Material based types of the Form-works/ Material used in different types of formworks
Articles > Material based types of the Form-works/ Material used in different types of formworksMaterial Used in Different types of Formworks:
Formwork is a method of installing a shuttering to form molds and casings, which give a desired shape and design to the concrete structure. Liquid concrete does not have the ability to sustain itself. It needs support for maintaining its structure until it hardens and gets strength.
- Traditional Timber Formwork:
Timber, plywood, and moisture resistant wooden material are used in this type of formwork. It is time-consuming but easy to avail and constructs. The wooden/timber/lumber panels and boards are installed to form a mold. The desired shaped mold is then filled with liquid concrete. The liquid mixture is, then left to harden. One advantage of this type of formwork is, it is very easy to be dismantled, without harming the concrete structure. Nails are stuck in order to join the panels and boards with one another. The timber panel or boards are very light and soft to stuck and unstuck the nail very easily. The timber material is available in pieces. Once the used timber pieces are dismantled, they can be reused for another formwork. Some of the major significances of the Timber formwork are as under.
- Timber being wood, can be cut according to the desired size and shape.
- Timber can be handled and managed very easily because of its being light in weight.
- As the timber material is resistant to cold and heat, it can give full protection to the concrete from conditions of severe cold and low temperatures. Very low temperatures can damage the concrete structure. In cold regions, timber formwork is used.
- Technically the timber formwork is easy to understand. An architect with an average skill can handle it.
- Dismantling this type of formwork is very easy without harming the concrete structure.
- Timber can be reused if handled safely after each use.
- Elastic or Flexible Formwork:
Instead of rigid modules of formwork, high strength flexible sheets of fabric are used to control the fluidity of the liquid concrete. In this type of formwork up to 40% material can be saved as well as stunning results are achieved by it. The side, bottom, and top surfaces of the structure can be prevented from flowing out. The flexible sheets are set and designed as per the shape of the mold.
The concrete material is then put into the mold. Some of the advantages of Elastic or Flexible Formworks are as under.
- It is aesthetically good looking.
- It results in the beautiful surface finishing of the concrete structure.
- As the sheets are permeable in nature, they allow the water to flow out.
- Allowing water to flow out results in a stronger structure.
- It is 100-300 times lighter than an ordinary formwork depending on the material used in them.
- It is comparatively, much durable, and reusable several times.
- Engineered Formwork System:
It is, comparatively, complex but very lucrative and modern type of formworks. The prefabricated modules, along-with steel and aluminum frames to cover the sides, bottoms, and top surfaces of the concrete structures. The modules are specially designed according to the desired mold and casing. Whatever shape we have to give the structure, modules in the same shape and design are easily available. The advantage of this type of formwork is, it is very clean and definite shaped formwork and easy to dismantle and the metallic frames can be reused several times. Another advantage of engineered formwork is the speed of construction.
- Reusable Plastic Formwork:
These are interlocking module systems, which are widely used in simple concrete structures. The panels are very robust and lightweight. The plastic reusable formworks are used for similar structure projects, low-cost, and mass housing schemes. To get an added layer of protection against destructive weather, galvanized roofs will help by eliminating the risk of corrosion and rust. These types of modular enclosures can have load-bearing roofs to maximize space by stacking on top of one another. They can either be mounted on an existing roof, or constructed without a floor and lifted onto existing enclosures using a crane.
- Permanent Insulated Formwork:
This type of formwork is advantageous in terms of speed, strength, acoustic and thermal insulation. The insulating concrete forms are not removed after the concrete has hardened. The formwork is used to insulate the concrete structure (insulated concrete forms/ ICF). The formwork stays in place as a permanent exterior and interior substrate for the concrete structure like wall, floor, and roof, even after the concrete is hardened. The forms are generally made from high-density styrofoam or other lightweight materials. The formwork is either made of interlocking blocks or panels connected with metal or plastic ties.
Advantages of the Permanent Insulated Formwork are the following:
- An invincible strength can be achieved by means of this type of formwork.
- It saves the material cost while building walls and the foundation of a building.
- The curing time of the concrete can further be achieved by ICF.
- This type of formwork requires less setup time.
- It allows us wiring and plumbing.
- In the ICF system rebar can also be used.
- The splendor and natural look of the final structure can only be achieved through this type of formwork.
- It fully cures and protects the concrete structure.
- Stay in Place Structural Formwork System:
These are usually used in the construction of piers and columns. These are available in the shape of hollow tubes and installed on the site, out of prefabricated fiber-reinforced plastic form. The formwork, like permanent insulating formwork, stays in place after the concrete has cured and hardened. It acts as shear and axial reinforcement as a safeguard to the concrete against the freeze-thaw, corrosion, and other environmental effects.
Read also:
- Wood Shuttering for Concrete
- Pros and Cons of Different Wood Shuttering Materials including Timber and Plywood
- Classification of rivers based on topography and flood hydrographs
- Scaffolding Types in Construction
- Grouting: Things a Civil Engineering must know about grouting
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