Types of Formwork (Shuttering)

1. Timber Formwork
Timber for formwork should satisfy the following requirement:

It should be:

1. Well-seasoned
2. Light in weight
3. Easily workable with nails without splitting
4. Free from loose knots
Timber used for shuttering for exposed concrete work should have smooth and even
surface on all faces which come in contact with concrete.

Table 1: Normal sizes of members for timber formwork

Sheeting for slabs, beam, column side, and beam bottom 25 mm to 40 mm thick

Joints, ledges 50 x 70 mm to 50 x 150 mm

Posts 75 x 100mm to 100 x 100 mm

Comparison between Steel and Timber Formwork

1. Steel forms are stronger, durable, and have a longer life than timber formwork and their
reuses are more in number.
2. Steel forms can be installed and dismantled with greater ease and speed.
3. The quality of exposed concrete surface by using steel forms is good and such surfaces
need no further treatment.
4. Steel formwork does not absorb moisture from concrete.
5. Steel formwork does not shrink or warp.

Construction of Concrete Formwork
This normally involves the following operations:

1. Propping and centering

2. Shuttering
3. Provision of camber
4. Cleaning and surface treatment

Order and Method of Formwork Removal

The sequence of orders and method of removal of formwork are as follows:

1. Shuttering forming the vertical faces of walls, beams, and column sides should be
removed first as they bear no load but only retain the concrete.
2. Shuttering forming soffit of slabs should be removed next.
3. Shuttering forming soffit of beams, girders, or other heavily loaded shuttering should be
removed in the end.
Rapid hardening cement, warm weather and light loading conditions allow early
removal of formwork.
The formwork should under no circumstances be allowed to be removed until all the
concrete reaches a strength of at least twice the stresses to which the concrete may be
subjected at the time of removal of formwork.

All formworks should be eased gradually and carefully in order to prevent the load
from being suddenly transferred to concrete.

Figure 1 to 6 shows formwork for different types of members in civil engineering

construction.

Figure 1(a): Details of Timber Formwork for RCC Beam and Slab Floor
 Figure 1(b): Details at
Section (A) Shown in Above Figure

Figure 2(a): Elevation

 Figure 2(b):
Details of Timber Formwork for Circular RCC Column

Figure 3(a): 150 3D

View

Figure 3(b): Details of Timber

Formwork for Square or Rectangular RCC Column
 Figure 4: Sectional Plan Showing Details of
Timber Formwork for an Octagonal Column

Figure 5: Details of Formwork for

Stair
 Figure 6:
Timber Formwork for RCC Wall

Table 2: Period of Removal of Formwork

S. No. Description of structural member Time Period

1 Walls, columns and vertical sides of beams 1 to 2 days

2 Slabs (props left under) 3 days

3 Beam soffits (props left under) 7 days

4 Removal of props to slabs

(a) For slabs spanning upto 4.5 m 7 days

(b) For slabs spanning over 4.5 m 14 days

5 Removal of props to beams and arches

(a) Spanning upto 6 m 14 days

(b) spanning over 6 m 21 days

Timber formwork
The formwork constructed with the help of timber is known as timber
formwork. The first way of formwork was timber formwork. But now a days
it has been replaced by metal formwork.

Wooden formwork

Selection of timber formwork

It should be light weight

It should be well seasoned otherwise it may bent the shape of structure.

It should be free from any types defect of timber like knots, and decayed

portion.

It should be thin as far as possible.

Advantages of timber formwork

It is lighter than metal.

It can be cut and make into desired shape easily.

It can be fixed at any shape with the help of nails.

It is available everywhere.

It can be reused for firewood if it is unworkable.

Disadvantages of Timber formwork

Timber doesn’t found in totally plane and smooth surface.

Timber are mostly have more weight so it is hard to carry.

Plywood forms (in combination with timber)

Plywood is an artificially manufactured wooden material available in different thickness
and size used in formwork for concrete member. It is strong enough, durable and light
weight. Plywood is one of the mostly used materials for sheathing, decking and form
linings in shuttering.
Advantages of using timber forms:
 Timber Shuttering is easy to construct for any shape, size and height.
 It is economical for Small projects.
 It can easily be made into any shape or size.
 It can be constructed using locally available timber.
 It is light weight as compared to steel or aluminum Shuttering.