• Formwork in construction is the use of support structures

and moulds to create structures out of concrete which is

poured into the moulds. Formwork can be made using
moulds out of steel, wood, aluminium and/or
prefabricated forms.
• Formwork is designed according to The ACI document
SP-4
• The construction of formwork takes time and involves
expenditure up to 20 to 25% of the cost of the structure
or even more.
• The operation of removing the formwork is known as
stripping. Stripped formwork can be reused.
Formwork are mainly of two types
- Steel formwork
- Wooden formwork
- Aluminum formwork
- Plastic formwork
• It is easily cut to shape on site, and if handled and stored
carefully, it can be used many times.
• A standard plywood thickness on site is 18mm.
• if the formwork is curved, a thinner plywood is used to
facilitate bending.
• Steel forms are stronger, durable and have longer life than
timber formwork and their reuses are more in number
• Steel forms can be installed and dismantled with greater ease
and speed.
• Steel formwork does not absorb moisture from concrete.
• Steel formwork does not shrink or warp
• Often used in pre-fabricated formwork, that is put together on
site
• Aluminium is strong and light, and consequently fewer supports
and ties are required.
• The lighter sections will deflect more
• Glass reinforced plastics (GRP) and vacuum formed
plastics are used when complicated concrete shapes are
required (e.g. waffle floors).
• Like steel, plastic formwork can be re-used many times,
as long as care is taken not to scour the surface whilst
vibrating the concrete.
• Slip forming, continuous poured, continuously formed, or
slipform construction is a construction method in which
concrete is poured into a continuously moving form.
• Slip forming is used for tall structures (such as bridges,
towers, buildings, and dams), as well as horizontal
structures, such as roadways.
• Permanent Formwork is not removed but left in place. It
may contribute to the load carrying capacity of the
structure ('participating' formwork). ´Composite
construction´ refers to formwork and in-situ concrete
acting together in the permanent structure.
• A major cost of concrete structure construction is the
required formwork to retain the concrete till it can be
safely de-shuttered and be able to support itself and
other imposed loads.
• In the case of slip form building, the formwork is erected
only once and remains intact until the entire structure is
completed.
• •The reduction in the movement of formwork and workers
also leads to far more safe working conditions that also
make it a major advantage.
• Quality is enhanced despite the speed of construction
• Concrete is continuously protected against loss of
moisture and rapid temperature changes for 7 days
• Unhardened concrete is protected from rain and flowing
water
• Prevent plastic shrinkage
• Plastic cracks are filled by injection of epoxy resin.
• Too many pieces involved in the pre fabricated formwork
• Greater transportation cost, due to the large pieces,
where as the regular formwork can be transported easily
.
• For design purpose, temporary live load due to labor and
equipment including impact may be taken from
3700N/m2 to 4000N/m2
• Dead weight of wet concrete (26000 N/m2)
• Planks or boards used to form the vertical facing of the
columns or walls is known as sheathing whereas those
used for floor slabs are called decking
• The hydrostatic pressure due to fluidity of concrete in the
initial stages of pouring depends upon several factors
such as amount of water , size of aggregates, rate of
pouring etc.,
• The hydrostatic pressure is maximum at the time of
pouring, but after some time it starts decreasing, as
concrete starts setting and hardening . The pressure is
mainly dependent on the depth of concrete poured before
it starts setting
• Deflection of the sheathing and joints should be limited
to a maximum value of 2.5mm
• The minimum wind design pressure q not less than 15
psf and bracing should be designed for atleast

W=46 kg/ft- length applied to the top

• The minimum lateral load W, for design of bracing

System would be grater than,

q.(h/2) or 46kg/ft
• For design practice the maximum pressure is given by :
p=wh

• Where,

p=> lateral pressure of concrete

w=> unit weight of concrete
h=> depth of fluid or plastic concrete
• Design of slab forms can be summerized in the following
design steps:
• Step 1: Estimate design loads
• Step 2: Determine sheathing thickness and spacing of its
supports(joint spacing)
• Step 3: Determine joint size and spacing of supports
(string spacing)
• Step 4: Determine stringer size and span (shore spacing)
• Step 5: Perform shore design to support stringers
• Step 6: Check bearing stresses
• Step 7: Design lateral bracing
• Time of formwork removal depends on the following
factors:
• Types of cement:
Rapid hardening cements require lesser time
as compared to opc (ordinary portland cement)

• Ratio of concrete mix:

Rich ratio concrete gain strength earlier as
compared to weak ratio concrete.
• Weather condition:
Hydration process accelerates in hot weather
conditions as compared to cold and humid weather
conditions.
• Structural member OPC Rapid
hardening
cement
• Beam sides, walls & 2-3 days 2 days
Columns
• Slab(vertical supports 4 days 3 days
remains intact)
• Slab(complete formwork 10 days 5 days
Removal
• Beams(removal of sheeting 8 days 5 days
Props remains intact)
• Beams & Arches(complete 14 days
5-8 days
Formwork removal up to
6m span)
• Beams & Arches(complete 21 days
8-10 days
• Formwork Removal more
then 6m span
• Formwork failures are the cause of many accidents and
failure that occur during concrete construction which
usually happen when fresh concrete is placed .
• Generally some unexpected vent causes one member to
fail. Then other become overloaded and the entire
formwork structure collapses.
• Improper stripping and shore removal.
• Inadequate bracing.
• Unstable soil under mudsills, shoring not plumb.
• Lack of attention to formwork details .
• Inadequate cross bracing and horizontal bracing of
shores.
SHARMILA KUNCHE
SAI KRISHNA VUSAKOILA