State-of-the-Art Report on Fabric Formwork

Fabric formwork is constructed using textile sheets (usually porous) made of synthetic fibers (typically nylon, polyesters, polypropylene) that are fabricated into containers to contain concrete during its placement and curing. The form takes the designed shape under the pressure of the wet concrete. Because concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, improvements in the economy and durability of concrete structures has significant implications worldwide. Thus, there has been increasing interest in the use of fabric formwork as an alternative to the conventional steel, aluminium or timber formwork. It can be used effectively in geotechnical, civil engineering, architectural and under-water constructions. It can be also used in both cast-in-place and precast applications, and offers several advantages over conventional formwork technology as well as providing opportunities for innovations in architectural and structural concrete members. The present paper offers a brief history of fabric formwork, as well as a review of the types, applications, raw materials, and problems remaining to be solved.