Formwork is a temporary structure that acts as a mold for concrete. Panels, prefabricated molds, and falsework are used. Panels can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, or plywood. Falsework includes rods, pins, couplers, or boards. Plywood is cheap but can warp, steel is durable but heavy and expensive, plastic is reusable, and aluminum can become a fixed element. Falsework secures panels in place and can be adjustable.
The formwork process involves creating temporary structures that will act as molds for the concrete as it sets. Formwork material can include panels, prefabricated molds and various fasteners and support devices known as falsework. The key formwork material is panel, which can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, or even some types of plywood that have a protective coating that prevents moisture damage. Panels are what give concrete its shape as it sets, and there are various types of panels. The fake can include rods, pins, couplers or even simple boards that act as supports.
Plywood panels are perhaps the most common because they are cheap, relatively light, and easy to store and transport. They can be subject to damage quite easily, especially warping, although plywood used as formwork material is usually treated to prevent such damage. A protective film or veneer is usually applied to the large surface area of the plywood to prevent concrete from adhering to it. When plywood cannot be used, steel panels can be substituted. These tend to be exceptionally durable and won’t sag under heavy loads, but the panels can be quite heavy and difficult to position. As a formwork material, steel is also generally more expensive.
Pre-made plastic molds are also available for some projects, and in some cases, the plastic formwork material can become a fixed item instead of a temporary mold. The strength of the plastic will generally depend on its thickness, and some thicker plastics are suitable for fairly large projects. Plastic molds can also be reusable because they are easy to clean, lift and store in most cases. Another type of formwork material that can become a fixed element is aluminum; corrugated aluminum is sometimes used for concrete projects, and once the concrete has cured, the aluminum can be left in place. Aluminum is generally resistant to corrosion, making it suitable for long-term exposure to moisture.
Fakes must be used to secure the panels in place. Metal bars, rebars, joints, wooden beams and clamps are often used to secure the panels in place and these components must be easy to use because they will usually be removed after the concrete has cured. Some types of falsework are even adjustable to meet different needs; steel supports, for example, can be equipped with a screw device that allows you to adjust the height of the support.
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