Formwork Engineering for Sustainable Concrete Construction

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive review of the engineering challenges of formwork in concrete construction. The paper investigates different formwork systems, their design based on form pressure, and the difficulties of form stripping. Alternative binders are gaining more and more interest by opening new opportunities for sustainable concrete materials and their impact on form pressure and concrete setting is also investigated in this paper. The discussion involves several engineering challenges such as sustainability, safety, and economy, while it also explores previous case studies, and discusses future trends in formwork design. The findings pinpoint that choosing an appropriate formwork system depends significantly on project-specific constraints and that the development of innovative materials and technologies presents significant benefits but also new challenges, including the need for training and regulation. Current trends in formwork design and use show promising possibilities for the integration of digital technologies and the development of sustainable and ‘smart’ formwork systems. Continued research within the field has the possibility to explore new formwork materials and technologies, which will contribute to the implementation of more effective and sustainable practices in concrete construction.

Design Method for Low-Carbon Fly Ash Concrete Considering Strength, Form Removal Time, and Carbonation Durability Life

“…The strength requirements for concrete formwork removal are derived from the construction specifications [8]. The main purpose of this provision is to specify a more reasonable construction plan.…”

“…When using fly ash concrete, it is necessary to consider the positive and negative effects of fly ash on concrete and to use it with caution [7]. Mineral admixtures such as fly ash have been found to prolong the setting time and to reduce the early concrete strength, which, in turn, increases the form pressure and delays the form removal time [8].…”

“…It is necessary to design concrete materials for simultaneous 7-day and 28-day strength tests [19,20]. In Reference [8], the requirements for form removal, which are typically 70% of the 28 days strength for the horizontal members and 5 MPa for the vertical members, are presented. Thirdly, carbonation durability is closely related to the curing age of concrete.…”

Research on Construction Technology of 30m Precast T-Beam Assembly Line in Smart Girder Fabrication Yard

“…Reinforcement and formwork construction, as crucial aspects of quality control in the prefabrication process [3][4][5], have attracted growing attention due to the importance of their precision, efficiency and convenience. Researchers [6][7][8] have conducted standardized design research on the reinforcement cage moulding frame and the formwork of prefabricated components, providing key precision control parameters and improving the accuracy of reinforcement and formwork construction. Wu [9] proposed a prefabricated T-beam with a self-propelled hydraulic formwork that allows flexible formwork installation and removal through walking wheels.…”

Automated Quality Inspection of Formwork Systems Using 3D Point Cloud Data

“…Therefore, the quality inspection of the formwork system is of great practical significance in concrete construction [5]. Recent studies have highlighted the need to integrate automated digital technologies and smart formwork systems to promote effective and sustainable practices in concrete construction [7].…”