On the use of flexible formworks for concrete structures

Abstract This article presents a literature review on the use of flexible formworks for concrete structures, from their earliest conceptions in the late 19th century to recent applications. The challenges faced by builders, engineers, and architects in designing flexible moulds are discussed. A bibliometric analysis on the subject is also presented. Different methodologies for categorization are analyzed, and a consistent classification based on the application technique is proposed. Advantages and disadvantages of the formwork system are discussed and the article concludes with the perspective of future studies on the construction process through computational models.