First the lower portion of the shell which is often called at lintel is casted by conventional three sided form

work. This portion of the shell is almost straight and there is no curvature in meridional direction. After the concrete at linter level is set the scaffolding system is anchored in the concrete which has already been set. The pans shutters and make up shutters are supported by soldiers from behind and wedged to take up the load from the concrete. The variation in the thickness of wall can be done by adjusting the screw provided at the lower end of the soldiers. Reinforcement is tied to the position prior to the fixing of the shutters. After the concrete has been set in the first lift the whole form work is to be moved up and anchored again to the set concrete for casting at the upper height. This procedure is mentioned below and as shown in the figure.

When the casting reaches at the throat height, only main shutters and pan shutters will be required and there will not be any make up shutters as the width and numbers of main shutters are so chosen that it almost encovers whole perimeter at this level. The small gap between main shutters will be bridged by pan shutters. The profile of the cooling tower shell is curved in meridional and circumferential direction. This curvature is obtained by selecting the shutters with such small height that it almost forms the small part of the curvature.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE Almost all tall slender thin walled structures are constructed by two methods viz Slip forms Climbing forms

In slip form technique the concreting is continous once it starts. The formwork is continuously lifted at slow rate by hydraulic jacks. As the rate of lifting is very slow the concrete below should set rapidly to take up the load of new concrete which is being casted above it. This requires the concrete which sets faster. The main advantage of this type of construction is that it avoids construction joints and enables full advantage to be taken of the monolithic character of concrete.

Cross section through wall

Side view of slip form Climbing form is similar to slip form, the only difference is that the lifting of the form is not continuous. Forms are lifted after the concrete below has set completely. There will be a construction joint between every successful lifts. This technique is explained in brief below:

MODIFICATION OF CLIMBING FORMWORK TO ALLOW STIFFENING RINGS The advantages gained through the use of rings have to be compared with associated constructional difficulties. The horizontal rings should not obstruct the very advantageous use of climbing formwork. The rings of any number and and size can be built easily if formwork is modified slightly. The idea is to connect the rings with the shell not continually, but with interruptions. By hanging a platform at the end of the fromwork the partial connection between a ring and the shell wall can be eshtablished after the climbing process is completed at that part. The problem is wheather the rings are still fully effective if they are only partially connected to the shell. The results of buckling tests on models are positive.

Modification of climbing formwork to allow stiffening rings

Another three possibilities of realizing rings with an economical construction method is as shown below.