Formwork for in situ concrete formwork is defined as "a mold or box into which wet concrete can be poured and compacted so that it flows and ultimately attaches to the inner profile of the box or mold. ". The formwork can be made using steel, wood, aluminum and / or prefabricated formwork molds.
Formwork is an auxiliary construction, used as a mold for a structure. In this mold, the fresh concrete is only put in place to harden thereafter. The construction of a formwork takes time and involves expenses of up to 20-25% of the cost of the structure, or even more. These are temporary structures needed to safely support concrete until it reaches adequate strength.