Deparment of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name : GVVL Satyanarayana
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Civil Engineering
Institute : GPT Vijayawada
Year/Semester : IV Semester
Subject : Construction Practice
Sub. Code : C406
Topic : Scaffolding ,Formwork and Stairs
Duration : 50 min
Sub topic : Form work
Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs
Revised by : GVVL Satyanarayana

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 Objectives
Upon the completion of this topic you will be able to

• Know the objectives of formwork

• Know the requirements of formwork

• Know the material used for formwork

• Merits and Demerits of steel form work over timber form

work

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Recap

In the previous lesson, we discussed

Scaffolding, its purpose and its component parts

Types of scaffolding and tubular scaffolding

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Formwork

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 Definition of form work

• A temporary casing or mould supported by temporary

supports for placing fresh concrete till it hardens

• Form work is also termed as Centering or Shuttering

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 Objectives of form work

• It should support the concrete temporarily in required

shape till it hardens

• It should be Strong and rigid to satisfy dimensional

tolerances

• Strong enough to resist all types of loads coming on it

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 Objectives of form work

• Until the concrete gains sufficient strength to be self

supporting

• Stripping should be made easy and less complicated

• Material used for preparing form work should be as light

as possible and durable for repeated use.

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 Requirements of form work

• It should have enough strength

• Durability for repeated use

• Rigid enough to withstand the pressure of wet concrete

• Satisfy dimensional tolerances

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 Requirements of form work

• Smooth surface

• Water tight to prevent water or mortar leakages

• Low cost for erection , stripping , finishing of surfaces

and reuse

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 Requirements of form work

• Form work erection and stripping should be easy

• Easily available

• Moderate cost of material

• True and plane requiring least finishing

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 Principles of formwork

• The formwork should resist forces during concreting

and till deshuttering

• The form work should be properly braced

• The three basic principles of formwork are

1. Quality
2. Safety
3. Economy

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 Materials used for form work

• Steel
• Timber
• Plywood
• Aluminum
• Precast Concrete
• Fiber Glass
• Plastic

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Merits of steel form work over timber form
work

• More durable & have longer life as compared with timber

forms

• More no. of reuses. The no. of reuses can be assumed

to vary form 100 to 120.

• Can be installed & dismantled with greater ease & speed

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 Merits of steel form work over timber form
work
• The quality of exposed concrete surface obtained is good.

• No chances of absorbing water from concrete & hence

the chances of honeycombing are minimised.

• Steel forms are not liable to shrink (or) distort & hence
it is possible to achieve better workmanship.

• Degree of accuracy high compared to timber forms.

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 Demerits of steel form work

• The cost of steel forms is more & initial cost will be more
than timber forms.

• Steel forms are not economical if reuses are not there.

• skilled labour is required in making and erection of

steel forms.

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Form work

Fig.8 (a)
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Form work

Fig.8 (b)
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Fig.1 Formwork temporarily supports forms for concrete
floor and beams
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 Pre fabricated panels
are assembled as forms
for concrete walls

Fig.2 9C406.40 19
Fig.4 Pipes carry concrete from a pump to forms for a
building

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Fig.5 Conveyor transports concrete to column form
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 Summary
In this class we have learnt about

• What is formwork?

• Objectives of formwork

• Requirements of formwork

• Material used in formwork

• Merits and Demerits of steel form work over timber form

work

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 Quiz
1. Temporary structure erected to support the concrete in

required shape till it gets hardened.

a. Slab

b. Columns

c. Formwork

d. Reinforcement

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2. Formwork is not made up of

a) Timber

b) Steel

c) Plywood

d) Gold

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3 Following are the requirements of timber to be used for
formwork
a. It should be well seasoned Yes/No
Yes
b. It should be light in weight Yes/No
Yes
c. It should have knots Yes/No
No
d. It should have rough and un even surface Yes/No
No

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 Frequently asked Questions

1. State the necessity of formwork.

2. State the requirement of formwork.

3. What are the materials used for formwork?

4. What are the Merits and Demerits of steel form work

over timber form work?

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