Formwork for concrete

Formwork
• Formwork is an ancillary construction, used as a mould for
a structure. Into this mould, fresh concrete is placed only to
harden subsequently. The construction of formwork takes
time and involves expenditure upto 20 to 25% of the cost of
the structure or even more. Design of these temporary
structures are made to economic expenditure. The
operation of removing the formwork is known as stripping.
Stripped formwork can be reused. Reusable forms are
known as panel forms and non-usable are called stationary
forms.
• Timber is the most common material used for formwork.
The disadvantage with timber formwork is that it will warp,
swell and shrink. Application of water impermeable cost to
the surface of wood mitigates these defects.
 Formwork
• A good formwork should satisfy the following requirements:
• It should be strong enough to withstand all types of dead and live loads.
• It should be 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.
• The 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.
• It should be as light as possible.
• The material of the formwork should not warp or get distorted when
exposed to the elements.
• It should rest on firm base.
 Formwork
• Economy in Formwork
• The following points are to be kept in view to effect 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.
• Formwork can be made out of timber, plywood, steel, precast
concrete or fibre glass used separately or in combination. Steel
forms are used in situation where large numbers of re-use of the
same forms are necessary. For small works, timber formwork
proves useful. Fibre glass made of pre-cast concrete and aluminium
are used in cast-in-situ construction such as slabs or members
involving curved surfaces.
 Timber Formwork:
• Timber for formwork should satisfy the following requirement:
• It should be
• well seasoned
• light in weight
• easily workable with nails without splitting
• free from loose knots
• Timber used for shuttering for exposed concrete work should have
smooth and even surface on all faces which come in contact with
concrete.
• Normal sizes of members for timber formwork:

Sheeting for slabs, beam, column side and beam bottom

• 25 mm to 40mm thick
• Joints, ledges
• 50 x 70 mm to 50 x 150 mm
• Posts
• 75 x 100mm to 100 x 100 mm
 Plywood Formwork
• Resin bonded plywood sheets are attached to timber
frames to make up panels of required sizes. The cost of
plywood formwork compares favourably with that of
timber shuttering and it may even prove cheaper in
certain cases in view of the following considerations:
• It is possible to have smooth finish in which case on
cost in surface finishing is there.
• By use of large size panels it is possible to effect saving
in the labour cost of fixing and dismantling.
• Number of reuses are more as compared with timber
shuttering. For estimation purpose, number of reuses
can be taken as 20 to 25.
 Steel Formwork

This consist of panels fabricated out of thin steel

plates stiffened along the edges by small steel
angles. The panel units can be held together
through the use of suitable clamps or bolts and
nuts. The panels can be fabricated in large
number in any desired modular shape or size.
Steel forms are largely used in large projects or in
situation where large number reuses of the
shuttering is possible. This type of shuttering is
considered most suitable for circular or curved
structures
Construction of formwork:
• This normally involves the following operations:
• Propping and centring
• Shuttering
• Provision of camber
• Cleaning and surface treatment

Order and method of removing formwork:

• The sequence of orders and method of removal of
formwork are as follows:
• Shuttering forming the vertical faces of walls, beams and
column sides should be removed first as they bear no load
but only retain the concrete.
• Shuttering forming soffit of slabs should be removed next.
• Shuttering forming soffit of beams, girders or other heavily
loaded shuttering should be removed in the end.
 Steel forms compared with timber
formwork:
• 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.
• 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.
 Period of removal of formwork
S. No. Description of structural member Period of time

1 Walls, columns and vertical sides of beams 1 to 2 days

2 Slabs (props left under) 3 days

3 Beam soffits (props left under) 7 days

4 Removal of props to slabs

(a) For slabs spanning upto 4.5 m 7 days

(b) For slabs spanning over 4.5 m 14 days

5 Removal of props to beams and arches

(a) Spanning upto 6 m 14 days

(b) spanning over 6 m 21 days

Formwork for columns
Formwork for vertical
concrete walling
TEMPORARY SUPPORTING
STRUCTURES
• SHORING:
• SHORING Construction of
a temporary structure to
support an unsafe
structure temporarily is
called shoring

• PURPOSE: When a wall

shows signs of bulging
(bad workmanship) When
a wall cracks (unequal
settlement of foundation)
When an adjacent
structure is dismantled
Openings are to be made
or enlarged TYPES: Raking
shores Flying shores Dead
shores
• RAKING SHORES:
• RAKING SHORES Inclined members called rakers are used to
give lateral support to the wall COMPONENTS: Rakers Wall
plate Needles Cleats Bracing Sole plate

FUNCTIONS OF COMPONENTS:
• WALL PLATE: Placed vertically along the face of the wall
• NEEDLES: Secure the wall plate and penetrate into the wall
• CLEATS: Strengthen the needles
• RAKERS: Rest against the needles such that the centre line of
the raker and wall meet at the floor level
• STRUTS: Interconnect the rakers
• SOLE PLATE: An inclined plane to which the rakers are
connected. It is embedded into the ground by means of iron
dogs.
 SOME IMPORANT POINTS:
• Rakers should be inclined at 45◦-75◦ to the ground

• For tall buildings rider raker can be used for reducing length

• Rakers should be properly braced at regular intervals (3m-4.5m)

• The thrust on the wall should reflect the size of rakers

• The centre line of raker and the wall should meet at floor level

For longer length walls, shoring spacing depends upon requirement

• The sole plate, should be of proper section, inclination, properly

embedded and accommodate all rakers
•
 FLYING SHORES:
• These are also called horizontal shores
• Used to give support to two adjacent parallel walls which have
become unsafe due to removal or collapse of intermediate
building
• Do not reach the ground

• Components are:
• Wall plates
• Needles
• Cleats Struts
• Horizontal shore
• Straining pieces
• Folding wedges
 Flying Shores
• The centre lines of flying shores, struts, and walls
should meet at floor levels, failing which the horizontal
shore is placed either midway or at the level of weaker
floor Inclination limits are 45◦- 60◦ Single shores should
be used only for less than 9m distance. For greater
distances double shores are used

• Flying shores should be spaced at 3m-4.5m centres

along two walls with horizontal braces Large factor of
safety is to be employed in determining the sections of
shoring Shores inserted while removing old building
should be kept in position till new unit is built
 Some Important Points
• The centre lines of flying shores, struts,
and walls should meet at floor levels,
failing which the horizontal shore is
placed either midway or at the level of
weaker floor Inclination limits are 45◦-
60◦
• Single shores should be used only for
less than 9m distance.
• For greater distances double shores are
used
• Flying shores should be spaced at 3m-
4.5m centres along two walls with
horizontal braces Large factor of safety is
to be employed in determining the
sections of shoring Shores inserted
while removing old building should be
kept in position till new unit is built
 DEAD SHORES:
• DEAD SHORES Also called vertical shores Consists of dead shores
(vertical members) supporting needles (horizontal members)
• PURPOSE: Rebuilding defective lower parts Deepening existing
foundation Make larger openings in wall at over levels

• The section of needles and dead shores should be adequate to

transfer loads Needles (min of 3) are spaced at 1m -2m Needles are
suitably braced In case of an opening in external wall, outer dead
shores are greater than inner ones Dead shores are supported on
sole plates, with folding wedges inserted between the two
• UNDERPINNING:
• UNDERPINNING Process of strengthening or placing a new
foundation under an already existing one is called underpinning
• PURPOSE: To strengthen a shallow foundation, when a deep
foundation is constructed adjacent to it To strengthen an existing
foundation To deepen existing foundation To construct a
basement in an existing building METHODS: Pit method Pile
method
•
PIT METHOD:
• PIT METHOD Entire length of foundation is divided into sections
of 1.2 -1.5 m. For each section a hole is made in the wall at plinth
level and needles are inserted, which are supported on either
side by cribs. The foundation pit is excavated upto the desired
level and a new one is laid Alternate sections are underpinned in
first round and so on If the underpinned to wall is weak raking
shores can be provided In case of exterior strong column or
extension in only one direction, cantilever needles may be used in
place of central ones
• SOME IMPORTANT POINTS:
• SOME IMPORTANT POINTS Alternate sections are taken up
in the first round and the rest in next, one at a time If the
wall is long the work is started form the middle, and is
extended in both directions If the new foundation is
deeper, timbering of foundation trench is to be done
Needles beams are to be removed only after new
foundation(in concrete) gains strength Needle holes
should be closed in masonry using cement mortar

PILE METHOD:
• PILE METHOD Piles are driven at regular intervals along
both sides of the wall Bore hole or under-reamed piles are
used Piles are connected using concrete or steel needles,
penetrating through the wall Useful in clayey and water
logging soils
• SCAFFOLDING:
• SCAFFOLDING The temporary structures constructed
close to wall, to support the platform for the workmen
when the height of the wall exceeds 1.5m Used not
only for construction, painting, but also for repairs and
demolition Should be stable and strong enough to
support th workmen and construction material

COMPONENTS:
• STANDARDS: Vertical members supported on ground or
drums or embedded into the ground
• LEDGERS: Horizontal members parallel to wall
• BRACES: Diagonal members fixed on standards
PUTLOGS: Transverse members at right angles to wall
with end supported on ledgers and other on wall
• BRICK LAYERS SCAFFOLDING
• Mobile scaffolding
• COMPONENTS AND TYPES:
• COMPONENTS AND TYPES TYPES: Single or brick-layers scaffolding
Double or masons scaffolding Cantilever scaffolding Suspended
scaffolding Trestle scaffolding Steel scaffolding Patented
scaffolding TRANSOMS: Putlogs whose ends are supported on
ledgers BRIDLE: Used to bridge wall opening, supports one end on
putlog at opening BOARDING: Horizontal platform supported on
putlogs GUARD RAIL: Rail provided at working level TOE BOARD:
Boards placed parallel to ledgers, supported on putlogs, to give
protection at the level of working platform

BRICK LAYER’S SCAFFOLDING:

• BRICK LAYER’S SCAFFOLDING Constructed parallel to the wall at a
distance of 1.2m Standards are placed at 2 – 2.5 m intervals
Ledges connecting the standards are provided at intervals of 1.2-
1.5 m Putlogs, with one end on ledger and other on the hole in
the wall are provided at an interval of 1.2 – 1.5 m Commonly used
for brick laying
• Brick layer scaffolding
• MASON’S SCAFFOLDING:
• MASON’S SCAFFOLDING In stone masonry, where drilling of holes
for putlogs is difficult, a two row string scaffolding called mason’s
scaffolding is provided Each row forming a separate vertical frame
work, the first row is placed at 20-30 cm away from wall and the
rest at 1m from the first one Putlogs are put up and rakers and
cross breakers give strength Hence called an independent
scaffolding

CANTILEVER SCAFFOLDING:
• CANTILEVER SCAFFOLDING Also known as needle scaffolding Used
when, Ground is weak to support standards Construction of upper
part of wall is to be taken place Wall near the ground is required to
be kept free

SUSPENDED SCAFFOLDING:
• SUSPENDED SCAFFOLDING Light weight scaffolding used for repair
works like pointing, painting etc. Working platform is suspended
from roofs by ropes or chains The platform can be raised or lowered
to any desired level
 • Suspended scaffolding

• Cantilever scaffolding
Mason’s scaffolding
• TRESTLE SCAFFOLDING:
• TRESTLE SCAFFOLDING Used for repair works or
painting inside the room upto 5m. Working platform is
supported on movable contrivances like tripods,
ladders etc mounted on wheels
•
STEEL SCAFFOLDING:
• STEEL SCAFFOLDING Members are made of steel tubes
and steel fittings Can be erected and dismantled
rapidly Have greater strength, durability and high fire
resistance High initial cost, but also serve for a long
time
• Steel Scaffolding