High Rise in Paris, France
High Rise Construction – Slipforming of the Building Core – 180 m tall / 590 ft
High rise construction can greatly benefit from the use of vertical slipforming. Shown above is the new Palais De Justice currently being built in Paris, France. Most tall buildings have one or more concrete cores that provide lateral strength to the building. They also house the stairs and elevators. These cores can be rapidly built by using the slipform method of construction. Doorways and openings are easily added by inserting block-outs into the slipform as it rises. The above high rise core was slipformed by working day shifts only. However, slipforming is most efficient when working around the clock, 24 hours per day, using two or three shifts. Typical speeds are 3m to 5m per day, but up to 10m per day can be achieved if workers are well coordinated and not limited by material supply or concrete quality.
Slipforming is extremely safe, as the slipform setup always remains connected to the structure. The two work platforms provide a safe and predicable environment for the workers. The lower platform is used for finishing the concrete to the desired surface quality. Tarpaulins can also be suspended from the lower platform. These shield the fresh concrete from direct exposure to the sun and wind during the initial curing period.
Gleitbau GmbH was hired by Bouygues Travaux Publics of France to provide the slipform equipment and onsite supervision for this project, including geometry control. Gleitbau GmbH is a world leader in concrete slipform construction and works on projects all over the world, including North America. You can contact Michael Veegh for more information on slipform construction. Gleitbau will gladly provide a technical review and slipform pricing for your upcoming high rise project.
Close-Up of Slipform Equipment with Two Work Levels
