Formwork refers to the temporary structure used to support wet concrete until it is cured. There are different types of formwork including wood and steel. Wood formwork uses props, planks, battens and sheeting while steel uses sheets, angles and tees. Formwork must be strong, waterproof, and allow concrete to harden to the required strength before removal. The timing of removal depends on concrete mix design and weather conditions. Formwork is an important part of concrete construction and accounts for 20-40% of the total concrete cost.
2. General
For the different construction activities like
Brick work above 5 ft
Surface finishing works like plastering, painting, walling
etc.
Renovation, repair and alteration works.
Roof and slab pouring
Some temporary nature supports and structures are required
like
Formwork (Supporting Structure)
Scaffoldings (arrangement for working plate forms)
Shoring (supporting method for unsafe structure)
Underpinning (Method of strengthening an existing
structure’s footing)
3. Form work
Definition
Qualities of formwork
Types of formwork
Formwork detail for different structural
members
Removal of formwork
Maintenance of formwork
Cost of formwork
Advantages of steel form work
4. Definition
Its is an artificial support provided below and around
the precast or cast in situ concrete work.
Formwork is commonly made of
Steel
wood
Formwork construction & casting is of prime
importance in concrete industry. It share a
significant amount of concrete cost. (20% to 25%).
When concrete has reached a certain required
strength, the form is no longer needed & removed.
The operation of removing the form work is known
as stripping.
5. Qualities of formwork
It should be according to
IS 456-2000.
It should be practically water proof so
that it should not absorb water from
concrete.
It should be strong.
It can be cheaper & reusable
It should be according to the size of
member.
6. Qualities of formwork
It should be with minimum shrinkage &
swelling.
It should be stiff enough against it’s
deflection, buckling under load.
Its contact surface should be uniform.
It should be light in weight
7. Types of formwork
Formwork are mainly of two types
Steel formwork
Wooden formwork
Steel formwork is made of
steel sheets
Angle Iron
Tee Iron
Wooden formwork consists of
Props
Planks battens
Ledgers
sheeting
8. Causes of failure
Overloading of any props when
sufficient number or size of props not
provided.
Failure of shuttering due to excessive
vibrations of needle surface vibrators.
Failure due to improper supervision,
inadequate design/ planning of
shuttering, centering & concreting
activity.
9. Causes of failure
Failure due to dislocation of props or
bracing due to careless movement of
labours having access below the
formwork of slab or beam.
Failure due to insufficient cross
bracing. Cross bracing improve the
stiffness of props against buckling.
10. Formwork detail for different
structural members
In concrete construction formwork is
commonly provided for the following
structural members.
Foundations
Wall
Column
Slabs & beams
Stairs
12. Formwork for Foundations
Column
Foundations
It consists of
Side Supports
Side Planks
Cleats
Side Support
Side Planks
Cleats
13. Formwork
for Wall
It consists of
Timber sheeting
Vertical posts
Horizontal members
Rackers
Stakes
Wedges
After completing
one side of
formwork
reinforcement is
provided at the
place then the
second side
formwork is
provided.
Vertical Posts
Struts
14. Formwork for
Column
It consists of the
following
Side & End Planks
Yoke
Nut & Bolts
Two end & two side
planks are joined by
the yokes and bolts.
17. Formwork for Slabs & beams
It consists of
Sole plates
Wedges
Props
Head tree
Planks
Batten
Ledgers
Beam formwork
rests on head tree
Slab form work rests
on battens and joists
If prop height are
more than 8’ provide
horizontal braces.
19. Formwork for Stairs
It consists of
Vertical & inclined
posts
Inclined members
Wooden Planks or
sheeting
Stringer
Riser Planks
Riser Planks
21. Removal of formwork
Time of formwork removal mainly depends on
the following factors
1. Type of Cement
1. Rapid hardening cements require lesser time as
compared to OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)
2. Ratio of concrete mix
1. Rich ratio concrete gain strength earlier as
compared to weak ratio concrete.
3. Weather condition
1. Hydration process accelerates in hot weather
conditions as compared to cold and humid
weather conditions.
22. Stripping Time
Sr.
No.
Structural Member Stripping Time
1 Beam sides, walls & Columns 1-2 Days as decided by
Engineer-in-charge
2 Slab Soffits (props left under) 3 Days
3 Beams Soffits (props left under) 7 Days
4 Removal of props to slabs:
i) Spanning up to 4.5 m
ii) Spanning over 4.5 m
7 Days
14 Days
5 Removal of props to Beams & Arches:
i) Spanning up to 6 m
ii) Spanning over 6 m
14 Days
21 Days
23. Maintenance of formwork
Due to continuous use wooden planks &
steel plates surfaces become uneven and
require maintenance.
For wooden formwork use cardboard or
plastic fiber board. Bolt hole places must
also be repaired.
For steel formwork plates must be leveled
by mallet and loose corners must be
welded.
24. Cost of formwork
For normal works cost of formwork is about
30%-40% of the concrete cost.
For special works cost of formwork is about
50%-60% of the concrete cost.
Formwork cost is controlled by the following
factors
Formwork Material cost
Formwork erecting cost
Formwork removal cost
Formwork jointing cost (Nails and Cables)
Labor charges.
25. Advantages of steel form work
It can be used for a numbers 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.