DIN Standard on
Formwork Pressures
Updated
Standard now addresses pressures exerted by self-consolidating concrete
B ecause overestimation can lead to unnecessary
construction cost and underestimation could result
in excessive bulging or even collapsed formwork,
accurate predictions of formwork pressures are
required. Over the past several years, researchers1,2
have been working to develop methods for predicting
pressures exerted by self-consolidating concrete (SCC).
While it has been shown that SCC can produce nearly
hydrostatic pressures immediately after placement, it
has also been shown that horizontal pressures can
dissipate rapidly as the internal structure of the fresh
concrete develops.
Based largely on research conducted at Technische
Universitt Darmstadt with the support of other
German research institutes,3,4 the German standard
for the calculation of pressure on vertical formwork,
DIN 18218,5 was recently updated to include methods
appropriate for SCC.
Developing a Standard
For the development of the SCC provisions in DIN
18218, Proske and Graubner6 examined the effects of
mixture proportions and boundary conditions such as
vibration, formwork deformation, placement rate,
and transportation time. Using three different
cements, Class F fly ash, and limestone, they analyzed
20 different mixtures in more than 100 simulations
of concrete placements.
Their tests showed that the major factors affecting
the maximum formwork pressure are setting time
(corresponding to initial setting time by ASTM C403/
C403M)7,8 and placement rate. Specifically, the maximum
pressure was found to increase with an increasing
water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm), due to the
correlation between w/cm and setting time. The
pressure was also significantly influenced by the type of
high-range water-reducing admixture, the type and
volume of fly ash, and the cement type. If vibration was
applied, the maximum pressure was found to increase
by 70% compared to the static value. The stiffness and
the deformation of the formwork were found to have
minor influences on the maximum pressure.
DIN 18218: 2010-01
Per the 2010 version of DIN 18218, the maximum
characteristic (nominal) pressure hk,max in kPa for SCC
is calculated as
hk,max = (1.0 m + 0.26 v tE) C 30 kPa (1)
where hk,max represents the 95th percentile value of the
maximum pressure exerted by the fresh concrete,
C is the unit weight of fresh concrete = 25 kN/m3 (159 lb/ft3),
tE is the setting time of the concrete (using the Vicat
needle test per Reference 9), and v is the mean rate of
concrete placement. Equation (1) is valid for tE from 5 to
Concrete international / June 2010 27
20 hours. The minimum pressure limit of 30 kPa (600 lb/ft2) Concrete of consistency Class F6, which has a spread
helps to protect formwork against the effects of accidental between 630 and 700 mm (24.7 and 27.5 in.) when
shock or vibration.
As shown in Fig. 1, the concrete pressure increases
hydrostatically from the concrete surface to height hs, concrete
where hk,max = hs C. For H greater than hE = v tE, the
pressure exerted by the concrete decreases to zero.
Figure 1 also shows the design value for the pressure
hd,max obtained by applying a partial safety factor F (up
to 1.5) to hk,max.
Figure 2 shows the maximum lateral pressure as
a function of placement rate for concretes of
various consistency classes, all having tE = 10 hours.
Consistency classes are based on spread values deter-
mined per DIN 12350-5.10 In this test, a 200 mm (7.8 in.)
tall conical mold is used to form the test specimen on an
apparatus consisting of a base plate and an upper board.
The base and board are connected by hinges on one side
and restricted to 40 mm (1.6 in.) vertical movement on
the other side. After the mold is removed, the slumped Fig. 1: Lateral pressure distribution of SCC per DIN 18218:
concrete is subjected to 15 drops of the hinged board. 2010-01 (based on Reference 4)

The setting-bag test the bucket and placed on an insulated surface. The user
DIN 182185 allows the setting-bag test to be used to performs consistency tests by pressing a thumb into the
determine setting times for SCC, without the need for vertical surface of the sample (Fig. A). The depth of the
special equipment. The procedure is based on consistency resulting impression indicates the setting condition.
classes corresponding to the Atterberg limits for soils. Setting time tE is defined as 1.25 times the time from the
To conduct the test, about 8 L (0.2 ft3) of freshly mixed first addition of water during concrete production to the
concrete is placed in a polyethylene bag. The bag is time at which the concrete is dented less than 1 mm
then closed and placed in a bucket. Every 30 minutes (about 1/32 in.).
after filling, the consistency is evaluated. The setting
condition is characterized per Table A. Before the
concrete reaches the plastic consistency, the sample is
tested by manual scanning and penetration of the upper
layer of concrete. After the concrete reaches the plastic
(malleable) to stiff state, the sample is removed from

Table A:
Description of the setting condition of concrete using the
setting-bag procedure
Consistency Description
Fluid Spreading out in the bag
Soft No spreading, but swells when pressed
Plastic Malleable
Stiff Dented a maximum of 30 mm
Semisolid Dented a maximum of 10 mm
Set Dented less than 1.0 mm Fig. A: Setting bag test identification of setting. Final set has
been reached when the thumb can be pressed (with a force of
Note: The consistency classes correspond to the Atterberg limits about 50 N [10 lb]) into the bag less than 1 mm (about 1/32 in.)
used to characterize fine grained soils (1 mm = 0.039 in.) (after Reference 8)

28 June 2010 / Concrete international


Fig. 2: Maximum lateral pressure for concretes with final setting
time of 10 hours, per DIN 18218: 2010-01. Concrete of consistency
Class F6 must be vibrated during construction, so it produces a
higher lateral pressure than SCC (after Reference 4)
tested per DIN 12350-5, has a higher lateral pressure than
SCC because Class F6 concrete must be vibrated during
placement.
DIN 18218 provides estimated minimum setting times
to be used for design, but the actual setting time for the
concrete should be measured at least once for verification.
For concretes with rapid strength development according
to DIN EN 206-111 and concrete temperatures above 15C
(59F) or medium strength development and concrete
temperatures above 20C (68F), tE = 5 hours can be
anticipated. For mixtures with rapid strength development
and concrete temperatures above 10C (50F), medium
strength development and concrete temperatures
above 15C (59F), or slow strength development and
concrete temperatures above 20C (68F), tE = 7 hours
can be anticipated. When discrepancies are observed
between the indicated reference temperatures and the
concrete temperature during setting, the formwork
pressure must be adjusted accordingly.
If the concrete strength class is below C20/25, the
mixture has a very slow strength development, the
concrete temperatures are below the previously indicated
limits, or if retarding admixtures are used, estimating tE is
inadequate. For these cases, tE must be determined using
the Vicat needle test9 or the setting-bag test8 (refer to
the sidebar).
ONGoing work
ACI Committee 347, Formwork for Concrete,
and the RILEM Technical Committee on Form Pressure
Generated by Fresh Concrete are currently evaluating
the DIN 18218 requirements and other methods for
predicting pressures generated by fresh concrete.
The RILEM committee plans to publish a report on
formwork pressure in 2012.
References
1. Proske, T., Frischbetondruck bei Verwendung von Selbstver-
dichtendem BetonEin Wirklichkeitsnahes Modell zu Bestimmung
der Einwirkungen auf Schalung und Rstung (Formwork Pressure
Asserted by Self-Compacting ConcreteAn Appropriate Approach
to Modeling the Load), PhD thesis, Technische Universitt
Darmstadt, Institute of Concrete and Masonry Structures and
Building Materials, 2007, 310 pp.
2. Billberg, P., Form Pressure Generated by Self-Compacting
ConcreteInfluence of Thixotropy and Structural Behaviour at
Rest, PhD thesis, School of Architecture and the Built Environment,
Division of Concrete Structures, Royal Institute of Technology,
Stockholm, Sweden, 2006, 91 pp.
3. Brameshuber, W.; Beitzel, H.; Beitzel, M.; Bohnemann, C.; et al.,
Schalungsbelastung durch Hochleistungsbetone mit fliefhiger
Konsistenz, Materialuntersuchungen und Groversuche (Formwork
Pressure Exerted by Highly Workable ConcretesMaterial Investigations
and Large-Scale Tests), Bauingenieur, Springer VDI Verlag, Apr.
2009, pp. 150-162.
4. Graubner, C.-A.; Boska, E.; Motzko, C.; and Proske, T.,
Schalungsbelastung durch Hochleistungsbetone mit Fliefhiger
Konsistenz, Berechnungsmodell und Baupraktische Umsetzung
(Pressure on Vertical Formwork Exerted by Highly Workable
ConcretesDesign Approach and Practical Application), Bauing-
enieur, Springer VDI Verlag, Apr. 2009, pp. 163-171.
5. Construction Standards Committee (NABau), Frischbeton-
druck auf Lotrechte Schalungen (Pressure of Fresh Concrete on
Vertical Formwork) (DIN 18218: 2010-01), Deutsches Institut fr
Normung, Berlin, Jan. 2010, 19 pp.
6. Proske, T., and Graubner, C.-A., Formwork Pressure Using
Self-Compacting Concrete, Technische Universitt Darmstadt,
Institut fr Massivbau, 2008, 25 pp., www.ifm.tu-darmstadt.de/
cag/02_elements/02_pdf/99_mitarbeiter/proske/Formworkpres-
sureWEB2008.pdf.
7. ASTM C403/C403M-08, Standard Test Method for Time of
Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance, ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2008, 7 pp.
8. Graubner, C.-A.; Kaiser, H.-U.; and Proske, T., Erstarrungsver-
halten von SVBAnalyse von Pruefverfahren (Setting of SCC
Evaluation of Test Methods), Annual Journal on Concrete and
Concrete Structures, Darmstadt University, 2006, 37 pp.
9. Concrete Admixtures Committee (NABau), DIN EN 480-2:2006-11:
Admixtures for Concrete, Mortar, and GroutTest MethodsPart 2:
Determination of Setting Time, Berlin, Germany, 2006, 11 pp.
10. Test Methods for Concrete Committee (NABau), DIN EN
12350-5: 2009-8: Testing Fresh ConcretePart 5: Flow Table Test,
2009, 11 pp.
11. Concrete Technology Committee (NABau), DIN EN 206-1:2001-07:
BetonTeil 1: Festlegung, Eigenschaften, Herstellung und Konformitt
(ConcretePart 1: Specification, Performance, Production and
Conformity), 2007, 77 pp.
Thanks to Tilo Proske, TU Darmstadt, for reviewing this article.
Concrete international / June 2010 29