Concrete Mix Design Continued (Presentation to be used with lecture notes)

The water content and cement content are now known.

Determine the total aggregate content. (ie. Fine and coarse agg.)
by estimating the wet density of fresh concrete made using our
ingredients using Fig.5.
The total aggregate content per m3 of concrete is:
Wet density of concrete (kg/m3) – Cement content (kg/m3) –
Water content (kg/m3)

Saturated surface dry is when all accessible internal pores

are full of water but the aggregate surface is dry.

The free water content of a concrete mix excludes water

absorbed in the aggregates.
Determine the proportion of fine and coarse aggregate in the total aggregate using Fig.6.

The proportion of fine aggregate will depend on the maximum size of aggregate (10, 20 or 40mm); the
consistence level; the grading of the fine aggregate (defined by its percentage passing a 600μm sieve);
and the free water/cement ratio.
Back to Example 1
Determine the batch quantities for 1m3 of concrete which is to have a slump of 10 to 30mm and characteristic
28 day compressive cube strength of 30N/mm2. 5% failures are permitted. No previous results are available.
 
For durability, the maximum free w/c ratio allowed is 0.55 and minimum cement content is 290kg/m 3.
 
Cement: Portland cement CEM II 42.5N
Sand /Fine agg.: Crushed; relative density 2.7; 70% passes the 600m sieve;
Coarse agg.: Crushed; relative density 2.7; max size 20mm;
 
Use the standard BRE design charts provided.

Solution
Last time we had determined:
W:C should be 0.55
Water content should be 190 kg/m3 = 190 litres/m3
Cement content should be 345 kg/m3
Estimated wet density of concrete
made with crushed aggs and a
water content of 190 kg/m3 =
2430 kg/m3.

Total aggregate content =

2430 – 190 – 345 = 1895 kg/m3.
For max agg. size = 20mm,
slump required = 10-30mm,
70% of fine agg. passes the
600m sieve,
W:C ratio = 0.55:

From Fig.6 the proportion of fine

agg. reqd = 28%.
Fine aggregate required is 0.28 x 1895 = 531kg/m3.

The remainder of the (total) aggregate is coarse aggregate = 1895 – 531 = 1364 kg/m3.

The coarse aggregate content itself can be subdivided if single sized 10mm, 20mm, and 40mm
materials are to be combined. Recommended ratios are:
1 : 2 for combinations of 10mm and 20mm material; (most common)
1 : 1.5 : 3 for combinations of 10, 20 and 40mm material.

Therefore we will use 1364/3 = 455 kg/m3 of 10mm coarse agg,

And 1364 x 2/3 = 909 kg/m3 of 20mm agg.

Summary:
Water 190kg
Cement 345kg Next time we will correct these values to allow
Fine agg (sand) 531kg for free water present on the aggregates.
10mm Coarse agg 455kg
20mm Coarse agg 909kg
Total 2430kg (Always check)