PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

Construction Temporary
Structures
Outline and Sample Problems

Professional Engineering Review Course

For
Civil Engineers

John A. Gambatese, PhD, PE-CA

School of Civil and Construction Engineering
Oregon State University
201B Kearney Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-8913
john.gambatese@oregonstate.edu

March 2016
PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

2016 PE Civil Engineering Review Course

Construction Temporary Structures

John A. Gambatese, PhD, PE-CA
School of Civil and Construction Engineering
Oregon State University

INTRODUCTION

This part of the review course covers the Temporary Structures topics within the Construction
portion of the breadth (morning) part of the Civil Engineering PE exam. The Construction
breadth portion of the exam covers the following topics: Project Planning, Means and Methods,
and Site Development, and amounts to approximately 20% of the entire breadth part of the PE
exam. The specific Temporary Structures topics covered in the Construction portion of the
breadth (morning) part of the exam are:

1. Construction loads
2. Temporary structures and facilities

Each of these topics is covered in this review packet. This review packet also covers some of the
Temporary Structures topics included in the Construction depth (afternoon) portion of the exam.
The specific Temporary Structures topics covered in the Construction portion of the depth
(afternoon) part of the exam are:

1. Construction loads, codes, and standards

2. Formwork
3. Falsework and scaffolding
4. Shoring and reshoring
5. Bracing and anchorage for stability
6. Temporary support of excavation

This review packet provides an overview of each topic along with the main concepts and
formulas for applying the concepts on problems. The sample problems included in this packet
provide an opportunity to practice solving problems related to the topics.

REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

There are a variety of references available related to temporary structures, some textbooks with
example problems and others that are designed for the practicing professional. Some valuable
and commonly-used references are also available on-line. The following are suggested
references:

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

Design Loads on Structures during Construction, SEI/ASCE 37-14. American Society

of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, www.asce.org, 2014.
Formwork for Concrete, SP-4, 8th Edition. American Concrete Institute, Farmington
Hills, MI, www.concrete.org, 2014.
Guide to Formwork for Concrete, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI,
www.concrete.org, 2004. (Available in Appendix of ACI SP-4.)
National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction, ANSI/AF&PA NDS-
2015. American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, D.C.,
www.awc.org.
Steel Construction Manual, 14th Edition. American Institute of Steel Construction,
Inc., Chicago, IL, www.aisc.org.
Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls during Construction, Council for
Masonry Wall Bracing, Mason Contractors Association of America, Lombard, IL,
www.masoncontractors.org.
Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, 29 CFR Part
1926, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.

CONSTRUCTION LOADING

Temporary structures are structural systems that are used during the construction of a permanent
facility. The structures are designed to be used in service for only a limited time and have a
limited exposure period to environmental loadings. Examples of temporary structures are:
concrete formwork, cofferdams, slurry walls, underpinning, shoring, scaffolds, ladders, and
falsework.

When in service, temporary structures support both temporary construction loads and in some
cases the permanent in-service loading. ASCEs Standard Design Loads on Structures during
Construction (SEI/ASCE 37-02) provides performance criteria, design loads, load
combinations, and safety factors to be used in the analysis and design of structures during their
transient stages of construction as well as temporary structures used in construction operations.
Five different types of loading on the temporary structures are addressed: dead load, live load,
construction loads, lateral earth pressure, and environmental loads. It is important to also
consider the effects on the loads due to the construction methods and sequencing. That is, the
loading may change during the construction sequence, and the impact of the changing loads must
be taken into consideration when designing the temporary structures.

Dead Load (D)

The dead load is defined as the weight of all materials of construction incorporated into the
permanent structures. It includes construction for which the primary structural system is
complete, but which is being used to support construction materials and construction equipment.
Dead load does not include construction dead load, CD.

Live Load (L)

The live load is defined as loads produced by the use or occupancy of a permanent structure that
is under construction. This load may vary at different stages of construction, and may be

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

different than the live loads applied on the completed structure. For bridge structures, it can
include impact, longitudinal forces from vehicles, centrifugal forces from vehicles, and wind
loads on vehicles.

Construction Loads
Construction loads are loads imposed on a temporary structure as a result of the construction
process. This category of loads is comprised of the following types of loads:

Construction dead load (CD): The dead load of the temporary structures.

Personnel and equipment loads (CP): The weight of personnel and equipment
(hand tools and light equipment) employed in the construction process. This type of
loading can vary significantly during the course of construction. The maximum loads
that are likely to be created during the sequence of construction should be used. In
addition, either concentrated (point) loads or distributed loads should be used, whichever
is more critical. ASCE 37-02 provides a table with values of expected concentrated
personnel and equipment loads.
o Individual personnel load: A concentrated load of 250 lbs (1.1 kN). Includes the
weight of one person plus equipment carried by the person or equipment that can
be readily picked up by a single person without assistance.

Material loads (CFML and CVML):

o Fixed Material Loads (CFML)
Load from materials that are fixed in magnitude.
o Variable Material Loads (CVML)
Load from materials that vary in magnitude during the construction
process. Includes materials that are temporarily stockpiled.
o Material loads can vary between FML and VML during the construction process.
For example, fresh concrete is a VML until it cures when it becomes a FML.
Formwork stockpiled and during erection is a VML and is a FML after it is put in
place. Materials hauled by heavy equipment are considered part of the equipment
load, not a material load.

Combined construction loads (personnel, equipment, and materials):

o When actual values of personnel, equipment, and materials loads are not known,
ASCE 37-02 allows for the use of standard loading based on the level of use for
the working surface:
20 psf Very light duty: sparsely populated with personnel; hand tools;
very small amounts of construction materials
25 psf Light duty: sparsely populated with personnel; hand operated
equipment; staging of materials for lightweight construction
50 psf Medium duty: concentrations of personnel; staging of materials
for average construction
75 psf Heavy duty: material placement by motorized buggies; staging of
materials for heavy construction

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

o These loads do not include dead load, construction dead load, or fixed material
loads.

Reduction in construction loads (personnel, equipment, and materials):

o Material loads: No reduction except to the extent that small amounts of material
in transit or staging are included in uniformly distributed personnel, equipment,
and material loads.

o Personnel and equipment loads (Cp):

For members having an influence area, AI, of 400 ft2 or more, when
justified by an analysis of the construction operations.

Cp = Lo [0.25 + (15 / (AI)1/2)]

Where: Cp = reduced design uniformly distributed personnel and

equipment load per ft2 of area supported by the member.
Lo = unreduced uniformly distributed personnel and
equipment design load per ft2 of area supported by the
member.
AI = influence area (ft2)

Influence area, AI, normally calculated as:

4x the tributary area for a column
2x tributary area for a beam
Equal to the panel area for a two-way slab

Reduced load, regardless of the influence area shall not be less than:
50% of the unreduced design load for members supporting one
level, or
40% of the unreduced design load for members supporting more
than one level,
Except where the uniformly distributed personnel and equipment
load is 25 psf or less, the reduced load shall not be less than 60%
of the unreduced design load, unless justified by an analysis of the
construction operations.

o Personnel and equipment loads on sloping roofs:

Reduction factor, R = 1.2 0.05F

Where: F = slope of the roof expressed in inches per foot.

R need not exceed 1.0 and shall not be less than 0.6.
This reduction may be combined by multiplication with the reduction
based on area, but the reduced load shall not be less than 60% of the basic
unreduced load.

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

Impact loads:
o Very short term, impact loads must also be included in the design of temporary
structures if they are significant. ASCE 37-02 does not specify a minimum design
load requirements for impact loading, except for stating that, Provision shall be
made in the structural design for loads that involve predictable unusual vibration
and impact forces.

Horizontal construction load (CH):

o A minimum amount of horizontal construction load must be applied due to
unavoidable eccentricities and personnel and equipment operations. One of the
following minimum horizontal loads shall be applied, whichever gives the
greatest structural effects in the direction under consideration:
For wheeled vehicles transporting materials, 20% for a single vehicle or
10% for two or more vehicles of the fully loaded vehicle weight. The
force is to be applied in any direction of possible travel, at the running
surface.
For equipment reactions, the calculated or rated horizontal loads,
whichever are greater.
50 lbs per person (0.22 kN/person), applied at the level of the platform in
any direction.
2% of the total vertical load, applied in any direction and spatially
distributed in proportion to the mass. This load need not be applied
concurrently with wind or seismic load.
o Horizontal construction loads are not a substitute for environmental loads.

Erection and fitting forces (CF):

o Forces caused by erection (alignment, fitting, bolting, bracing, guying, etc.).

Equipment reactions (CR):

o Equipment reactions are defined as the loads under heavy equipment as a result of
the weight of equipment, accessories, and load. The rated loading provided by
equipment manufacturer should be used. If the rated loading is not available,
loads determined by analysis should be used.
o Required information for calculating equipment loads:
Weight and dimensions of the equipment and accessories
Characteristics of the equipment mountings (wheels, tracks, outriggers,
etc.)
Weight and location of the load. Consider all directions of travel of the
equipment.
Loads exerted due to starting, stopping, turning, swinging, and lifting (i.e.
impact, traction, centrifugal, etc.)
o Contact pressure under heavy equipment with tracks (e.g., crane, excavator,
loader):
Variables:
d = contact length of track
w = width of each track

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

M = overturning moment due to load, boom/bucket, and other

rigging accessories
V = total resultant vertical load on track
e = eccentricity from center of track to resultant of loads
l = length of contact pressure
p = track contact pressure

For boom over the front/rear condition:

e = M/V

When e < d/6 (trapezoidal pressure distribution where l > d):

p = (V/wd) [1 6e/d]

When e = d/6 (triangular pressure distribution where l = d):

pmax = 2V/wd

When e > d/6 (triangular pressure distribution where l < d):

l = 3[d/2 - e]
pmax = 2V/wl = 2V/[3w(d/2 - e)]

For boom over the side condition:

Pressure distribution under tracks is rectangular.
Use statics analysis to solve for track pressures.
Rule-of-thumb: 85%/15% distribution of loading.

o Contact pressure under heavy equipment with wheels (e.g., loader, truck, crane,
excavator):
Use rated axle loads from manufacturer or statics analysis to determine
point loads under each wheel.
o Impact loads from equipment:
Increase reaction by 30% to allow for impact, unless other values (either
larger or smaller) are recommended by the manufacturer, are required by
the authority having jurisdiction, or are justified by analysis.

Form Pressure:
o Formwork is designed for the pressure of the newly-placed concrete along with
any other applied personnel, equipment, material, horizontal, earth pressure, and
environmental loads. See the Formwork Loads and Pressure section below for
further description of the associated concrete pressures.

Lateral Earth Pressure

Earth-retaining structures must be designed to properly support loading due to lateral earth
pressure. Lateral earth pressure consists of the horizontal or nearly horizontal resultant of forces
per unit area created by soil and water on a vertical or nearly vertical plane of a structure. The
pressure is dependent on the soil type, and the type, depth, and shape of the structure. Lateral

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

earth pressures are covered in greater detail as part of the Geotechnical part of the breadth
(morning) exam.

Environmental Loads
The basic reference for computation of environmental loads is the ASCE 7-05, Minimum
Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. The following environmental loads, as
determined using ASCE 7-05 except where modified by ASCE 37-02, are considered in the
design of temporary structures: wind, thermal, snow, seismic, rain, and ice.

An importance factor, I = 1.0 is used for all environmental loads on temporary structures,
regardless of the importance factor used for the permanent structure.

FORMWORK LOADS AND PRESSURE

The following should be included where applicable when considering the loading and pressure
on concrete formwork:

Vertical loads:
o Fresh concrete, rebar, and other attachments: 150 pcf for normal weight concrete
o Self-weight of the formwork: 3-15 psf
o Construction live load
Minimum vertical live load: 50 psf (use 75 psf if motorized carts are used
to place concrete)
Minimum vertical dead + live load: 100 psf (use 125 psf if motorized
carts are used to place concrete)
Minimum lateral load for slab forms:
o 100 plf of slab edge, or 2% of total DL on the form (distributed as a uniform load
per linear foot of slab edge), whichever is greater.
o Use minimum wind load based on ASCE 7-05 code requirements if greater.
Minimum lateral load for wall forms:
o 100 plf along top of wall, or 15 psf for wind and accidental eccentric loading,
whichever is greater.
o Use minimum wind load based on ASCE 7-05 code requirements if greater.

Lateral Pressure of Fresh Concrete

The lateral pressure of fresh concrete on wall and column forms depends on the following:

density (weight) of the concrete

height of the pour (similar to fluids or soils)
rate of placement of the fresh concrete
temperature of the concrete mix
admixtures and cement blends used
vibration or other consolidation methods

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

The basic formula for the maximum lateral pressure on wall and column forms is:

p = wh where: p = lateral pressure (psf)

w = unit weight of fresh concrete (pcf)
h = depth of fluid or plastic concrete from the top of a placement to
the point of consideration in the form (feet)

This formula is used for all placements that all of the following conditions: not Type I cement,
unit weight of concrete is not 150 pcf, slump exceeds 4 in, external vibrators are used, retarder or
workability admixtures are used, and layers in excess of 4 ft are poured.

The maximum formwork pressure can be controlled by the rate of pour and temperature of the
concrete (concrete solidifies with time). Also, vibration can create temporary lateral forces
locally that are at least 10-20% greater than those occurring with simple spading. It should be
noted that in ACI SP-4 and below, the pressure formulas are limited to concrete vibrated
internally at the time of placement (not external vibration or revibration). Include
additional pressure due to pumping if concrete is pumped into the bottom of the forms
(additional pressure to overcome frictional flow resistance). The increase will typically be
approximately 50% extra at the pump inlet. Also, Include 100% more pressure than the full
liquid head if there are significant restrictions to the flow of the concrete being pumped into the
bottom (such as prepacked aggregate, precast elements, large anchorages and embedments, or
box-outs).

Lateral pressure on column forms:

o Columns are elements with no plan dimension exceeding 6.5 feet. Columns are
small enough to place concrete in the full height of the form in a relatively short
period of time; therefore maximum lateral pressures are greater than in wall
forms.
o The maximum pressure for column forms (max. slump = 7 in., internal vibration,
and 4 foot lifts) is given by the following formula:

pmax = CwCc[150 + 9,000(R/T)]

where: pmax = maximum lateral pressure (psf)

R = rate of placement (feet/hour)
T = temperature of concrete during placing (oF)
Cc = chemistry coefficient
Cw = unit weight coefficient

o The maximum and minimum limitations on the maximum pressure for column
forms are as follows:
Minimum pmax = 600Cw
Maximum pmax = wh

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

Lateral pressure on wall forms:

o Walls are vertical structural elements with at least one plane dimension greater
than 6.5 feet.
o For R < 7 feet/hour and placement height does not exceed 14 feet, maximum
pressure for wall forms (max. slump = 7 in., internal vibration, and 4 foot lifts):

pmax = CwCc[150 + 9,000(R/T)]

where: pmax = maximum lateral pressure (psf)

R = rate of placement (feet/hour)
T = temperature of concrete during placing (oF)
Cc = chemistry coefficient
Cw = unit weight coefficient

o For all walls with 7 < R < 15 feet/hour, and for walls with R < 7 and placement
height exceeding 14 feet, maximum pressure for wall forms (max. slump = 7 in.,
internal vibration, and 4 foot lifts):

pmax = CwCc[150 + 43,400/T + 2,800(R/T)]

where: pmax = maximum lateral pressure (psf)

R = rate of placement (feet/hour)
T = temperature of concrete during placing (oF)
Cc = chemistry coefficient
Cw = unit weight coefficient

o For all walls with R > 15 feet/hour:

pmax = wh

o The maximum and minimum limitations on the maximum pressure for wall forms
are as follows:
Minimum pmax = 600Cw
Maximum pmax = wh

Wall Form Design Procedures

The following procedure is typically used to design formwork for walls and columns (sheathing,
studs, wales, and form ties:

1. Determine maximum pressure on the sheathing.

a. Use rate of pour, temperature, and form height.
2. Determine sheathing thickness and stud spacing.
a. Check sheathing bending, shear, and deflection.
3. Determine stud size and spacing of stud supports (wale spacing).
a. Check stud bending, shear, and deflection.

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

4. Determine wale size and spacing of wale supports (tie spacing).

a. Check wale bending, shear, and deflection.
5. Size and space ties.
6. Check bearing stresses.
7. Determine lateral bracing for formwork.

Slab Form Design Procedure

The following procedure is typically used to design formwork for slabs (sheathing, joists,
stringers, and shores:

1. Determine vertical dead load and live load on the formwork.

2. Determine sheathing thickness and joist spacing.
a. Check sheathing bending, shear, and deflection.
3. Determine joist size and spacing of joist supports (stringer spacing).
a. Check joist bending, shear, and deflection.
4. Determine stringer size and spacing of stringer supports (shore spacing).
a. Check stringer bending, shear, and deflection.
5. Size and space shores.
6. Check bearing stresses.
7. Determine lateral bracing for formwork.

Shoring and Reshoring of Multi-Story Buildings

The following tables are example shoring/reshoring sequences and the corresponding loads on
the slabs, shores, and reshores. The tables provide the ability to determine the loading in each
element as a result of the selected construction sequence. The loadings can then be used to
verify that the slabs have sufficient capacity and to design the shores and reshores.

The loading values are presented in terms of the weight of the slab, D. The values include: the
weight of the slab, an assumed weight of construction live load (0.50D), and an assumed weight
of the shores and forms (0.10D). The weight of the reshores is neglected. The tables are also
based on the following assumptions:

1. Shores and reshores are infinitely stiff relative to the slabs.

2. Slabs interconnected by shores therefore all deflect equally when a new load is added,
and carry a share of the added load in proportion to their relative stiffnesses.
3. Slabs have equal stiffness and added loads are shared equally by the interconnected slabs.
4. The ground floor or other base support is rigid.

Also, the sequence of operations for shoring/reshoring successive levels is assumed to be the
following:
1. Set up a story of shores and forms, and place the fresh concrete.
2. Remove the reshores at the lowest interconnected level. Remove forms and shores from
next story above.

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

3. Place reshores snugly under the slab just stripped, but without the reshores carrying any
load when they are first placed. The reshores should not be placed such that they relieve
part of the load on the slab being reshored. Reshores should merely function as a strut to
help in distributing the next load applied from a newly placed slab.

The slab capacity will depend on the speed of construction as the work progresses up the
building (e.g., one floor every 7 days). Based on the speed of construction, the capacity of the
slab to support load can be determined based on the extent to which the concrete has cured. This
capacity can then be compared to the maximum loading found in the tables in order to verify
whether the slabs will have enough capacity to accommodate the planned sequence.

Similar tables can be prepared for different shoring/reshoring patterns (e.g., two levels of shoring
and two levels of reshoring).

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

(Source: Formwork for Concrete, 7th Edition, by M.K. Hurd., ACI, SP-4, 2005.)

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

(Source: Formwork for Concrete, 7th Edition, by M.K. Hurd., ACI, SP-4, 2005.)

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

(Source: Formwork for Concrete, 7th Edition, by M.K. Hurd., ACI, SP-4, 2005.)

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

(Source: Formwork for Concrete, 7th Edition, by M.K. Hurd., ACI, SP-4, 2005.)

PEReviewCourse2016 ConstructionTemporaryStructures

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

The following sample problems are provided to give examples of how to determine the loading
on temporary structures for various applications. The actual problems on the PE exam may be
similar problems or include only a portion of each sample problem.

1. Determine the maximum design pressure on the formwork for a wall that is 15 feet tall if the
concrete will be placed at a rate R = 10 feet per hour when the temperature is 60oF. Assume
normal weight concrete, and Type I cement with a retarding admixture. Determine the
maximum design pressure if the wall is only 6 feet tall.

2. A crawler crane will be located on a temporary work platform for lifting material on a
project. The total resultant vertical load due to the weight of the crane plus the maximum
material load that it will pick on the project will be 83,500 lbs (centered at the midpoint of
the tracks), creating an overturning moment of 163,200 lb-ft. The contact area beneath each
track on the crane is 19-0 long and 36 inches wide, and the tracks are located 13-10 apart
(center-to-center of the tracks). Determine the maximum pressure under the crane tracks on
the work platform for: a) hoisting the load over the front of the crane (boom parallel to the
tracks); and b) hoisting the load over the side of the crane (boom perpendicular to the tracks).