Formworkpress

Professional Formwork News II/2009

Concrete Pressure:
New Industry Standard

New Standards for Fresh Concrete Pressure

Industry Standard in Force
Self-compacting and flowable concrete . . . . . 2

Normative Values
Pressure influence factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Setting Behaviour
Concrete pressure curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

On-Site Practice
Calculation method proven on-site . . . . . . . . . 8

Esay-to-Use Calculation Tools

Determining concrete pressure accurately . . 10

Literature
Sources of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Formworkpress
II/2009
Fresh Concrete Pressure
New German standard covers flowable and
self-compacting (SCC) concrete mixtures
Architecture is rediscovering fair-
faced concrete. Representative
buildings all over the world testify
to this trend.
This is not limited to architecture the
growing demand for superior finish
has reached industrial and engineering
applications. Not only the concrete
finish, but the complexity of concrete
structures has changed the require-
ments of pouring concrete: flowable
and self-compacting concrete types
enable delicate geometries with a high
reinforcement ratio. These structures
go beyond the capabilities of standard
concrete.
The challenge is how to handle
the increased pressure that these
types of concrete exert on form-
work. Standards applied hitherto
did not take the behavior of these
concrete mixtures into account.
The new German standard
2 FormworkPress II/2009
DIN 18218, revised and extended
through the efforts of MEVA form-
work systems, does so.
Various scientific publications [1] [4]
deal with the pressure behaviour of
flowable and self-compacting concrete.
The research, in part laboratory tests,
assumed pour rates that are not com-
patible with on-site practice. The pre-
dominant recommendation from these
studies is to assume full hydrostatic
pressure on the formwork employed.
This assumption considered a range of
factors:
n Concrete mixture
n Concrete rheology
n Rate of placing
n Concrete and outside temperature
n Setting behavior
n Compacting technique
 CONCRETE CONSISTENCY
Consistency class according to
DIN 18218 [6] and DIN 1045 [7]
K1 (stiff)
Consistency according to
Slump in inches [mm] Slump in inches [mm]
DIN 1045 2 [8] and
according to DIN 1045 [7] according to DIN 1045-2 [8]
DIN EN 206-1 [9]
F1 < 13.4 [340]

K2 (plastic) < 15.7 [400] F2 13.8 16.1 [350 410]

K3 (soft) 16.1 19.7 [410 500] F3 12.6 18.9 [320 480]

F4
Flowable concretea 19.7 23.6 [500 600] a 19.3 21.6[490 550]

F5 22.0 24.4 [560 620]

-b F6 > 24.8 [630]

SCC > 27.6 [700] c

a
Flowable concrete is defined according to German DAfStb guidelines [10].
b
Consistency class F5, F6 and SCC not covered by DIN 18218 [6].
c
Slump a 27.6 [700 mm] refer to DAfStb-SCC guidelines[11])

This approach leads to formwork A new method of calculating

which is overdimensioned. Thus
research correlated laboratory findings
with theory and real-life, on-site tests.
This is a more realistic basis for cor-
rectly calculating concrete pressure for
flowable and self-compacting concrete
types and, in consequence, to correctly
and safely predicting the pressure
capacity required of the formwork.
Theory of concrete pressure
Previously, the estimation of concrete
pressure on vertical formwork [6] was
based on concrete consisting of three
components, as was the case in the
1970s, whose behavior was outlined
in the German standard DIN 1045 and
DIN 1048. Concrete mixtures in use
throughout Europe not only register
larger slump, but also behave
differently during setting.
This makes it more difficult if not
impossible to predict concrete
pressure.
concrete pressure, developed by
MEVA, has officially been adopted
into the new German standard
(DIN 18218) which is now in force.
Even beyond the standards realm
of influence the method has pro-
ved successful on sites all over the
world, especially for challenging
pours with self-compacting or
flowable concrete mixtures.
Safety when pouring concrete: these MEVA pres-
sure gauges are available for rent.
POSITIONS
Standards committee work
MEVA is a member of the German
standards committee and heads
the formwork sub-committee
dealing with concrete pressure.
MEVAs new pressure
calculation method
MEVAs so-called Proske/Schuon
method of calculating concrete
pressure relies on the silo pressure
theory in combination with the
concretes setting behaviour.
On-site tests and monitoring
The new method of calculating
concrete pressure was tested
extensively on-site. Every pour was
measured and monitored. The
scientific approach proved to be
correct and the method verified in
daily on-site practice.

FormworkPress II/2009 3
Formworkpress
II/2009

2923 18.37
[140] Conditions [5.6]
Fresh concrete pressure pb in psf [KN/m]

- Bulk density of frsh concrete 160 pcf [25 KN/m]

15.75

Hydrostatic pressure height hS in ft [m]

2506 - End of setting 5 h
[120] [4.8]
- Tight formwork Flowable concrete v b+ 17
2088 - Compacting with internal vibrator 13.12
[100] - Fresh concrete temperature 59F [15C] [4.0]
K3: 14 vb + 18
1670 10.50
[80] [3.2]
K2: 10 vb + 19
1253 7.87
[60] [2.4]
K1: 5 vb + 21
835 5.25
[40] [1.6]

418 2.62
[20] [0.8]
Walls Columns
0 0,0
0 3.3 [1] 6.6 [2] 9.8 [3] 13.1 [4] 16.4 [5] 19.7 [6] 23.0 [7]

Rate of placing vb in ft/h [m/h]

Standard Values & Pressure Factors

Standard values for fresh concrete Pressure factors
pressure The load influence ordinate on vertical
Previously, the normative equation for formwork according to the German
calculation for concrete pressure [6] standard DIN 18218 [6] is shown right.
hs

hs

was: According to this normative calcula-

tion, the factor 5 in the value 5vb
b.max= b b 0 tE +hr b (1 0) implies that the fresh concrete will
reach final setting after at most 5
h 5 vb

This equation generates the con- hours. Correction factors consider the
H = 5 vb

crete pressure diagram shown above adding of retarders and their influence
h = 5 vb

(dependent on the respective concrete on the end of setting.

consistency) taking into account the Thus, the different amounts of fly ash
conditions as defined. and their impact on the setting beha-
vior of the fresh concrete cannot be
CONCRETE PRESSURE documented. This approach shows the
influence of fresh concrete pressure
b.max Highest ordinate of fresh at different pour heights (H) as load
concrete pressure psf [kN/m] effect on the formwork.
b Rate of placing ft/h [m/h]
b Bulk density of fresh concrete
pcf [kN/m]
0 Lateral pressure coefficient,
depending on fresh concrete
consistency (here, t=0)
pb pb
tE Time until final setting (h)
hr Penetration depth of vibrator
A
4 FormworkPress II/2009
Scientific basis This load effect approach [6] shows the influence
of fresh concrete pressure at different pour
After the gap to calculate the fresh
heights (H) as load effect on the formwork. In
concrete pressure became more and

hs
case A, a part of the load does not apply; for
more obvious - mainly through the continuous pouring it occurs as a moving load in
case B.
introduction of the new DIN EN 206-1/
DIN 1045-2 [8] - in 2005 the initiative
group formwork pressure was formed

h = 5 vb
upon the initiative of Prof. Dr. Ing. C.
A. Graubner, and the DAfStb progress
report fresh concrete pressure of
flowable concretes was established.
hs

hs

H > 5 vb

On 5th July, 2006 the DIN Stan-

dards Committee NA 005-07-11 AA
Construction decided to extend the
hs
h 5 vb

so far valid DIN 18218 [6] on the basis

H = 5 vb
h = 5 vb

of this progress report.

After the development of easy-to-
h = 5 vb

compact concrete and self-compacting

concrete the previous model to calcu-
late fresh concrete pressure on vertical
formwork had to be revised.
Key point for the extension is the
pressure distribution according to DIN
18218 [6] with changing variables,
which consider the concrete- and
pb
recipe-specific setting behavior.
pb pb

A B

FormworkPress II/2009 5
Formworkpress
II/2009

Fresh concrete pressure diagram

for self-compacting concrete
(Index EB setting begin,

hEB
EE setting end) according
to Schuon. Already in DIN
=0 18218 [6] was the transition
from increasing pressure
to steady silo-pressure

hEE
considered, which can
pb = h EB be verified according to
the elasticity theory.
Height

> 0, Increase
Approximation

equivalent to
=

hydration
=

Hydrostatic
pressure p b hydr
,

Setting Behaviour & Pressure Curve

The lightly coloured levels of concrete have begun
their setting process, with the result that pressure
no longer occurs as lateral strain. The pressure
switches to silo pressure. Continuous setting
process during the concrete pour until setting is
concluded. The silo pressure curve stays constant
as the pour goes on and the concrete setting
process continues.
SILO PRESSURE
h Silo pressure rate, horizontal
v Silo pressure rate, vertical
0 Lateral pressure coefficient
m Poissons ratio
Fresh concrete pressure diagrams for
self-compacting concrete according to
Schuons setting process
Already in DIN 18218 [6] was the
transition from increasing pressure to
steady silo-pressure considered, which
can be verified according to the elasti-
city theory:
h = 1/(m-1)v
According to Janssen [12], this means
h = 0 v. Depending on the angle of
internal friction this leads to
0 = 1 - sin (see also [13]).
According to the DIN 1045 [7], concrete
with plastic consistency has a Poissons
ratio m = 3.5. This leads to a lateral
pressure coefficient of 0 = 0.4 and an
internal friction angle = 37.
Therefore, the fresh concrete pressure
in the concrete layer which starts to
set can be determined as 40 % of the
vertical load (fresh concrete). During
setting, water is drawn from the fresh
concrete.
This leads to a reduction of total
volume and to shrinkage in all
three dimensions, which results in
no pressure and relief of the form-
work.

6 FormworkPress II/2009
Developing of fresh concrete
pressure
When concrete is poured, the liquid
concrete rises creating fresh concrete
pressure. As the pour continues, hydra-
tion and with it, setting of the con-
crete begins.

Practical application
Calculating concrete pressure accor-
ding to the German standard DIN
18218 combines silo pressure with the
concretes setting begin. The fresh
concrete pressure is characterized by
three possible limits of the horizontal
pressure h [5]:
According to Jansen [12]
h = 0 v

n Setting of fresh concrete

h, max1 = c b tE tot,E

n Maximum silo effect value

h, max2 = bc +hvc C+2vb
2

n Maximum hydrostatic value

h, max3 = ch Setting process of fresh concrete according to elasticity theory (left) and according to Jky (right).

The smallest value in psf [kN/m] Fresh concrete pressure behavior Both, the current and future calcula-
applies: according to Proske/Schuon - deve- tion standard for fresh concrete pres-
loping up to the maximum fresh sure do not consider the reduction of
h, max1 concrete pressure the pressure between the initial setting
h, max = min h, max2 The time depending fresh concrete tA and the end of setting tE. The fresh
h, max3 pressure behavior can be divided in concrete pressure is assumed as being
three phases: constant up to the height hE. Thus, this
Frischbetondruck
Concrete pressure h
calculation approach is on the safe side
h,max
n hydrostatic pressure increase up to when the formwork is designed accor-
height hs dingly.
n constant pressure up to height hA at The DIN introduces total lateral pres-
hs = h,max / b the beginning of setting tA and sure coefficients totE for each concrete
n pressure decrease as concrete sets consistency class in order to consider
between hA and hE at setting end tE. the end of setting.

Consistency classes with respective lateral (side) pressure coefficients totE and wall friction values [5]

hA = v t A
LATERAL PRESSURE COEFFICIENT
hE = v t E F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 SCC SCC compacted
0.45 0.35
Height
Hhe hH totE 0.15 0.2 0.22 0.25 0.35
0.5 0.42
0.6
Hydrostatic pressure development to
the end of setting
0.19 0.15 0.11 0.07

FormworkPress II/2009 7
Formworkpress
II/2009

Calculation Method in On-Site Test

In order to verify the calculation The corresponding results of both
approach, the tie-forces at various examples verified the theoretical
horizontal and vertical positions assumption and were proved in more
have been recorded at a job site than 15 almost identical pours. The
that included several very high concrete pressure showed the
pours. To monitor the exact tie predicted behavior. These tables have
forces pressure gauges attached to been integrated into the new stan-
the ties have been used. dard.

39.4
EXAMPLE 1 [12]
Pouring height hS in ft [m]

32.8
Consistency F5: [10]
totE = 0.35
26.3
H = 36.1 [11.00 m] [8]
vb = 3.28 ft/h [1.0 m/h] 19.7
tE = 9h [6]
13.1
n h, max1 = c b tE tot,E [4]

160 pcf*3.28 ft/h*9h*0.35 = 1,653 psf 6.6

[2]
25 kN/m*1m/h*9h*0.35 = 79 kN/m
0
n h, max2 = c H 0 209 418 626 835 1044 1253 1462 1670
[10] [20] [30] [40] [50] [60] [70] [80]
160 pcf*36.1 = 5,776 psf
Fresh concrete pressure in psf [KN/m]
25 kN/m*11m = 275 kN/m

The smaller value of 1,653 psf

[79 kN/m] applies, and matches
the site observations which are
shown on the chart at right.

8 FormworkPress II/2009
Pouring SCC concrete the top edge, so that the SCC does not this pouring technique is only recom-
This calculation is only valid for pou- start to set. mended for pumping heights of 9.84
ring from the top, so the silo pressure For this load case not only the full [3.0m] to 11.5 [3.5m]. At high walls
effect can be exploited. The situation hydrostatic pressure but also the the filling nozzles have to be arranged
is different when pouring from below. resulting friction forces have to be at different heights.
The self compacting concrete (SCC) in accumulated. In the known range the
this case has to be pumped in around emerging fresh concrete pressure is
60 minutes using a filling nozzle up to 1.2 times the hydrostatic pressure, so

Fresh concrete pressure as measured inside the wall at 0.5 m height (Z1, Z3, Z5) and 1.75 m height (Z2, Z4, Z6) (example 2)

1880
Fresh concrete pressure in psf [KN/m]

[90] EXAMPLE 2
1670
[80]
Consistency F5:
1462
[70] totE = 0.35
1253 H = 22.97 [7.00.m]
[60]
1044 vb = 3.28 ft/h [1.0 m/h]
[50] tE = 10 h
835
[40]
626 n h, max1 = c b tE tot,E
[30]
418
160 pcf*3.28ft/h*10h*0.35 = 1,837 psf
[20] 25 kN/m*1m/h*10h*0.35 = 87.5 kN/m
209
[10] n h, max2 = c H
0
0 3.3 [1] 6.6 [2] 9.8 [3] 13.1 [4] 16.4 [5] 19.7 [6] 23.0 [7] 160 pcf*22.97 = 3,675 psf
25 kN/m * 7m = 175 kN/m
Pouring height hS in ft [m]
Again, the smaller value of 1,837
psf [87.5 kN/m] applies, as proved
by on-site measurements.

FormworkPress II/2009 9
Formworkpress
II/2009

DIN 18218 CONCRETE PRESSURE STANDARD

Maximum horizontal fresh concrete pressure
Consistency class

Standard F1
in psf [kN/m]

(5 vb+21) [1+0.03 (tE5)] > 522 [25]

Load influence ordinate

F2 (10 vb+19) [1+0.053 (tE5)] > 522 [25]
The DIN 18218 [6] limited the height of
the load influence ordinate to (5*vb).
F3 (14 vb+18) [1+0.077 (tE5)] > 522 [25]
This height resulted from the defini-
tion of the end of setting with tE = 5 h.
F4 (17 vb+17) [1+0.14 (tE5)] > 522 [25]
Since the new calculation is based on
a variable end of setting, this ordinate
is defined in height with (vb*tE). As a
F5 25 + 30 vb (tE/5) > 626 [30]
result, the concrete engineer in coordi-
nation with the structural engineer has F6 25 + 38 vb (tE/5) > 626 [30]
the possibility to optimize the design
of the formwork and the influence SCC 25 + 33 vb (tE/5) > 626 [30]
area. This is especially required for
single-sided wall formwork and single-
sided climbing formwork.

Easy to Use Calculation Tools 3133 19.7

[150] [6]
Setting begin, setting end
Based on experience, ready-mix con-
crete suppliers are able to stipulate 2611 16.4
[125] [5]
setting begin and end. The end of
Fresh concrete pressure in psf [KN/m]

Hydrostatic pressure height in ft [m]

setting can be determined using the
2088 13.1
Vicat penetration procedure (according [100] [4]

to DIN EN 480 2 [15]) or by means of

the knead bag test which is a part of 1566 9.8
[3]
the DIN 18218. [75]

1044 6.6
[50] [2]

522 3.3
[25] [1]
End of setting
5h

0 0
0 3.3 [1] 6.6 [2] 9.8 [3] 13.1 [4] 16.4 [5] 19.7 [6] 23.0 [7]

Rate of placing vb in ft/h [m/h]

SCC

10 FormworkPress II/2009
 3133 19.7
[150] [6]

2611 16.4
[125] [5]
Fresh concrete pressure in psf [KN/m]

Hydrostatic pressure height in ft [m]

2088 13.1
[100] [4]

1566 9.8
[75] [3]

1044 6.6
[50] [2]

522 3.3
[1]
The knead bag test
[25]
End of setting The knead-bag-test offers the
7h
advantage that the actual concrete
0 0 mix including all additives is used. The
0 3.3 [1] 6.6 [2] 9.8 [3] 13.1 [4] 16.4 [5] 19.7 [6] 23.0 [7]
fresh concrete will be filled in water-
Rate of placing vb in ft/h [m/h]
proof plastic bags and be pushed in
with a thumb in certain specified time
SCC
intervals.
If the fresh concrete can be pressed less
than 0.5 mm, the end of setting tE,Knead
of the fresh concrete is reached. The
for the calculation of the fresh con-
crete pressure required end of setting
tE=1.25*tE,Knead takes individual factors
such as the force of the thumb into
account by employing a factor of 1.25.

Calculation programmes
The contractor is thus able to deter-
3133 19.7 mine the pour rate by consulting the
[150] [6]
diagrams in the new German standard
DIN 18218, which lists all concrete
2611 16.4
[125] [5]
consistency classes with their respec-
tive maximum concrete pressure and
Fresh concrete pressure in psf [KN/m]

Hydrostatic pressure height in ft [m]

permissible pour rate. These diagrams

2088 13.1
[100] [4] distinguish between concrete with an
end of setting after 5 h, 7h and 15 h
1566 9.8 and show the values for consistency
[75] [3]
classes F1 to F6 and for self-compacting
concrete.
1044 6.6
[50] [2]

522 3.3
[25] [1]
End of setting
10h

0 0
0 1.6 [0.5] 3.3 [1] 4.9 [1.5] 6.6 [2] 8.2 [2.5] 9.8 [3] 11.5 [3.5]

Rate of placing vb in ft/h [m/h]

SCC

FormworkPress II/2009 11
Formworkpress
II/2009
Online Calculation Tools
Download your concrete pressure calculation programme
Go to www.meva-international.com and then to the download
section. Here, you will find simple-to-use calculation programmes for
both vertical and horizontal (slab) concrete pressure.
MEVA Formwork Systems, Inc.
2000 Airpark Drive
Springfield, OH 45502
Phone (937) 328-0022
Toll free 1-866-367-6382
Fax (937) 328-0044
mailus@mevaformwork.com
www.mevaformwork.com
12
MEVA Formwork Systems, Inc.
12623 Coleraine Dr.
Caledon, Ontario L7E3B5
Phone (905) 857-6037
Toll free 1-877-887-8488
Fax (905) 857-7554
info@meva.ca
www.meva.ca
The site photos show situations which do not always depict the final assembly of
the formwork with regard to safety regulations. No liability accepted for claims
arising from the reports or photographs published herein.
Imprint: Edition II/2009. Circulation: 1.000 copies. Publisher: MEVA Formwork
Systems Inc., 2000 Airpark Drive, Springfield, OH 45502 Ohio, United States of
America. Reprint and reuse of any editorial content only by
permisssion copyright. We are not responsible for the content of external internet
sites, nor for a violation of privacy or any other law arising from these.
Literature
[1] Brameshuber, W.; Uebachs, St.: Schalungsdruck bei der
Anwendung von selbstverdichtendem Beton. RWTH Aachen,
Forschungsbericht F 848 (2003).
[2] Leemann, A.; Hoffmann, C.: Schalungsdruck von selbstver-
dichtendem Beton. BFT (2003) 11, S. 48-55.
[3] Staiger, J.; Weith, Fr.; Dehn, Fr.: SVB, F6, F3 Neue Betone,
unterschiedliche Drcke. Tiefbau 116 (2004) 4, S. 221-226.
[4] Beitzel, M.: Neue Erkenntnisse zum Frischbetondruckverhal-
ten. Kurzbericht, Universitt Karlsruhe, (2006).
[5] Graubner, C.-A.; et. al.: Frischbetondruck fliefhiger Betone.
DAfStb-Sachstandbericht Heft 567 (2003).
[6] DIN 18218:1980:09: Frischbetondruck auf lotrechte Scha-
lungen.
[7] DIN 1045:1978:12: Beton und Stahlbeton Bemessung und
Ausfhrung.
[8] DIN 1045-2:2001:07: Tragwerke aus Beton, Stahlbeton und
Spannbeton Teil 2 Beton; Festlegung, Eigenschaften, Herstel-
lung und Konformitt; Anwendungsregeln zu DIN EN 206-1.
[9] DIN EN 206-1:2001-07: Beton,Teil 1: Festlegung, Eigen-
schaften, Herstellung und Konformitt.
[10] DAfStb-Richtlinie fr Fliebeton Herstellung, Verarbei-
tung und Prfung. (1995 08).
[11] DAfStb-Richtlinie Selbstverdichtender Beton (SVB-Richtli-
nie). (2003-11).
[12] Janssen, H.A.: Versuche ber Getreidedruck in Silozellen.
VDI Zeitschrift. V. 39, August 1895, S. 1045-1049.
[13] DIN 4085:1987-02: Baugrund; Berechnung des Erddrucks
Berechnungsgrundlagen.
[14] Proske, T.: Schalungsdruck bei Verwendung von Selbstver-
dichtenden Beton Ein neues Konzept fr die Berechnung.
45. DAfStb-Forschungskolloquium. Beton- und Stahlbetonbau
100(2005), S. 159-166.
[15] DIN EN 480-2:2006-11: Zusatzmittel fr Beton, Mrtel
und Einpressmrtel Prfverfahren Teil 2: Bestimmung der
Erstarrungszeit. 2109 USA 1000 10/09 SA, Printed in Germany
For detailed information please
visit our websites:
www.mevaformwork.com
www.meva.ca
FormworkPress II/2009