Mise en place d'étais lors du coulage

20:11 Jun 9, 2009 

Irrespective of position, they are generally called props. What Marshall refers to as "struts" are for use in wall forms (banches) in particular. It seems we're dealing with floors or bridge decks, i.e. horizontal elements here, rather than vertical ones. But as I say, "props" is standard in both cases.

This latest development allows the contractor to use his present stocks of our well established Super-Slim Soldier to form HORIZONTAL OR RAKING PROPS for use on a variety of Civil Engineering and Building work. The addition of standard adjustable jack units to the ends of the soldiers with suitable end connections convert conventional Super-Slim Soldiers into effective PUSH-PULL PROPS. These PROPS CAN BE USED TO POSITION AND STABILIZE BOTH LARGE WALL FORMS AND EXISTING WALLS OR PRECAST CONCRETE WALL ELEMENTS. Adjustment of length is by rotation of the Super Slim Soldier body. (L).
http://www.rmdnewzealand.co.nz/resources/6263-HEA.PDF
(illustrated)

18:39 Jun 9, 2009 

I have "placement of struts during pour"

étai here is the support often diagonal to keep the form vertical

14:04 Jun 9, 2009 

No, forms (coffrage, banches) are what is used to "mould" (form the shape of) concrete, and are in most cases removed when the concrete has hardened. Props (étais) are used to hold up forms, especially in the case of table forms for casting floors (OK, I know it doesn't make sense to have a table form for making floors; simply rest assured that there is to the best of my knowledge no such thing as a floor form for making tables) or for beams, etc. Props are most commonly tubular steel things several metres in length, made up of two telescoping/screw-in parts that allow their length to be adjusted. Since you appear to be building a composite steel/concrete structure, the props are probably for holding up the concrete part cast on top of the beams while it hardens. Potentially, if there's any risk of the beams sagging under the weight of wet concrete, they might also be placed beneath the beams. I guess this would have the further advantage of "precompressing" the concrete compression flange, i.e. if subseqently, in use, there was any weight likely to cause beam deflection, the concrete, having all its compressive strength, would prevent this.

13:27 Jun 9, 2009 

If it's in the design parameter section, then they may possibly be on about formwork/shuttering. But étai is usually stay, support or prop. Maybe it's the supporting structure to prevent deflection during the wet-concrete period.
It's removed when the set concrete around the joist makes an ensemble capable of load-bearing within design deflection limits.
! I just got a déjà-vu message that Bourth will come in and put us right on this!

13:09 Jun 9, 2009 

Any thoughts on "forms" as a translation for "étais"? Forms being the barriers that contain and thus shape the concrete. This translation is for the US by the way.