Meva makes pressure calculation easier
01 December 2009
GERMAN formwork manufacturer Meva says it has developed a new concrete pressure calculation method that not only takes new concrete types into account, but also enables the contractor to safely and accurately predict the setting behaviour of all current concrete varieties.
“Accurate calculation and prediction of the pressure that freshly poured concrete will exert on formwork is an important task when planning concrete works,” says a spokesman for the company.
He continues: “Precise knowledge of the expected pressure will enable the site to choose the correct formwork, work flow, pouring technique and rate.
With the advent of new concrete types and the predominant practice of including additives, concrete has developed different setting patterns not accounted for in pressure calculation methods and standards. Existing methods of predicting concrete pressure can no longer be safely used when pouring flowable and self-compacting concrete.
At the same time, there is a definite and growing trend toward delicate architectural structures, slim walls and sophisticated requirements on concrete finish, which lead to an increasing use of flowable and self-compacting concrete types.
“Uncertainty about the chemical interaction between additives and their possible influence on the hydration progress and final setting inspired Meva to develop this method.”
“Meva engineers have developed this simple and practical method of safely calculating concrete pressure, which covers concrete consistencies from F1 through F5 and F6 plus flowable and self-compacting concrete.
“The new method takes into consideration the setting behaviour relative to concrete consistency and ambient temperature. The site can now determine the maximum pour rate from diagrams. All concrete types are depicted according to final setting, maximum concrete pressure and the respective pour rate.”
“The new, simple-to-use diagrams enable the site to safely determine the concrete pressure to be expected and thus choose the appropriate formwork to handle it. The advantage is twofold: assuming too much concrete pressure would be a waste of money, inventory and handling; assuming too low a concrete pressure could endanger the safety of everyone on site,” he concludes.
The calculation programme is available at www.meva-international.com in the download section.
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