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Conical slipforming

The method of conical slipforming was originally developed for homogenous cross-sections with precise vertical orientations. It was further developed for variable floor plan shapes. Beginning of the 1970s, conical slipforming was widely used for the construction of conical towers and industrial chimneys and today facilitates the monolithic construction, decreasing or increasing sections without any steps. 

CONICAL SLIPFORMING

Towers & chimneys

For slipforming variable cross-sections, horizontally moveable formwork structures are used. These are mounted on hydraulically adjustable tapering elements. The overhead girder star forms the central point of the tower with its centrepiece and connects all main beams to a uniform, closed system of scaffolds. At the same time, it serves as an upper working deck.

Depending on the diameter of the structure and the intended live load, trusses, honey comb beams or even simple H-Beams are used. Despite the use of exact geometry lists which give a good theoretical description of tapering, building a conical tower requires a great deal of intuition and experience from our slipform specialists. It also proves that men, and not machines, are the measure of all things.

Many factors influence the final geometric accuracy of any given construction to be slipformed. Despite all the technical advances, it is still not possible to pre-calculate all parameters. This is due to the changing material properties of concrete in different parts of the world. With more than 60 years of experience in the field, Gleitbau Salzburg is considered a global pioneer of this specialist technology.

The previous years saw further developments in slipforming technologies; they are now able to respond to new geometrical requirements, thus significantly broadening the range of applications. A contributing factor to these developments was research into new heavy-duty concrete formulations that meet this slipforming technique’s special requirements.

Execution by means of slipforming is always monolithic, meaning without cold joints. The infinite adjustability of the slipform even allows the initially circular cross sections at the base of the structure to be fluently transitioned into a square shape at the final height of the construction.

The erection of tower-like structures with an axis spatially inclined against the vertical is an absolute innovation and a quantum leap forwards in modern slipforming.

Construction site impressions

Finished projects

Solar Tower Noor Dubai CSP

United Arab Emirates

2019 - 2020

Solar tower Noor III

Morocco

2016

Conical Chimney Manjung B

Malaysia

2015

Conical Chimneys Posco Fortaleza

Brazil

2014 - 2015

KHI Solar Tower

South Africa

2013