CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

 American Concrete Institute Method of Mix Design

(a) Data to be collected :

(i ) Fineness modulus of selected F.A.
(ii ) Unit weight of dry rodded coarse aggregate.
(iii ) Sp. gravity of coarse and fine aggregates in SSD condition
(iv ) Absorption characteristics of both coarse and fine
aggregates.
(v ) Specific gravity of cement.

(b) From the minimum strength specified, estimate the average

design strength by using standard deviation.

(c) Find the water/cement ratio from the strength and durability
points of view. Adopt the lower value.

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(d) Decide the maximum size of aggregate to be used. Generally
for RCC work 20 mm and pre-stressed concrete 10 mm size are
used.

(e) Decide workability in terms of slump for the given job.

(f ) The total water in kg/m3 of concrete is determined,

corresponding to the selected slump and selected maximum
size of aggregate.

(g ) Cement content is computed by dividing the total water

content by the water/cement ratio.

(h) Select the bulk volume of dry rodded coarse aggregate per unit
volume of concrete, for the particular maximum size of coarse
aggregate and fineness modulus of fine aggregate.

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( j ) The weight of C.A. per cubic meter of concrete is calculated by
multiplying the bulk volume with bulk density.

(k ) The solid volume of coarse aggregate in one cubic meter of

concrete is calculated by knowing the specific gravity of C.A.

(l ) Similarly the solid volume of cement, water and volume of air is

calculated in one cubic meter of concrete.

(m) The solid volume of FA is computed by subtracting from the

total volume of concrete the solid volume of cement, CA, water
and entrapped air.

(n) Weight of fine aggregate is calculated by multiplying the solid

volume of fine aggregate by specific gravity of F.A.

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ACI METHOD: DESIGN EXAMPLE

1 Design a concrete mix for the construction of an elevated water

tank. The specified design strength of concrete (characteristic
strength) is 30 MPa at 28 days measured on standard cylinders.
Standard deviation can be taken as 4 MPa. The specific gravity
of FA and C.A. are 2.65 and 2.7 respectively. The dry rodded
bulk density of C.A. is 1600 kg/m3, and fineness modulus of FA
is 2.80. Ordinary Portland cement (Type I) will be used. A slump
of 50 mm is necessary. C.A. is found to be absorptive to the
extent of 1% and free surface moisture in sand is found to be 2
per cent. Assume any other essential data.

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1 Mean Cylinder Compressive Strength
Assuming 5 per cent of results are allowed to fall below
specified design strength,
The mean strength,
fm= fmin + ks
= 30 + 1.64 x 4
= 36.5 MPa

2 Water/cement ratio
 Strength criteria
 Durability criteria

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Strength Criteria

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Durability Criteria

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Durability Criteria

From Table 11.5, the estimated w/c ratio is 0.47

This w/c ratio from strength point of view is to be checked against maximum
w/c ratio given for special exposure condition given in Table 11.6 and
minimum of the two to be adopted.
From exposure condition Table-11.6, the w/c ratio is 0.5.
Therefore adopt w/c ratio of 0.47

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3 Mixing Water Content

Slump = 50 mm
Maximum size of aggregate = 20 mm
Concrete is non air-entrained

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The mixing water content is 185 kg/m3 of concrete

The approximate entrapped air content is 2%.

The required cement content =185/0.47

= 394 kg/m3

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4 Bulk Volume of C.A.

Maximum size of C.A = 20mm

Fineness Modulus of F.A. = 2.80

Find the dry rodded bulk volume of C.A.

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The dry rodded bulk volume of C.A. = 0.62 per unit volume of
concrete

The weight of C.A. = 0.62 x 1600

= 992 kg/m3

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5 The first estimate of density of fresh concrete = 2355 kg/m3

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6 Weight of FA

The weight of all the known ingredients of

concrete
Weight of water = 185 kg/m3
Weight of cement = 394 kg/m3
Weight of C.A. = 992 kg/m3
Weight of F.A. = 2355 – (185 + 394 + 992)
= 784 kg/m3

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Alternatively, the weight of F.A. can be determined by the more
accurate absolute volume method

Absolute Volume = weight/(1000ρ) m3

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Total absolute volume = 697 x 103 cm3

Absolute volume of F.A. = (1000 – 697) x 103

= 303 x 103
Weight of FA = 303 x 2.65
= 803 kg/m3

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7 Estimated quantities of materials per cubic meter of
concrete are:

Cement = 394 kg
F.A = 803 kg
C.A = 992 kg
Water = 185 kg

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8 Proportions
C : F.A : C.A : water
394 : 803 : 992 : 185
1 : 2.04 : 2.52 : 0.47
Weight of materials for one bag mix
in kg = 50 : 102 : 126 : 23.5

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9 The above quantities is on the basis that both F.A
and C.A are in saturated and surface dry condition
(SSD conditions).

FA has surface moisture of 2%

Total free surface moisture in FA = (2/100 x 803)
= 16.06 kg/m3
Weight of F.A in field condition = 803 + 16.06 = 819.06 kg/m3

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C.A absorbs 1% water

Quantity of water absorbed by C.A. = (1/100 x 992) = 9.92 kg/m3

Weight of C.A in field condition = 992 – 9.92
= 982 kg/m3
Change in Water Content

Water contributed by F.A = 16.06 kg

Water absorbed by C.A. = 9.92 kg
Extra water contributed by aggs. = 16.06 – 9.92 = 6.14 kg
Total water content = 185.00 – 6.14
= 179 kg/m3

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Quantities of materials to be used in field, corrected for
free surface moisture in F.A and absorption characteristic
of C.A

Cement = 394 kg/m3

F.A. = 819 kg/m3
C.A. = 982 kg/m3
Water = 179 kg/m3
Field density of fresh concrete = 2374
kg/m3

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2. A mix with a mean 28-day compressive strength of 35 MPa and
a slump of 50 mm is required, using OPC. The maximum size
of well shaped, angular aggregate is 20mm, its bulk density is
1600 kg/m3 and its specific gravity is 2.64. The available fine
aggregate has a fineness modulus of 2.60 and a specific
gravity of 2.58. No air-entrainment is required.

Water/Cement ratio

As durability criteria is not

mentioned, consider strength alone

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Strength Criteria

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Water/cement ratio =0.48

Slump = 50 mm
Max size of aggregate = 20 mm

Determine water content

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Composition of concrete (kg/m3)

Water = 185

Cement = 386

CA = 1020

FA = 738

Density of Concrete = 2329 (kg/m3)

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 ROAD NOTE No. 4 METHOD OF MIX DESIGN
Proposed by the Road Research Laboratory, UK (1950)

Procedure:

1. The average compressive strength of the mix to be designed is

obtained by applying control factors to the minimum
compressive strength

2. Water/cement ratio is read from compressive strength v/s w/c

ratio graph

3. Proportion of combined aggregates to cement is determined

from tables, for maximum size 40 mm and 20 mm

4. If the aggregate available differs from the standard gradings,

combine FA and CA so as to produce one of the standard
gradings
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5. The proportion of cement, water, FA and CA is determined
from knowing the water/cement ratio and the
aggregate/cement ratio.

6. Calculate the quantities of ingredients required to produce 1

m3 of concrete, by the absolute volume method, using the
specific gravities of cement and aggregates.

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 DRAWBACKS OF ROAD NOTE NO. 4 METHOD

1. Cannot be used directly for the design of air - entrained

concrete

2. No recommendations for durability or strength, regarding the

water/cement ratio

3. The design tables refer to mixes in which the FA and CA are of

the same shape

4. In selecting aggregate/cement ratio, only 3 shapes of

aggregates and 4 gradings are recommended.

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 DOE METHOD OF MIX DESIGN

Can be used for concrete containing fly ash.

PROCEDURE
1. Target mean strength is calculated
2. Select water/cement ratio, from the type of cement and CA.
Compare this with the ratio from durability conditions.
3. Decide the water content for required workability
4. Compare the cement content with the minimum cement content
value and adopt the higher value
5. Find out the total aggregate content
6. Determine the proportion of FA using the appropriate FA% v/s
CA size graph, and find the weight of CA and FA
7. Work out a trial mix.

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 BIS RECOMMENDED MIX DESIGN METHOD

The BIS recommended mix design procedure is covered in IS

10262-82.

In line with IS 456-2000, the first revision IS 10262-2009 was

published, to accommodate some of the following changes:

• Increase in strength of cement

• Express workability in terms of slump, rather than the

compacting factor

• Extend the W/C ratio v/s compressive strength graph

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Modifications in IS 10262-2009

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 MIX DESIGN BASED ON IS RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on IS 10262:1982

Procedure:

1. Target mean strength for mix design:

fck* = fck + tS

where fck = characteristic compressive strength at 28 days

S = standard deviation
t = a statistical value depending on the risk factor.

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2. Selection of Water/Cement ratio

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3. Estimation of Entrapped Air

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4. Selection of Water Content and Fine to Total Aggregate ratio

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5. Calculation of Cement Content:

cement by mass = Water content/Water cement ratio

To be checked against the minimum cement content for the requirement

of durability and the greater of the two values to be adopted.

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6. Calculation of aggregate content:

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7. Actual quantities required for mix

Adjust the mix for deviations from assumed conditions

8. Check the calculated mix proportions

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 DESIGN EXAMPLE: BIS RECOMMENDED METHOD

Grade M20
(a ) Design stipulations
(i ) Characteristic compressive strength
required in the field at 28 days - 20 MPa
(ii ) Maximum size of aggregate - 20 mm (angular)
(iii ) Degree of workability - 0.90 compacting factor
(iv ) Degree of quality control - Good
(v ) Type of Exposure - Mild
(b) Test data for Materials
(i ) Specific gravity of cement - 3.15
(ii ) Compressive strength of cement at 7 days - Satisfies the
requirement of IS: 269–1989

(iii ) 1. Specific gravity of coarse aggregates - 2.60

2. Specific gravity of fine aggregates - 2.60

(iv ) Water absorption:

1. Coarse aggregate - 0.50%
2. Fine aggregate - 1.0%

(v ) Free (surface) moisture:

1. Coarse aggregate - Nil
2. Fine aggregate - 2.0%
Design Procedure

1. Target mean strength of concrete

fck* = fck + tS

fck = 20, t = 1.64 , S = 4

fck* = 26.6 MPa

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2. Selection of Water/Cement Ratio

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Durability Criteria: Mild Exposure Conditions

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W/C ratio from strength considerations = 0.50

W/C ratio from durability considerations = 0.55

Adopt the lower value

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3. Selection of water and sand content

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Adjustments in Water and Sand Contents

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4. Determination of cement content

Water-cement ratio = 0.50

water = 191.6 kg/m3

Cement = 191.6/0.50 = 383 kg/m3

Is this satisfactory for ‘mild’ exposure condition?

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5. Determination of coarse and fine aggregate contents

Specified max. size of aggregate = 20 mm

Corresponding entrapped air = 2%

fa = 546 kg/m3,
Ca = 1188 kg/m3

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Final Mix Proportions

Water Cement FA CA
191.6 383 546 1188
0.50 1 1.425 3.10

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