DOE METHOD OF MIX DESIGN

The method of concrete mix design applied here is in accordance to the method published by the
Department of Environment, United Kingdom (in year 1988).
Mix design procedure are described by the following steps:
Step 1. Determination of target mean strength.
Step 2. Determination of water/cement ratio.
Step 3. Determination of free water content.
Step 4. Determination of cement content.
Step 5. Determination of concrete density.
Step 6. Determination of total aggregate content.
Step 7. Determination of fine aggregate content.
Step 8. Determination of coarse aggregate content.
Step 9. Summary.

These steps are explained below.

STEP 1: TARGET MEAN STRENGTH (fm):

Target mean strength of concrete is determined by the following formula;

fm = fc + (k.s)
where, fm = Target mean strength
fc = Characteristic strength of concrete
k = Risk factor
s = Standard deviation.
The value of risk factor (k) is determined by the percentage of failure permitted. The risk factor according
the percentage and the standard deviation value is determined from the figures below;

Figure 2: Value for 's'

Figure 1: Value for 'k'
STEP 2: DETERMINATION OF WATER/CEMENT RATIO:
Figure 3 is used to obtain the compressive strength, at the specified age that corresponds to a free
water/cement ratio of 0.5.

Figure 3: Compressive strength acc. to free W/C ratio of 0.5

Figure 4: W/C ratio according to data from Fig 3.

A value is obtained from Figure 3 for the strength of a mix made with a water/cement ratio of 0.5
according to the specified age, the strength class of the cement and the aggregate to be used. This
strength value is then plotted on Figure 4 and a curve is drawn from this point and parallel to the printed
curves until it intercepts a horizontal line passing through the ordinate representing the target mean
strength (fm).
STEP 3: FREE WATER CONTENT:
The free-water content can be determined from Figure 5 depending upon the type and maximum size of
the aggregate to give a concrete of the specified slump or Vebe time. The value is in Kg/cm3.

Figure 5: Free water content (Kg/m3)

STEP 4: CEMENT CONTENT:

The cement content can be determined from equation below. The value determined is in Kg/cm3.
Free Water Content
Cement Content =
Water-cement ratio

STEP 5: CONCRETE DENSITY:

Density of fully compacted concrete can be estimated from Figure 6. This value depends upon the free-
water content and the relative density of the combined aggregate in the SSD condition. If no information
is available regarding the relative density of the aggregate, an approximation can be made by assuming a
value of 2.6 for un-crushed aggregate and 2.7 for crushed aggregate.

Figure 6: Density of concrete (Kg/m3)

STEP 6: TOTAL AGGREGATE CONTENT:

The total aggregate content can be calculated using equation below;

Total Aggregate Content = D – C – W

where;
D = Wet density of concrete ( in kg/m3)
C = Cement content (in kg/m3)
W = Free-water content (in kg/m3)

STEP 7: FINE AGGRAGATE CONTENT:

The Figure 7 shows recommended values for the proportion of fine aggregate depending on the maximum
size of aggregate, the workability level, the grading of the fine aggregate (defined by the percentage
passing a 600 μm sieve) and the free-water/ cement ratio.

Fine Aggregate Content (Kg/m3) = Density of concrete x fine aggregate proportion (%)

STEP 8: COARSE AGGREGATE CONTENT:

Coarse aggregate content can be found using the proportion of fine aggregate obtained from step 7 and
the total aggregate content derived from Step 6.

As, Fine Aggregate Content = Total Aggregate Content x Proportion of Fines

Coarse Aggregate Content (Kg/m3) = Total Aggregate Content – Fine Aggregate

STEP 9: SUMMARY:

As all the contents are determined, the data obtained along with the ratio can be composed in tabular
form.

CONTENT WATER CEMENT FINE AGGREGATE COARSE AGGREGATE

QUANTITY (Kg/m3)

RATIO
Figure 7: Fine aggregate proportion