CLASS ROOM AT SITE

FORMWORK FOR
CIVIL WORK
BY BISWAJIT MALO

1
 Formwork

Forms are the moulds and dies of concrete

construction. They mould the concrete to the
desired size ,shape and control the alignment
and position.
It also carries the weight of the freshly placed
concrete and itself besides live load due to
materials, equipment and workmen

2
 Objectives
The basic objectives are Quality, safety and Economy.
Economy is a major concern since formwork costs
may range anywhere from 25% to 60% of the cost of
concrete structure.
Formwork cost can be saved and job can be
expedited by proper selection of material, planned
fabrication and erection, proper schedule for reuse
of forms and deployment of trained manpower

3
 Objectives
However while achieving economy the quality and
safety should not be sacrificed.
Cost of rectification of defective concrete is much
more than the cost of good concrete as defective
concrete needs expensive chipping and grinding
The economy measures which may lead to formwork
failure also defeat their own purpose as the costs
due to loss of human lives and materials will be
multifold than the savings due to economic
measures

4
 Requirements of formwork

To obtain required shape, size, finish, position and

alignment of structure
To have enough load carrying capacity to take
pressure or weight of fresh concrete and any other
loads without distortion, deflection, leakages,
failures or damage to workmen
Easy design for quick erection and stripping

5
 Requirements of formwork

To handle easily using available equipment

and manpower
Joints between formwork should be tight to
prevent leakages of slurry/grout
To provide easy and safe access for concrete
handling and placing
To avoid damage to concrete or formwork
itself while stripping

6
 Materials for formwork

Wooden material- Timber, plywood

Steel- proprietary formwork, Purpose made
formwork
Other materials- Glass reinforced plastics,
Vacuum formed plastic facing Utmost care is
required to be taken while using such type of
formwork.

7
 Proprietary Steel formwork

Available in different forms

1 Steel framed panels with either steel plate or
plywood facing
2 Telescoping supporting trusses
3 Adjustable props ( Telescopic)
4 Yokes and fastening devices
5 Tie rods and spacers
6 Clamps and bracings

8
 Purpose made formwork

These are specially designed for a particular

type of jobs such as tunnel lining, bridge
decks, slip forms and any other structures
with unusual shapes.

9
Engineered Formwork Systems

This formwork is built out of prefabricated modules with a

metal frame (usually steel or aluminum) and covered on
the application (concrete) side with material having the
wanted surface structure (steel, aluminum, timber, etc.).
The two major advantages of formwork systems,
compared to traditional timber formwork, are speed of
construction (modular systems pin, clip, or screw together
quickly) 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
aluminum the form can achieve up to one thousand uses
depending on care and the applications).

10
Type of slip form work

Horizontal slip form work

Vertical slip form work

11
Vertical slip form work

12
Modular Aluminum Formwork

13
 Doka formwork

Large block heights

of up to 4 m

Modular system (small n of

diff. parts, all combinable)

Retractable and tiltable

Short shifting times

SP-01-96e
SP-05-93e

15
SP-08-93e

16
SP-11-93e

17
Schematic sketch of formwork

18
 Propping the formwork

Collapse of formwork is mainly due to

incorrect propping system. It may be due to
inadequate quality of propping material or
improper applications. Instead of wooden
props prefer steel props

19
 Essential tips in propping

Props must be properly inspected. Steel props having

a bent, corroded, damaged base plate or head to be
avoided
Correct setting up of props is vital. The load carrying
capacity decreases if prop is erected out of plumb or
eccentrically loaded. No prop should be out of plumb
by more than 1 in 40
Bracing should be provided in both the directions
and properly clamped

20
 Essential tips in propping

Runners supported by props should not be off

centre. Max 25 mm off centre is permitted
Props should have a firm bearing. Spreaders
must be used if the supporting sub grade or
base is weak in taking bearing pressures.

21
Proper supporting props

22
Essential tips in Erecting Formwork

Formwork is a temporary structural arrangement which is

removed as soon as concrete is capable of taking adequate
loads. The essential tips are
1. All fixtures, fastening must be in right places
2. All tie bolts or wall ties must be tightened
3. Temporary distance pieces must be removed
4. Avoid drilling holes or cutting standard panels
5. Any make up or fill in piece or closure panel must match
with main panel
6. Make sure that while fixing the upper lift panel , the lower
edge of the panel is tightly fixed against hardened concrete
of previous lift.

23
Essential tips in Erecting Formwork

7 Foamed plastic strip may be provided at panel ends,

construction joints to avoid leakages of slurry/ grout
8 Inserts, battens, boxes to be fixed properly
9 Ensure that proper walkways, working platforms,
approaches are available for free and safe movement of
work force
10 Ensure that the dirt, wooden shavings, tie wire clipping,
nails are removed prior to commencement of concrete
11 Lifting facility must be provided to all prefabricated
formwork to avoid damage or distortion

24
 Check list for safe formwork

Safety in formwork is two fold

1 Safe working conditions for the workmen
2 Adequate design and construction to ensure
safety of structure

25
Check list for props & shoring

Beams and slab forms carry a heavy load of

concrete on slender props. These slender
supports are potentially unstable and
vulnerable to accidents if proper procedures
are not followed. Bracing to these props are of
utmost importance

26
Check list for props & shoring

Bearing capacity of soil, type of soil

Proper soil stabilization and drainage
Bracing of individual props both ways
Avoid wooden props unless checked thoroughly for
the soundness. Avoid butt splicing
Patented clamps firmly locked
Proper bearing for all resting members such as
stringers

27
Check list for props & shoring

Deep joints laterally braced to prevent overturning

On sloping slab or beam form extra bracing added to
resist lateral forces
High impact drops from concrete bucket prevented
Heaping of concrete prevented
Proper de shuttering / stripping to be done

28
De stuttering/ Striking formwork

29
FORM WORK FOR COPPING BEAM

30
FORM WORK FOR COPPING BEAM

31
PRECAST U-TROUGH

32
PRECAST SLAB FORM WORK

33
Properly planned formwork

34
Avoid concentrated loads

35
Proper formwork

36
 Causes of failure
Many of the accidents taking place during the construction are
associated with formwork. The general causes are
1. Unstable structure to carry wet concrete or localized
weakness and overstress
2. Diagonally un braced structure subjected to heavy lateral
loads
3. Human error, negligence ,over confidence
4. Premature stripping of forms
5. Inadequate size and spacing of props
6. Load concentration due to heaping of concrete

37
 Causes of failure
1. Inadequate cross bracing and horizontal bracing
2. Sinking of supports/ props due poor soil SBC
3. Failure to maintain rate and sequence of casting of
concrete
4. Improper placing of rolled steel members
5. Effect of pre stressing on girder supports
6. Settlement of existing structure

38
Formwork failure

39
Failure of shores

40
Failure of slab panel

41
THANK YOU

42