Lateral Formwork Pressure for Self-Compacting Concrete—A Review of Prediction Models and Monitoring Technologies

The maximum amount of lateral formwork pressure exerted by self-compacting concrete is essential to design a technically correct, cost-effective, safe, and robust formwork. A common practice of designing formwork is primarily based on using the hydrostatic pressure. However, several studies have proven that the maximum pressure is lower, thus potentially enabling a reduction in the cost of formwork by, for example, optimizing the casting rate. This article reviews the current knowledge regarding formwork pressure, parameters affecting the maximum pressure, prediction models, monitoring technologies and test setups. The currently used pressure predicting models require further improvement to consider several pressures influencing parameters, including parameters related to fresh and mature material properties, mix design and casting methods. This study found that the maximum pressure is significantly affected by the concretes’ structural build-up at rest, which depends on concrete rheology, temperature, hydration rate and setting time. The review indicates a need for more in-depth studies.

Formwork Pressure of a Heavyweight Self-Compacting Concrete Mix

High-fluidity and self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixes were developed using special aggregates for radiation-shielding concrete. The special aggregates comprised heavyweight and hydrous aggregates (crushed magnetite, crushed serpentine, and their mixtures), which were selected to provide an enhanced attenuation of gamma and neutron radiation, respectively. For the mixed concrete design with a bulk density of up to 3570 kg/m3, two cement types were used: Portland cement CEM I and slag cement CEM III/A. The basic properties of the fresh self-compacting concrete were evaluated and the lateral formwork pressure exerted by the freshly mixed self-compacting concrete was measured and analyzed. An original test setup was developed for the determination of the lateral pressure on the square column formwork with pressure measurements carried out using six strain gauge pressure transducers, which was adequate for heavyweight concrete mixture testing. Self-compacting concrete mixtures containing a magnetite aggregate or blends of serpentine and magnetite aggregates with a slump flow of at least 550 mm were developed. The lateral pressure on the formwork was directly proportional to the density of the self-compacting heavyweight concrete mixes. The maximum values of the lateral pressure recorded in the test at a casting speed of 1.5 m/h did not exceed 27 kPa and 55% of hydrostatic pressure. Concrete mixtures with basalt, magnetite, and magnetite/serpentine blended aggregates were found to develop sufficient shear strength for proper stability during casting.