Its is an artificial support provided below and around the precast or cast in situ concrete work. Form work is commonly made of

Steel

wood

Form work construction & casting is of prime importance in concrete industry. It share a significant amount of concrete cost. (20% to 25%).

When concrete has reached a certain required strength, the form is no longer needed & removed.The operation of removing the form work is known as stripping.

Qualities of form work

It should be according to IS 456-2000.

It should be practically water proof so that it should not absorb water from concrete.

It should be strong.

It can be cheaper & reusable

It should be according to the size of member.It should be with minimum shrinkage & swelling.

It should be stiff enough against it’s deflection, buckling under load.

Its contact surface should be uniform.

It should be light in weight

Types of form work

Form work are mainly of two types

Steel form work

Wooden form work

 Steel form work is made of

steel sheets

Angle Iron

Tee Iron

 Wooden form work consists of

Props

Planks battens

Ledgers

sheeting

Causes of failure

Overloading of any props when sufficient number or size of props not provided.

Failure of shuttering due to excessive vibrations of needle surface vibrators.

Failure due to improper supervision,inadequate design/ planning of shuttering, centering & concreting activity.

Failure due to dislocation of props or bracing due to careless movement of labours having access below the form work of slab or beam.

Failure due to insufficient cross bracing. Cross bracing improve the stiffness of props against buckling.

Form work detail for different structural members

In concrete construction form work is commonly provided for the following

Form work detail for different structural members.

Foundations

Wall

Column

Slabs & beams

Stairs

Form work for Foundations

 Wall foundations

It consists of

Plywood Sheeting

Struts

Formwork for Foundations

 Column Foundations

It consists of

Side Supports

Side Planks

Cleats

Form work for Wall

 It consists of

Timber sheeting

Vertical posts

Horizontal members

Rackers

Stakes

Wedges

 After completing one side of form work reinforcement is provided at the place then the second side form work is provided.

Form work for Column

 It consists of the following

Side & End Planks

Yoke

Nut & Bolts

Two end & two side planks are joined by the yokes and bolts.

what is form work in building construction
Column Form work

Form work for Slabs & beams

It consists of

Sole plates

Wedges

Props

Head tree

Planks

Batten

Ledgers

Beam form work rests on head tree

Slab form work rests on battens and joists

If prop height are more than 8’ provide horizontal braces.

what is form work in building construction
Form work for slab and Beam
 

Form work for Stairs

 It consists of

Vertical & inclined posts

Inclined members 

Wooden Planks or sheeting

Stringer

Riser Planks

what is form work in building construction
Form work for stair

what is form work in building construction
Form work for stair

Removal of form work

Time of form work removal mainly depends on the following factors

1. Type of Cement

1. Rapid hardening cements require lesser time as compared to OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

2. Ratio of concrete mix

1. Rich ratio concrete gain strength earlier as compared to weak ratio concrete.

3. Weather condition

1. Hydration process accelerates in hot weather conditions as compared to cold and humid weather conditions.

Stripping Time of Form work

1. Beam sides ,wall & Columns - 1& 2 days as decided by engineer in charge

2. Slab soffits ( props left under ) - 3 days

3. Beam soffits  ( Prop left under ) - 7 days

4. Removal of props to slabs:

a) Spanning up to 4.5 m - 7 days

b) Spanning over 4.5 m - 14 days

5. Removal of props to Beam and Arches:

a) Spanning up to 6 m - 14 days 

b) Spanning over 6 m - 21 days

Maintenance of form work

Due to continuous use wooden planks & steel plates surfaces become uneven and require maintenance.

For wooden form work use cardboard or plastic fiber board. Bolt hole places must also be repaired.

For steel form work plates must be leveled by mallet and loose corners must be welded.

Cost of form work

For normal works cost of form work is about 30%-40% of the concrete cost.

For special works cost of form work is about 50%-60% of the concrete cost.

 Form work cost is controlled by the following factors

Form work Material cost

Form work erecting cost

Form work removal cost

Form work jointing cost (Nails and Cables)

Labor charges

Advantages of steel form work

It can be used for a numbers of times.

It is non absorbent.

Smooth finish surface obtained.

No shrinkage of form work occurs.

Easy to use.

Its volume is less

Its strength is more.