

plastics
High energy materials
steel

aluminum

Embodied energy in building materials

18 I. Plywood Formwork

Weak Orientation of Strong Orientation of Plywood

Plywood (Face grain perpendicular to
span)
(Face grain parallel to span)
19 J. Insulated Concrete Formworks
 forms used to hold fresh concrete that remain in place
permanently to provide insulation for the structure they enclose.
 is an innovative modern method of construction, which combines
the inherent strength of concrete with the excellent thermal
insulation properties of Polystyrene
 The polystyrene is used as permanent formwork for the concrete.
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Block Systems ICF PLANK Systems ICF

 21 K. Controlled Permeable
Formwork (CPF)
 a unique approach for enhancing the quality of concrete.
 This liner permits surplus water and trapped air to escape while keeping
the cement and fine particles in place on the concrete surface.
 is a special class of lined formwork intended to eliminate voids (bug
holes) on the surface of the concrete and to increase the strength and
durability of the concrete surface immediately behind the formwork
22 L. Permanent Formworks
 Permanent formwork, unlike traditional formwork, is left in
place for the life of the element it is supporting.
 Insulated Concrete Forms and precast concrete are typical
examples.
23 Special Formwork Systems
1. Flying(table) Formwork Systems
 The name ‘‘flying formwork’’ is used because forms are flown from
story to story by a crane.
 is a relatively new formwork system that was developed to reduce
labor cost associated with erecting and dismantling formwork
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24 2. Tunnel Formwork System
 Tunnel form is used to form repetitive cellular structures, and is
widely recognized as a modern innovation that enables the
construction of horizontal and vertical elements (walls and floors)
together.
 25 3.Jump Formworks

 Jump form systems(climbing) are used where no floor is available on

which to support the wall formwork
 The formwork supports itself on the concrete cast earlier, so does not rely
on support or access from other parts of the building or permanent works
26 4.Slip Formworks

 formwork is raised vertically in a continuous process.

 It is a method of vertically extruding a reinforced concrete section
and is suitable for construction of core walls in high-rise structures, lift
shafts, stair shafts, towers, etc.
 The rate of movement of the forms is controlled and matches the
initial setting of concrete
 27 Formwork Hardware
Form Ties
 are devices used to hold the sides of concrete forms together
against the fluid pressure of fresh concrete.
 The most common type of tie rod is the through tie
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 The lost tie system leaves the tie rod in the wall
 The threaded ends of the tie rod are screwed into tapered ends
of the 'she bolt'.

Recoverable
Lost Tie she bolt

Waler plate
29 Form Release Agents

 their prime function being to effect release of the form from the
concrete surface and reduce the likelihood of surface damage to
concrete and formwork.
 A good release agent should:
 Provide a clean and easy strike without damage to either the
concrete face or form
 Contribute to the production of blemish free concrete surface.
Have no adverse effect on either the form or concrete.
Assist in obtaining maximum reuse of forms.
Be inoffensive to the operative with regard to odor, skin staining, etc.
30 Stripping of Formwork

 Forms can usually be removed when the concrete is strong

enough to carry its own weight and any construction loads it will
have to support without deflection beyond specified limits.
 ACI Recommendation
Member Time
31 Walls 12hrs
Columns 12hrs
Sides of beams or Girders 12hrs

beam, or girder bottoms Where design live loads are:

< dead load >Dead load

Under 10ft(3m) clear span 7days 4days

10 to 20ft clear span 14days 7days

Over 20ft clear span 21days 14days

One way floor slabs

Under 10ft clear span 4 days 3 days

10 to 20ft clear span 7 days 4 days

Over 20ft clear span 10 days 7 days

Two way floor slabs Contingent on reshores being placed immediately after
stripping.
 British Standards Recommendations
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Minimum Period Before Striking

Type of Formwork Surface temperature of concrete

16oC and above toC(any temperature

between 0 and 16OC)

Vertical formwork to columns, walls and large 12h 300/(t+10) h

beams
Soffit formwork to slabs 4 days 100/(t+10) days

Soffit formwork to beams and props to slabs 10 days 250/(t+10) days

Props to beams 14 days 360/(t+10) days

 Ethiopian Recommendations
33

Form Work Type Duration

non-load bearing parts of formwork (vertical formwork of 18 hours

beam; formwork for columns and walls)

soffit form work to slabs 7 days

props to slabs 14 days

soffit formwork to beams 14 days

props to beams 21 days

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