9/14/2018 Common Defects in Concrete Formwork Systems

Common Defects in Concrete Formwork Systems

Concrete formwork systems suffer from several deficiencies such as defects due to imperfect design
and construction practice, defects in foundation level of formwork systems, defects in vertical support
of formwork systems and defects in horizontal support of formwork systems. These common defects
are discussed below.

Common Defects in Concrete Formwork Systems

1. Formwork Defects due to Imperfect Design and

Construction Practice
Too much tolerances in construction
Inability to control vertical rate of concrete placement
Inability to check the tightness of bolts and wedges before loading formwork systems
Insufficient allowance for uplift of concrete under inclined formwork systems
Different load distribution between two or more member that supposed to support common loads
Incorrect computation of stresses because of over simplification of design assumptions
Lack of required provision for the vibration effect on ties, struts, braces, and wedges
Failure to properly account for wind loads
Insufficient allowance for the influence of stresses generated by temperature, prestressing, and
moisture movements

2. Defects in Foundation Level of Formwork Systems

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Sole plates are not leveled

Crushing of sole plate because of insufficient distribution of loads form horizontal and vertical
members
Poor load carrying capacity of the ground under sole plate
Deterioration of load carrying capacity of the ground for instance washing out ground
Deterioration of sole plates with time because of several factors for example weather condition

3. Defects in Vertical Support of Formwork Systems

Lack of ties between standards at point of loading
Supports are out of plumb
Insufficient bracing to scaffold
Bearing plates at the top and bottom of props are distorted
Insufficient lateral ties, vertical and plan bracing
Lack of rigidity of screw connection because of lack of bracing or over extension
Utilizing adjustable steel props with nails, mild steel bolts and reinforcing bars instead of correct
pins

Fig.: Formwork for Beams and Slabs with Vertical Supports

4. Defects in Horizontal Support of Formwork Systems

Horizontal members are not centrally placed in forkheads
Lack of staggering in timber bolted connection which may lead to split out of the timber bolted
connection
Insufficient lateral and tensional bracing
Inadequate support to prevent overturning of deep principal elements since forkheads are
frequently omitted
Insufficient support to cantilevers
Inadequate bearing area to vertical supports and underside of main members lead to crushing
Folding wedges cut to too coarse a taper, not properly cleated, cut from wet material

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Madeh Izat Hamakareem

Madeh is a Structural Engineer who works as Assistant Lecturer in Koya University. He is the author, editor and partner
at theconstructor.org.

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