3 D Animation And Walkthrough Of Design And Constriction Processes Of Concrete Formworks

Economy in concrete formwork design depends partly on the ingenuity and experiences of the form designer, whether a contractor or an engineer. The cost of formwork is significant, generally amounting to anywhere from 40% to 60 % of the cost of a concrete structure. Judgment with respect to the development of a forming system could both expedite a project and reduce costs. Efficient and economical use of the material of which the forms are built is an integral part of the design process. Structural analysis and design concept visualization, whether in reinforced concrete permanent or temporary structure (formworks) is a subject that depends on geometric and physical perception, and every effort should be made by educators to enhance this ability. This makes it an interesting challenge in an exciting area, requiring creativity, imagination, as well as knowledge, and systematic thinking. Although the classroom environment in Engineering and Construction Science is highly structured by the instructor, teaching students to be critical thinkers is esse ntial in the virtual classroom of the future. The objective of this research was to develop a web-based 3-D animations and walkthrough model of design and construction processes for formworks for concrete construction. All the techniques that were used in this research employed a generic programming architecture, which was discipline independent and could be adapted to any other similar domain. These visualization techniques can be valuable aids not only in teaching in the classroom but also an effective selfdirected tool for open learning via the web.