FROMWORK

REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD FORMWORK

Strong enough to withstand all types of dead and live loads.

Rigidly constructed and efficiently propped and braced both
horizontally and vertically, so as to retain its shape.
The joints in the formwork should be tight against leakage of
cement grout.
Construction of formwork should permit removal of various
parts in desired sequences without damage to the concrete.
Material of the formwork should be cheap, easily available and
should be suitable for reuse.
The formwork should be set accurately to the desired line and
levels should have plane surface.
As light as possible.
Material of the formwork should not warp or get distorted when
exposed to the elements.
Should rest on firm base.
POINTS CONSIDERED FOR ECONOMY IN THE COST
OF FORMWORK

The plan of the building should imply minimum number of

variations in the size of rooms, floor area etc., so as to permit
reuse of the formwork repeatedly.
Design should be perfect to use slender sections only in a most
economical way.
Minimum sawing and cutting of wooden pieces should be made
to enable reuse of the material a number of times. The quantity
of surface finish depends on the quality of the formwork.
 MAINLY TWO TYPES OF FORMWORK

STEEL FORMWORK WOODEN FORMWORK

Steel formwork Props

Wooden formwork Plank Battens
Steel formwork is made of: Ledgers
Steel sheets Sheeting
Angle Iron
Tee Iron
CONVENTIONAL FORMWORK
 CONVENTIONAL FORMWORK

One of the earliest types of formwork is traditional timber

formwork which is generally made from timber or plywood.
This type of formwork is typically built on-site and while it is
easy to produce, it has a short life-span and is very time-
consuming particularly for large structures. Today, timber
formwork is still used where labour costs are low, or where there
are complicated sections that require very flexible formwork.
The formwork is built on site out of timber and plywood or
moisture-resistant particleboard.
It is easy to produce but time-consuming for larger structures,
and the plywood facing has a relatively short lifespan.
It is still used extensively where the labour costs are lower than the costs
for procuring reusable formwork.
It is also the most flexible type of formwork, so even where other
systems are in use,complicated sections may use it.
 The main types of formwork systems in use now are

Table form/flyingform
System column formwork
Horizontal panel
Slip form
Tunnel form
 ADVANTAGES TIMBER FORMWORK

Easy handling because it is light weight.

Easy to disassemble.
Damaged parts can be replaced with new one.
Very flexible.
Easy to produce.
Easily available.
 DISADVANTAGES TIMBER FORMWORK

Limited size of shape.

Excessive loss of heat.
A very smooth surface will be produced which would give
problems for finishing process.
Limited fixing.
REUSABLE PLASTIC FORMWORK
 REUSABLE PLASTIC FORMWORK

As the name suggests, this type of formwork is made from

lightweight and robust plastic that create interlocking and
modular formwork systems. This type of formwork is an
excellent choice for small but repetitive construction projects,
such as low-cost housing estates. Reusable plastic formwork has
many applications in the construction industry. Considering that
the panels are made from plastic, they do not require formwork
removing agents and are simply cleaned with water.
PLYWOOD
 PLYWOOD
This is by far the most common material
used for the facing panel.
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.
This is usually sufficient for most pours.However, if the
formwork is curved, a thinner plywood is used to facilitate
bending.
Thicker plywood may be used when the weight of concrete
causes a standard thickness plywood to bow out, distorting the
concrete face.
PERMANENT INSULATED FORMWORK
 PERMANENT INSULATED FORMWORK
One of the most advanced formwork systems involves formwork
that is permanently insulated to provide additional thermal,
acoustic, fire-resistant, and rodent-resistant properties. One
of the most common types is insulating concrete forms (ICF)
where concrete structures are insulated with polystyrene foam
which stays in place after the concrete has cured. This type of
formwork is energy efficient, sustainable, and environmentally
friendly.
LIGHTWEIGHT WOOD FORMWORK
 ADVANTAGE OF LIGHTWEIGHT WOOD FORMWORK

Accelerated construction schedules by dramatically increasing speed of

construction as a result of ease of working. Means faster cycles and
considerable saving in labour costs.
Improved over-all economy due re-use of formwork systems.
Easy to understand for Traditional Workmen.
The system is flexible, easy to assemble and requires very little
working skill.
Components are versatile and suitable for all major applications.
Gives high labour and material productivity.
Investment need be made on the minimum quantity of formwork items.
Uniformly good quality of finish is achieved greatly enhances aesthtic
and soundness of structure.
It ensures accurate, safe and speedy construction
It can be made suitable for all applications, requires little working skill
and helps to achieve uniformly good quality of finish.
STEEL FORMWORK
 STEEL FORMWORK

For Mass housing projects were number of repetitions are

more, to reduce the labour requirement further, Formwork system
made up of steel is used in some projects.This system gives more
than 800 repetitions.
The actual use of the system in construction of building
 STEEL FORMWORK

Steel forms are stronger, durable and have longer life than
timber formwork and they can be reused.
Steel forms can be installed and dismantled with greater ease
and speed.
The quality of exposed concrete surface by using steel forms is
good and such surfaces need no further treatment.
Steel formwork does not absorb moisture from concrete.
Steel formwork does not shrink or warp.
 ADVANTAGES STEEL FORMWORK

It can be used for a no. of times.

It is non absorbent.
Smooth finish surface obtained.
No shrinkage of formwork occurs.
Easy to use.
Its volume is less.
Its strength is more.

DISADVANTAGES
Limited size or shape.
Excessive loss of heat.
A very smooth surface will be produced which would give problems
for finishing process.
Limited fixing.
ALUMINIUM FORMWORK
 ADVANTAGES ALUMINIUM FORMWORK

Quickly and accurately assembled.

Reduces the labour cost owing to its easy installation.
Light weight component provides low pressure on the lower part of
the buildings.
Aluminium metal surface offers easy cleaning after concrete is
removed.
Faster construction cycles.
Easy to handle.
High quality finishes.
Can be easily recycled.
Can be repeatedly used without losing quality
Safe work platforms.
High salvage cost.
Fewer burdens on environment.
 DISADVANTAGES
Initial high investment.
Compares very poorly on modifications, against brick work
constructions.
Fear of theft of valuable Aluminium
Extrusions & sheets & hence kit not being complete at critical
stages of construction.
Mass Housing projects are not as high for investing in large
number of Aluminium Formwork.
Sensitive to contact with concrete.
SHUTTERING
 FORMWORK FOR VARIOUS STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

Construction of formwork normally involves the following

operations

1. Propping and centering

2. Shuttering
3. Provision of camber (if any curved surface on wall)
4. Cleaning and surface treatment
 FORMWORK CONSISTS OF
Timber sheeting
Vertical posts
Horizontal members
Rackers (Lateral support to wall)
Stakes
Wedges
After completing one side of formwork reinforcement is
provided at the place then the second side formwork is
provided.
 CONSISTS OF

Side & End Planks

Yoke
Nut & Bolts
Two end & two side planks are joined by the yokes and bolts.
RAKERS :- Inclined members called rakers are used to give
temporary lateral support to an unsafe member of formwork.
YOKE :- Its is an artificial support provided below and around.
the precast or cast in situ concrete work.
METAL SLAB FORMWORK
 METAL SLAB FORMWORK

1)Similar to the traditional method, but stringers and joist are

replaced with aluminium forming systems or steelbeams and
supports are replaced with metal props.
2)This also makes this method more systematic and reusable.
3)Aluminum beams are fabricated as telescoping units which
allows them to span supports that are located at varying distances
apart.
4)Telescoping aluminium beams can be used and reused in the
construction of structures of varying size.
PRE-FABRICATED FORM WORKS
 ENGINEERED/PRE-FABRICATED FORM WORKS

This formwork is built out of prefabricated modules with a metal

frame (usually steel or aluminium) and covered on the application
(concrete) side with material having the wanted surface structure
(steel, aluminium, timber, etc.).
The two major advantages of formwork systems, compared to
traditional timber formwork, are speed of construction and lower life-
cycle costs (barring major force, the frame is almost indestructible,
while the covering if made of wood; may have to be replaced after a
few –or a few dozen –uses, but if the covering is made with steel or
aluminium the form can achieve up to two thousand uses depending on
care and the applications).
 PREFABRICATED FORMWORK
Very little on-site skilled labour needed.
The ability to reuse forms either as a large section or as
individual units.
All prefabricated systems are designed for light as well as heavy
construction.
Contractors can bid almost any type of work; straight, battered,
curved or cut-up.
Prefab forms may be set in any combination, horizontally and
vertically, to any wall height.
On high walls, one side of forms can be erected and ties placed;
then the close-out side can be erected during placement,
minimizing concrete drop and assuring effective vibration.
 DISADVANTAGES
High cost factor.
Greater transportation cost, due to the large pieces, where as the
regular formwork can be transported easily.
Too many pieces involved in the pre fabricated formwork.
Pre fabricated formwork, leave poor finishes at the joints of the
forming members.
The first cause of deflection is the rate of placing, which is
usually too fast.
If recommended placing rates are followed and there is good
supervision of
placement and vibrating, the problem of deflection can be
controlled.
With many prefab systems, panels can be re m oved at different
locations and used as casting pockets.
This procedure avoids dropping the concrete a great distance and
helps to maintain a more constant rate of placement.
 FAILURE OF FORMWORK
Formwork failures are the cause of many accidents and failures that
occur during concrete construction which usually happen when fresh
concrete is placed.
Generally some unexpected event causes one member to fail, then
others become overloaded or misaligned and the entire formwork
structure collapses.
Improper stripping and shore removal.
Inadequate bracing,Vibration.
Unstable soil under mudsills, shoring not plumb.
Inadequate control of concrete placement.
Lack of attention to formwork details.
Inadequate cross bracing and horizontal bracing of shores.
Forms sometime collapse when their shores/ jacks are displaced
by the vibration caused by:
Passing traffic,
movement of workers & equipment on the formwork,the effect of
vibrating concrete to consolidate it.
Concrete formwork checking
Metallic formwork