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Concrete Mix Design, Is Standard
Concrete Mix Design, Is Standard
Concrete mix design is a procedure of selecting the suitable ingredients of concrete and their
relative proportions with an objective to prepare concrete of certain minimum strength,
desired workability and durability as economically (value engineered) as possible.
As we decide to go for a concrete mix design, collect the following data before hand as few
design stipulation are freezed on the basis of these data.
As per exposure condition, you have the above data for working the first trial and arriving its
mix proportion.
If you are getting desired result at a lower cement content, you need to put extra as
mentioned by IS 456.
Minimum thickness of member: Size of aggregate should not be more than one-fourth of
the minimum thickness of member, mostly 20 mm nominal size aggregate is suitable for most
works. It is always suggested to go the maximum nominal size of aggregate to save on
quantity of cement per unit of concrete.
Cement Grade : Cement type/grade locally available that can be made available throughout
construction period
Workability : Placing condition of concrete governs its workability, low – slump of 25-75
mm (lightly reinforced sections in slab, beam, column) to high – slump of 100-150 mm (slip
form, pumped concrete) .
(e) Type of exposure the structure will be subjected to (as defined in IS: 456) — Moderate
Aggregate are assumed to be in saturated surface dry condition usually while preparing
design mix.
Where,
Note : Under control conditions if Target average compressive strength is achieved then at
field the probability of getting compressive strength of 30 MPa is very high
Step 2 — Selection Of Water-Cement Ratio:-
Note : Do not start with w/c ratio above 0.50,even though the other desired results like
Strength, workability could be achieved.
Step 3 — Selection Of Water Content
i.e. Estimated water content for 100 Slump = 186+(6/100) X 186 = 197 litre
Note 1: In the present case water-cement ratio is 0.5.So there will be no change in coarse
agreegate volume i.e. 0.60 .
Note 2: Incase the coarse aggregate is not angular one, then also volume of coarse aggregate
may be required to be increased suitably based on experience.
Step 6: Estimation Of Concrete Mix Calculations
1. Volume of concrete = 1 m3
2. Volume of cement = (Mass of cement / Specific gravity of cement) x (1/100) =
(39/3.15) x (1/1000) = 0.125 m3
3. Volume of water = (Mass of water / Specific gravity of water) x (1/1000) = (197/1) x
(1/1000) = 0.197 m3
4. Total Volume of Aggregates = 1- (b+c) =1- (0.125+0.197) = 0.678 m3
5. Mass of coarse aggregates = d X Volume of Coarse Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.678 X 0.60 X 2.80 X 1000 = 1139 kgs/m3
6. Mass of fine aggregates = d X Volume of Fine Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.678 X 0.40 X 2.70 X 1000 = 732 kgs/m3
Step-7: Concrete Mix Proportions For Trial Number 1
Note-1: Aggregates should be used in saturated surface dry condition. If otherwise, when
computing the requirement of water, allowance shall be made for the free (surface) moisture
contributed by coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. On the other hand, if the aggregates are
already dry , the amount of water mixed should be increased by an amount equal to the
moisture likely to be absorbed by the aggregates. Necessary adjustments are also required to
be made in the mass of the aggregates. The surface water and percenetage water abosorption
shall be determined according to IS 2386.
The slump shall be measured and the water content and shall be adjusted for achieving the
required slump based on trial, if required. The mix proportions shall be reworked for the
actual water content and checked for durability requirements.
Two more trials having variation of +/- 10% of water cement ratio shall be carried out and a
graph between three water-cement ratios and their corresponding strength shall be plotted to
work out the mix proportions for the given target strength for field trials. However, durability
requirement shall be met.
1. Volume of concrete = 1 m3
2. Volume of cement = (Mass of cement / Specific gravity of cement) x (1/100) =
(382/3.15) x (1/1000) = 0.121 m3
3. Volume of water = (Mass of water / Specific gravity of water) x (1/1000) = (191/1) x
(1/1000) = 0.191 m3
4. Total Volume of Aggregates = 1- (b+c) =1- (0.121+0.191) = 0.688 m3
5. Mass of coarse aggregates = d X Volume of Coarse Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.688 X 0.60 X 2.80 X 1000 = 1155 kgs/m3
6. Mass of fine aggregates = d X Volume of Fine Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.688 X 0.40 X 2.70 X 1000 = 743 kgs/m3
Final Concrete Mix proportions for Trial Number 2
Cement = 382 kg/m3
Sand being of Zone – I i.e. coarser ,If achieved concrete appears to be under sanded ,coarse
aggregate is prominent and the mix is non-cohesive (not able to form ball).
Increase sand proportion in increments of 3%, coarse aggregate proportion will reduce by
3%.
1. Volume of concrete = 1 m3
2. Volume of cement = (Mass of cement / Specific gravity of cement) x (1/100) =
(394/3.15) x (1/1000) = 0.125 m3
3. Volume of water = (Mass of water / Specific gravity of water) x (1/1000) = (197/1) x
(1/1000) = 0.197 m3
4. Total Volume of Aggregates = 1- (b+c) =1- (0.125+0.197) = 0.678 m3
5. Mass of coarse aggregates = d X Volume of Coarse Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.678 X 0.57 X 2.80 X 1000 = 1082 kgs/m3
6. Mass of fine aggregates = d X Volume of Fine Aggregate X Specific Gravity of
Coarse Aggregate X 1000 = 0.678 X 0.43 X 2.70 X 1000 = 787 kgs/m3
Final Concrete Mix proportions for Trial Number 3
Cement = 394 kg/m3