GENERAL ASPECTS AND DESIGN

METHODOLOGY OF CONCRETE FORMWORK

FOR 1,60,000 m3 CAPACITY RESERVOIR
Project Title Umm Al-Hayman Wastewater Treatment Project

Consultant Gulf consultant

Client Kuwait Authority for Paternships Projects/Ministry of Public

Works
Objectives:
To specify the design methodology of wall concrete forms and its
components using steel sheet panels.

 Lateral pressure on wall forms.

 Additional assumptions.
 Samples.
 Formwork design.

Codes:
 ACI 347 – Recommended practice for concrete formwork,
 BS 5975 – Code of practice for falsework.
Lateral pressure on wall forms:
The pressure imposed by concrete on a wall form is a function of the following primary
factors:
• Density of the concrete (pcf),
• Temperature (T) of the concrete at the time of placing (in °F),
• Rate (R) of concrete placing (ft/hr),
• Height of concrete placement (ft).
• If R<7, P is the least of
9000𝑅
a) 150+ , or
𝑇
b) 150h, or
c) 2000psf.
• If 7<R<10, P is the least of
43400 2800𝑅
a) 150+ + , or
𝑇 𝑇
b) 150h, or
c) 2000psf.
• If R>10, then P=150h.
Additional assumptions:
• Concrete density is 150pcf,
• Concrete is vibrated at the time of placement and not more than 4’ below the top of
the concrete surface.
• Concrete slump does not exceed 4”,
• Concrete is made of Type I cement and contains no pozzolans or admixtures.
• Concrete temperature is in the range of 40 to 90°F.
Sample:
If R=4ft/hr and T=70°F,
P = 664psf and the depth of hydrostatic zone is given by
664
= 4.4ft
150
Formwork design:
The formwork design aims at designing a form that is strong enough to handle the
calculated loads safely and stiff enough to maintain its shape under full load. When
designing concrete formwork, the following design simplifications and assumptions are
made.
All loads are assumed to be uniformly distributed,
Beams that are supported over three or more spans are considered to be continuous,
The design values for simple spans can safely be used for beams that are supported over
two spans,
When determining size of main form members, the strength of nailed connections are
neglected.
In formwork design, the span L used for analysis is given by
𝑓𝑆
a) By bending stress criteria, L=10.95√
𝑤
𝐸𝐼
b) By deflection criteria, when limited to 1/8” span, L=3.84∜
𝑤
𝐸𝐼
when limited to 1/16” span, L=3.23∜
𝑤
𝐹𝑠 𝐼𝑏
c) By rolling shear L= x
0.6𝑤 𝑄
Assuming 4’x8’ steel sheet metal plate, its properties are given by

E = 29000 ksi,
I = 0.197 in4,
S = 0.412 in3,
Ib/Q = 6.762 in2,
f = 22 ksi,
L = 40.46”,(by bending stress ctriteria),
L = 34.63”, (by deflection criteria),
Hence provide 4’x8’x3mm steel sheet metal panel
The minimum of the above two spans are considered and the spacing of studs which
supports the sheets at joints is considered.
The struds and the wales are alternatively designed as per ACI 347 and checked for
bending stress, deflection and shear respectively.