Mix design of high strength concrete is influenced by properties of cement, sand aggregates &

water-cement ratio have compressive strength above 40 MPa.

To achieve high strength, it is necessary to use lowest possible water-cement ratio, which
invariably affects the workability of the mix and necessitates the use of special vibration
techniques for proper compaction.

In the present state of art, a concrete with a desired 28 day compressive strength of upto 70 MPa
can be made with suitably proportioning the ingredients using normal vibration techniques for
compacting the concrete mix.

Erntroy and Shacklock’s Empirical Graphs:

Erntroy and Shacklock have suggested empirical graphs relating the compressive strength to an
arbitrary ‘reference number’ for concrete made with crushed granite, coarse aggregates and
irregular gravel.

These graphs are shown in figure 1 and 2 for mixes with ordinary Portland cement and in figure
3 and 4 for mixes with rapid hardening Portland cement. The relation between water cement
ratio and the reference number for 20mm and 10mm maximum size aggregates is shown in
figure 5, in which four different degrees of workability are considered. The range of the degrees
of workability varying from extremely low to high corresponds to the compacting factor values
of 0.65 and 0.95 respectively

The relation between the aggregate-cement and water-cement ratios, to achieve the desired
degree of workability with a given type and maximum size of aggregate are compiled in table-1
and 2 for two different types of cements. The limitations of these design tables being that they
were obtained with aggregates containing 30 percent of the material passing the 4.75 mm IS
sieve.

Thus, if other ingredients are used suitable adjustments have to be made. Aggregates available at
site may be suitably combined by the graphical method to satisfy the above requirement. In view
of the considerable variations in the properties of aggregates, it is generally recommended that
trial mixes must first be made and suitable adjustments in grading and mix proportions effected
to achieve the desired results.
 Table – 1: Aggregate cement ratio (by weight) required to give four degrees of workability with different water –
cement ratios using ordinary Portland cement

Table – 2: Aggregate cement ratio (by weight) required to give four degrees of workability with different water –
cement ratios using rapid hardening cement

Mix Design of High Strength Concrete -Procedure

1. The mean design strength is obtained by applying suitable control factors to the specified minimum
strength.
2. For a given type of cement and aggregates used, the reference number corresponding to the design
strength at a particular age is interpolated from figure 1 to 4.
3. The water-cement ratio to achieve the required workability and corresponding to the reference number is
obtained from figure 5 for aggregates with maximum sizes of 20mm and 10mm.
4. The aggregate-cement ratio to give the desired workability with the known water cement is obtained by
absolute volume method.
5. Batch quantities are worked out after adjustments for moisture content in the aggregates.
 Fig.1: Relation between compressive strength Fig-2: between compressive strength and reference
and reference number (Erntroy and Shacklock) number (Erntroy and Shacklock)

Fig-3: Relation between compressive strength and Fig-4: Relation between compressive strength and
reference number (Erntroy and Shacklock) reference number (Erntroy and Shacklock)

Fig-5: Relation between water-cement ratio and Reference Number

Fig-6: Combining of Fine aggregates and Coarse aggregates

Table – 3: Batch Quantities per cubic meter of concrete

HSC mix design numerical example
Design a high strength concrete for use in the production of precast prestressed concrete to suit the following requirements:

Specified 28-day works cube strength = 50 MPa

Very good degree of control; control factor = 0.80

Degree of workability = very low

Type of cement = ordinary Portland cement

Type of coarse aggregate = crushed granite (angular) of maximum size 10mm.

Type of fine aggregate = natural sand

Specific gravity of sand = 2.60

Specific gravity of cement = 3.15

Specific gravity of coarse aggregates = 2.50

Fine and coarse aggregates contain 5 and 1 percent moisture respectively and have grading characteristics as detailed as
follows:

Percentage Passing
IS sieve size
Coarse aggregate Fine aggregate

20mm 100 –

10mm 96 100

4.75mm 8 98

2.36mm – 80

1.18mm – 65

600 microns – 50

300 microns – 10

150 microns – 0
Solution:
Design of Concrete Mix
Mean strength = (50 / 0.80) = 63 MPa

Reference number (fig.1)= 25

Water cement ratio (fig 5) = 0.35

For a 10mm maximum size aggregate and very low workability, the aggregate-cement ratio for the desired workability
(table-1) =3.2

The aggregates are combined by the graphical method as shown in figure 6, so that 30 percent of the material passes
through the 4.75 mm IS sieve.

Ratio of fine to total aggregate = 25%

Required proportions by weight of dry materials:

Cement – 1

Fine aggregates – [(25/100)x3.2] = 0.8

Coarse aggregates – [(75/100)x3.2)] = 2.4

Water = 0.35

If C = weight of cement required per cubic meter of concrete, then