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Concrete Mix Design Guide
Concrete Mix Design Guide
and Proportioning
Concrete Mixtures
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures
CHAPTER 15
Overview
Prescriptive and Performance Based Specifications
Mix Design
Mixture Proportioning
Examples of Mixture Proportioning
Concrete for Small Jobs
Mixture Review
Designing and Proportioning Concrete Mixtures
Courtesy of K. Hover
Designing and Proportioning Concrete Mixtures
Courtesy of K. Hover
Designing and Proportioning Concrete Mixtures
Concrete materials are themselves variable, and the
relationships among proportions are mixture-and-
materials-specific.
Any set of proposed mixture proportions is referred to as a
trial mixture, until satisfactory performance has been
demonstrated through laboratory or field testing.
Mix Design
Adapted from Table 15-3, ACI 211.1, ACI 211.3, and Hover 1995
Aggregates
Adapted from Table 15-4, ACI 211.1 and Hover (1995 and 1998)
Aggregates
Limits on nominal maximum size of aggregate particles reduce the risk
of voids in a structure. The nominal maximum aggregate size of
aggregate should not exceed:
Adapted from Table 15-5, ACI 211.1, and Hover (1995 and 1998)
Slump
Adapted from previous table, ACI 211.1, and Hover (1995 and 1998)
Cementing Materials Content
Cementing Materials Content
Minimum cement content requirements serve to
ensure satisfactory durability and finishability
to improve wear resistance of slabs
to guarantee a suitable appearance of vertical surfaces.
Cementing Materials Content
Steps to minimize water and cement requirements include:
1. The stiffest practical mixture
2. The largest practical size of aggregate
3. The optimum ratio of fine-to-coarse aggregate
Cementing Materials Content
Chemical Admixture
Water-reducing admixtures are added to concrete to:
reduce the water-cementing materials ratio
reduce cementing materials content, reduce water content
reduce paste content
to improve the workability of a concrete without changing
the water-cementing materials ratio.
Chemical Admixture
Water reducers will usually decrease water contents by 5% to
10% and some will also increase air contents by 0.5 to 1
percentage points.
Retarders may also increase the air content.
High-range water reducers (plasticizers) reduce water contents
between 12% and 30% and some can simultaneously increase
the air content up to 1 percentage point; others can reduce or
have no affect the air content
Chemical Admixture
Proportioning
Weight proportioning methods are fairly simple and quick for
estimating mixture proportions using an assumed or known
weight of concrete per unit volume.
A more accurate method, absolute volume, involves use of
relative density (specific gravity) values.
The absolute volume method will be illustrated.
Proportioning
Proportioning
Givens:
Severe freeze-thaw environment
c = 35 MPa at 28 days
Air-entrained concrete
Slump of 25-75 mm
Nom. Max. Size Aggregate = 25 mm
No statistical data available
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Available materials:
Type GU cement per ASTM C1157
Well-graded, 25-mm, rounded gravel
Relative density = 2.68, absorption = 0.5%, bulk density
= 1600 kg/m3, moisture content = 2%
Natural sand
Relative density = 2.64, absorption = 0.7%, moisture
content = 6%, fineness modulus = 2.80
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Available materials:
Wood-resin type air-entraining admixture
Water-reducer 10% reduction
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Volumes:
Water = 135 / 1 x 1000 = 0.135 m3
Cement = 435 / 3.0 x 1000 = 0.145 m3
Air = 8.0 / 100 = 0.080 m3
Coarse aggregate = 1072 / 2.68 x 1000 = 0.4 m3
Total volume of known ingredients 0.760 m3
Fine aggregate = 1 0.76 = 0.24 m3
Fine aggregate mass: 0.24 x 2.64 x 1000 = 634 kg
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Water 135 kg
Cement 435 kg
Coarse aggregate (dry) 1072 kg
Fine aggregate (dry) 634 kg
Total mass 2276 kg
Air-entraining admixture 0.218 kg
Water reducer 1.305 kg
Slump 75 mm
Air content 8%
Estimated concrete density
= 135 + 435 + (1072 x 1.005) + (634 x 1.007) = 2286 kg/m 3
Moisture Corrections
Corrections are needed to compensate for moisture in and on
the aggregates
In practice, aggregates will contain some measurable amount of
moisture.
The dry-batch weights of aggregates, therefore, have to be
increased to compensate for the moisture that is absorbed in
and contained on the surface of each particle and between
particles.
The mixing water added to the batch must be reduced by the
amount of free moisture contributed by the aggregates.
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Moisture corrections:
Coarse aggregate (2% MC): 1072 x 1.02 = 1093 kg
Fine aggregate (6% MC): 634 x 1.06 = 672 kg
Water: 135 (1072 x 0.015) (634 x 0.053) = 85 kg
Example 1: Absolute Volume Method (Metric)
Water 127 kg
Cement 410 kg
Coarse aggregate (dry) 1072 kg
Fine aggregate (dry) 676 kg
Total 2285 kg
Air-entraining admixture 164 g or mL
Water reducer 1230 g or mL
Estimated concrete density (aggregates at SSD) = 127 + 410
+ (1072 x 1.005) + (676 x 1.007) = 2295 kg/m3
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Givens:
c = 3500 psi at 28 days
Type I cement
Minimum 3 in. cover
Nom. Max. Size Aggregate = 25 mm
No statistical data available
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Available materials:
Type I cement per ASTM C150
in. Coarse aggregate well-graded gravel with some
crushed particles, relative density = 2.68, absorption =
0.5%, bulk density = 100 lb/ft3, moisture content = 2%
Natural sand
relative density = 2.64, absorption = 0.7%
moisture content = 6%, fineness modulus = 2.8
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Volume computations:
Water = 270 / 1 * 62.4 = 4.33 ft3
Cement = 643 / 3.15 * 62.4 = 3.27 ft3
Air = 7.0 / 100 * 27 = 1.89 ft3
Coarse aggregate = 1674 / 2.68 * 62.4 = 10.01 ft3
Total volume of known ingredients = 19.50 ft3.
Fine aggregate = 27 19.50 = 7.50 ft3
Weight = 7.50 * 2.64 * 62.4 = 1236 lb
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Trial proportions:
Water 270 lb
Cement 643 lb
Coarse aggregate (dry) 1674 lb
Fine aggregate (dry) 1236 lb
Total weight 3823 lb
Air-entraining admixture 5.8 fl oz
Slump 3 in. (34 in. for trial batch)
Air content 7% (0.5% for trial batch)
Estimated density =
[270 + 643 + (1674 x 1.005) + (1236 x 1.007)] 27 = 142.22 lb/ft3
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Adjust water content: +5 lb for 1% air, -10 lb for 1-in. slump reduction
= 262 lb/yd3
New cement content = 262 / 0.42 = 624 lb/yd3
New batch volumes:
Water = 262 / 1 x 62.4 = 4.20 ft3
Cement = 624 / 3.15 x 62.4 = 3.17 ft3
Coarse aggregate = 1674 / 2.68 x 62.4 = 10.01 ft3
Air = 7.0 / 100 x 27 = 1.89 ft3
Total = 19.27 ft3
Fine aggregate volume = 27 19.27 = 7.73 ft3
The weight of dry fine aggregate required is 7.73 x 2.64 x 62.4 = 1273 lb
Example 2: Absolute Volume Method (Inch-Pound)
Hover 1995
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
Givens:
Design strength = 40 MPa
Freeze/thaw, deicer, and very severe sulfate exposure
Chloride permeability limit = 1500 coulombs
Shrinkage limit = 300 millionths
Heat control due to element thickness
Concrete producer standard deviation = 2 MPa
Slump = 200-250 mm
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
Available materials:
Cement Type HS, relative density = 3.14, silica fume content = 5%
Fly ash Class F, relative density = 2.60
Slag Grade 120, relative density = 2.90
Coarse aggregate well-graded, 19-mm nom. max. size, crushed rock;
relative density = 2.68, absorption = 0.5%, moisture content = 2.0%,
ovendry density = 1600 kg/m3, history of ASR
Fine aggregate natural sand with some crushed, relative density = 2.64,
absorption = 0.7%, moisture content = 6%, fineness modulus = 2.80
AEA synthetic; Retarding water reducer 3 g/kg cement; Plasticizer
30 g/kg cement; Shrinkage reducer 15 g/kg cement
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
cr is greater of:
Water content:
Base = 168 kg/m3
15% water reduction = 168 * 0.85 = 143 kg/m3
Cement content = 143 / 0.35 = 409 kg/m3
Cement: 55% of 409 = 225 kg/m3
Slag: 30% of 409 = 123 kg/m3
Fly ash: 15% of 409 = 61 kg/m3
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
Coarse aggregate:
1600 kg/m3 * 0.62 m3 = 992 kg/m3
AEA = 0.5 x 409 = 205 g = 0.205 kg
Water-reducer = 3 x 409 = 1227 g = 1.227 kg
Plasticizer = 30 x 409 = 12,270 g = 12.270 kg
Shrinkage-reducer
= 15 x 409 = 6135 g = 6.135 kg
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
Volume computations:
Water (including chemical admixtures) = 143 / 1.0 x 997.75 = 0.143 m3
Cement = 225 / 3.14 x 997.75 = 0.072 m3
Fly ash = 61 / 2.60 x 997.75 = 0.024 m3
Slag = 123 / 2.90 x 997.75 = 0.043 m3
Air = 8.0 / 100 = 0.080 m3
Coarse aggregate = 992 / 2.68 x 997.75 = 0.371 m3
Total = 0.733 m3
Fine aggregate = 1 0.733 = 0.267 m3
Mass of fine aggregate = 0.267 x 2.64 x 997.75 = 703 kg
Air entrainer = 0.205 / (1.0 x 997.75) = 0.0002 m3
Water reducer = 1.227 / (1.0 x 997.75) = 0.0012 m3
Plasticizer = 12.270 / (1.0 x 997.75) = 0.0123 m3
Shrinkage reducer = 6.135 / (1.0 x 997.75) = 0.0062 m 3
Total Weight of Admxiture = 19.84 kg Total Volume of = 0.0199 m3
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method Multiple Cementing Materials
Proportions:
Water 123 kg Slump = 25020 mm for trial batch
Cement 225 Air content = 80.5% for trial batch
kg Estimated concrete density
Fly ash 61 = 123 + 225 + 61 + 123 + (992 x
kg 1.005) + (703 x 1.007) + 20
Slag 123 kg (admixtures) = 2257 kg/m3
Coarse aggregate (dry) 992 kg
Fine aggregate (dry) 703
kg
Air entrainer 0.205
kg
Water reducer 1.227 kg
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method
Multiple Cementing Materials
Moisture corrections: New batch quantities:
Coarse aggregate Water 71 kg
= (2% MC) 992 x 1.02 = 1012 kg Cement 225 kg
Fine aggregate Fly ash 61 kg
= (6% MC) 703 x 1.06 = 745 kg Slag 123 kg
Water Coarse aggregate 1012 kg
= 123 (992 x 0.015)-(703 x 0.053) Fine aggregate 745 kg
= 71 kg Air entrainer 0.205 kg
Water reducer 1.227 kg
Plasticizer 12.27 kg
Shrinkage reducer 6.14 kg
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method
Multiple Cementing Materials
0.1 m3 test batch results:
Air content = 7.8% ASR testing
Slump = 240 mm = 0.02% expansion
Density = 2257 kg/m3 Temperature rise
Yield = 0.1 m3 = acceptable
Strength = 44 MPa Shrinkage
RCPT testing = 990 coulombs = below 300 millionths
Water-soluble chloride content
= 0.06%
Example 5: Absolute Volume Method
Multiple Cementing Materials
Mixture for submission:
Water 123 kg Plasticizer 12.27
Cement, Type HS 225 kg kg
Fly ash, Class F 61 kg Shrinkage reducer 6.14 kg
Slag, Grade 120 123 kg Slump 200-250 mm
Coarse aggregate 997 kg (SSD) Air content 5-8%
Fine aggregate 708 kg (SSD) Density (SSD) 2257 kg/m3
Air entrainer 0.205 kg Yield 1 m3
Water reducer 1.227 kg w/cm 0.35
Mixture Review
Summary
Mix Design
Proportioning
Concrete for Small Jobs
Mixture Review
Questions