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Concrete Mix Design Calculation For M20
Concrete Mix Design Calculation For M20
Generally, cement is more costly than other ingredients of concrete. So, quantity and
quality of cement is designed by proper mix design concept. In this article we are going
to discuss about the concrete mix design concept as per IS 10262-2009.
Source: theconstructor.org
Manipur Technical University
Procedure for concrete mix design requires following step by step process:
1. Calculation of target strength of concrete
2. Selection of water-cement ratio
3. Determination of aggregate air content
4. Selection of water content for concrete
5. Selection of cement content for concrete
6. Calculation of aggregate ratio
7. Calculation of aggregate content for concrete
8. Trial mixes for testing concrete mix design strength
M10 3.5
M15 3.5
M20 4.0
M25 4.0
M30 5.0
M35 5.0
M40 5.0
M45 5.0
M50 5.0
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Manipur Technical University
10mm 5%
20mm 2%
40mm 1%
10mm 208
20mm 186
40mm 165
If the shape of aggregate or slump value is differing from above, then some adjustments
are required as follows.
Condition Adjustment
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aggregate. Alternatively, there are some formulae to find the volume of fine and coarse
aggregates as follows.
W = water content
C = cement content
The fresh concrete properties like workability, setting time and hardened concrete
properties like compressive strength, durability etc. are attained surely by this method.
Use of additives like admixtures, retarders etc. other than basic ingredients are used to
improve the properties of mix.
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Manipur Technical University
Using design concrete mix, one can design various grades of concrete from as low as
M10 grade to higher grades such as M80, M100 can also be prepared. The workability
requirements of each mix can also meet using this method from zero slump to the 150
mm slump. Each mix prepared is tested in laboratory after hardening to verify whether
it meet the requirement or not.
Concrete with good quality improves its properties such as strength, durability etc. The
design mix which is prepared from suitable ingredients in respective proportions itself
improves the concrete properties.
The concrete mix prepared is tested using compressive strength machines, tensile
strength machines in the form of concrete cubes and cylinders. Hence, recommended
grade of concrete can be obtained using concrete mix design.
But using concrete mix design, concrete of required strength can be designed with
accurate quantity of cement. It saves the cost of the project and economical concrete
mix will be obtained and also prevents the formation shrinkage cracks by lowering heat
of hydration.
Source: theconstructor.org
Manipur Technical University
Source: theconstructor.org
Manipur Technical University
It is also known that with increase in workability of concrete, the strength of concrete
reduces. Thus, based on type of structure or structural member, the workability
requirement of concrete should be assumed and considered in the mix design.
3. Quality control at site: The strength and durability of concrete depends on the
degree of quality control during construction operation at site. Nominal mixes of
concrete assumes the worst quality control at site based on past experiences.
Thus, for design mix concrete, it is essential to understand the quality control capability
of contractor and workmen at construction site in mixing, transporting, placing,
compacting and curing of concrete. Each step in concrete construction process affects
the strength and durability of concrete.
The availability of workmen also affects quality control of concrete. The more skilled
workmen and supervision helps to maintain good quality construction.
4. Weather conditions: Weather impacts the setting time of concrete. In hot climate,
the concrete tends to set early due to loss in moisture, and in this case, the concrete need
to have higher water cement ratio or special admixtures to delay initial setting of
concrete. Recommendations for concrete cooling agents also required to be mentioned
in the mix design for very hot weather conditions.
In cold climates, the initial setting time of concrete increases as the moisture loss rate
is very low. Due to this, water cement ratio is considered appropriately. Admixtures
should also be recommended to prevent freezing of concrete in case of very cold
climate.
6. Batching and mixing methods: There are two types of batching method, i.e.
volumetric batching and batching by weight. These two conditions should be known for
concrete mix design calculations.
Mixing methods include manual mixing, machine mixing, ready mix concrete etc. The
quality control of concrete varies with each type of mixing method.
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Manipur Technical University
The concrete mix design involves various steps, calculations and laboratory testing to
find right mix proportions. This process is usually adopted for structures which requires
higher grades of concrete such as M25 and above and large construction projects where
quantity of concrete consumption is huge..
Benefits of concrete mix design is that it provides the right proportions of materials,
thus making the concrete construction economical in achieving required strength of
structural members. As, the quantity of concrete required for large constructions are
huge, economy in quantity of materials such as cement makes the project construction
economical.
Concrete Mix design of M20, M25, M30 and higher grade of concrete can be calculated
from example below.
(f) Type of exposure the structure will be subjected to (as defined in IS: 456) — Mild
Maximum water content = 186 Kg (for Nominal maximum size of aggregate — 20 mm)
(+3/25) x 25 =
Slump 25-50 mm 50-75 25
+3
Shape of
Angular Angular Nil –
Aggregate
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Total +3
Estimated water content = 186+ (3/100) x 186 = 191.6 kg /m3
In the present example against mild exposure and for the case of reinforced concrete the
minimum cement content is 300 kg/m3 which is less than 383.2 kg/m3. Hence cement
content adopted = 383.2 kg/m3.
As per clause 8.2.4.2 of IS: 456
pump able
Workability – – -10% See Note 2
concrete
Total -10%
Note 1: For every ±0.05 change in w/c, the coarse aggregate proportion is to be changed
by 0.01. If the w/c is less than 0.5 (standard value), volume of coarse aggregate is
required to be increased to reduce the fine aggregate content. If the w/c is more than
0.5, volume of coarse aggregate is to be reduced to increase the fine aggregate content.
If coarse aggregate is not angular, volume of coarse aggregate may be required to be
increased suitably, based on experience.
Note 2: For pump able concrete or congested reinforcement the coarse aggregate
proportion may be reduced up to 10%.
Hence,
Volume of coarse aggregate per unit volume of total aggregate = 0.62 x 90% = 0.558
For casting trial -1, mass of ingredients required will be calculated for 4 no’s cube
assuming 25% wastage.
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Since the aggregate is saturated surface dry condition hence no correction is required.
Example
Concrete Trial Mix 1:
The mix proportion as calculated in Step 6 forms trial mix1. With this proportion,
concrete is manufactured and tested for fresh concrete properties requirement i.e.
workability, bleeding and finishing qualities.
In this case,
Slump value = 25 mm
Mix is cohesive, workable and had a true slump of about 25 mm and it is free from
segregation and bleeding.
As mentioned earlier to adjust fresh concrete properties the water cement ratio will not
be changed. Hence
Slump value = 60 mm
Mix is very cohesive, workable and had a true slump of about 60 mm.
It virtually flowed during vibration but did not exhibit any segregation and bleeding.
An increase of 0.05 in the w/c will entail a reduction in the coarse aggregate fraction by
0.01.
Hence the coarse aggregate as percentage of total aggregate = 0.558 – 0.01 = 0.548
W/c = 0.55
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Manipur Technical University
Slump value = 75 mm
Mix is stable, cohesive, and workable and had a true slump of about 75 mm.
W/c = 0.45
A reduction of 0.05 in w/c will entail and increase of coarse aggregate fraction by 0.01.
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Manipur Technical University
W/c = 0.44
The mixing of concrete constituent materials i.e. cement, water, aggregates and
admixtures in specified proportions will produce a concrete of adequate strength. The
mix design strength developed for a given type of cement is dependent on the following
factors:
1. Water/Cement Ratio
2. Cement Content
3. Relative proportion of fine and coarse aggregates
4. Admixture
1. Water/cement ratio
Water to cement ratio (W/C ratio) is the single most important factor governing the
strength and durability of concrete. Strength of concrete depends upon W/C ratio rather
than the cement content.
Abram’s law states that “higher the water/cement ratio, lower is the strength of
concrete.” As a thumb rule every 1% increase in quantity of water added, reduces
the strength of concrete by 5%.
A water/cement ratio of only 0.38 is required for complete hydration of cement.
(Although this is the theoretical limit, water cement ratio lower than 0.38 will also
increase the strength, since all the cement that is added, does not hydrate) Water added
for workability over and above this water/cement ratio of 0.38, evaporates leaving
cavities in the concrete. These cavities are in the form of thin capillaries. They reduce
the strength and durability of concrete. Hence, it is very important to control the
water/cement ratio on site.
Every extra liter of water will approx. reduce the strength of concrete by 2 to 3
N/mm2and increase the workability by 25 mm. As stated earlier, the water/cement
ratio strongly influences the permeability of concrete and durability of concrete.
Revised IS 456-2000 has restricted the maximum water/cement ratios for durability
considerations by clause 8.2.4.1, table 5.
2. Cement content
Cement is the core material in concrete, which acts as a binding agent and imparts
strength to the concrete. From durability considerations cement content should not be
reduced below 300Kg/m3 for RCC.
As per IS 456 –2000 , higher cement contents is required for severe conditions of
exposure of weathering agents to the concrete. It is not necessary that higher cement
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Manipur Technical University
content would result in higher strength. In fact, latest findings show that for the same
water/cement ratio, a leaner mix will give better strength.
However, this does not mean that we can achieve higher grades of concrete by just
lowering the water/cement ratio. This is because lower water/cement ratios will mean
lower water contents and result in lower workability. In fact, for achieving a given
workability, a certain quantity of water will be required. If lower water/cement ratio is
to be achieved without disturbing the workability, cement content will have to be
increased.
Water/cement ratios required to achieve target mean strengths are interpolated from
graphs given in IS 10262 Clause 3.1 and 3.2 fig 2. The cement content is found as
follows:
Thus, we see that higher the workability of concrete, greater is cement content required
and vice versa. Also, greater the water/cement ratio, lower is the cement content
required and vice versa.
1. Coarse aggregate (Metal): These are particles retained on standard IS 4.75mm sieve.
2. Fine aggregate (Sand): These are particles passing standard IS 4.75mm sieve.
When comparing coarse and fine aggregates, the coarse aggregate tends to occupy one
third of the volume of the concrete. This means that a change in coarse aggregate would
bring a change in the strength of the concrete.
1. Fineness of sand: Generally, when the sand is fine, smaller proportion of it is enough to get a cohesive
mix; while coarser the sand, greater has to be its proportion with respect to coarse aggregate.
2. Size& shape of coarse aggregates: Greater the size of coarse aggregate lesser is the surface area and
lesser is the proportion of fine aggregate required and vice versa. Flaky aggregates have more surface
area and require greater proportion of fine aggregates to get cohesive mix. Similarly, rounded aggregate
has lesser surface area and require lesser proportion of fine aggregate to get a cohesive mix.
3. Cement content: Leaner mixes require more proportion of fine aggregates than richer mixes. This is
because cement particles also contribute to the fines in concrete.
The grading of the aggregates in the concrete mix design is an important factor that
would determine the amount of paste that is required for the concrete. If the amount of
voids present is high, more cement will be required to fill it. The use of well graded
aggregates will help to reduce this void content to some extent. This will demand for
less paste.
4. Admixtures
A variety of admixtures are available in the market that is used to serve various
purposes. The admixtures are used in the concrete mix design when they have to solve
certain concerns. Some of these concerns are:
Among various admixtures available, the strength gain in concrete is achieved through
the use of water reducing admixtures. As mentioned above, the water cement ratio
cannot be decreased to a certain limit as it would affect the workability of the mix. This
property can be achieved by the use of water reducing admixtures that would give both
a cement rich mix and a workable mix without the use of excess water.
A good workable mix can be obtained only by adding 45 to 55% water by the weight
of cement. This will result the water to remain in excess even after the completion of
hydration. These excess water in the pores get evaporated and create voids. These voids
are the primary reason behind the development of failure cracks which weakens the
concrete. Hence decrease in voids by the use of less amount of water can be achieved
through water reducing admixtures.
Mentioned below are some of the admixtures and their respective roles in the concrete
mix design strength.
• Decrease the water and cement content hence lower the water
High Range Water cement ratio.
1 • Early Strength Gain
Reducers
• Results in High strength Concrete
• Reduce Chloride-ion penetration
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