HOW TO CALCULATE QUANTITIES OF MATERIALS FOR DIFFERENT MIX

RATIO OF CONCRETE

CALCULATION OF MATERIALS FOR DIFFERENT MIX

RATIO:
Quantity estimation of materials is essentially required in any construction works and quantity of
materials depend on the mix proportions of the concrete. In our previous article, we have already
discussed how to calculate bricks in a wall. Today we will discuss how to calculate quantities of
materials for different mix ratio of concrete. (Dry mix method)

We will calculate quantities of materials for 1 m3 concrete (By volume).

Let us assume the mix proportion is 1 : 2: 4 (cement:sand:stone =a:b:c)

Volume of wet concrete = 1 m3

Volume of dry concrete = 1 × 1.54 = 1.54 m3

What Is 1.54 Given Below:

CALCULATION FOR CEMENT:

Formula, Cement = (Volume of dry concrete/a+b+c) × a
= (1.54/a+b+c) × a = [(1.54/1+2+4)] × 1 = 0.22 cum

Now density of cement = 1440 kg/cum

∴ Volume of cement = 0.22 × 1440 =316.8 kg.

As we know, 1 bag of cement contains 50 kg of cement .

∴ Cement bags required = 316.8/50 = 6.33 bags.

CALCULATION FOR SAND:
Formula, Sand = (Volume of dry concrete/a+b+c) × b

= (1.54/a+b+c) × b = (1.54/1+2+4) × 2 = 0.44 cum.

CALCULATION FOR STONE CHIPS:

Formula, Stone Chips = (Volume of dry concrete/a+b+c) × c
= (1.54/a+b+c) ×c = (1.54/1+2+4) × 4 = 0.88 cum.

CALCULATION FOR WATER CONTENT:

Let us assume the water/cement ratio of the concrete is 0.45.

w/c = 0.45
Required water for 1 bag cement = 0.45 × 0.0353 = 0.0159 cum.

Where volume of 50 kg cement = 0.0353 cum

1 m3 water = 1000 Litre

Required water for 1 bag cement=0.0159 × 1000 = 15.9 Litre.

∴ Required water for 6.33 bags cement = 6.33 × 15.9 = 101 Litre.

SUMMARY:
Cement = 6.33 bags.
Sand = 0.44 cum

Stone chips = 0.88 cum

Water = 101 litre.

Note: Yield of concrete is considered as 67% &

Wastages of materials = 2%
You can use the same formula for different mix proportions such as 1:1.5:3 etc.

Here, we have used cubic meter unit but you can also calculate in cubic feet unit.

Calculate Quantities of Materials for Concrete

Quantities of materials for the production of required quantity of concrete of

given mix proportions can be calculated by absolute volume method. This
method is based on the principle that the volume of fully compacted
concrete is equal to the absolute volume of all the materials of concrete, i.e.
cement, sand, coarse aggregates and water.

A Concrete structure may consists of beams, slabs, columns and foundations

etc. based on type of structure. The volume of concrete required for
concrete structure can be calculated by summing up the volumes of each
structural member or each parts of members. The volume of a rectangular
cross sectional member can be calculated as length x width x height (or
depth or thickness). Suitable formula shall be used for different cross-
sectional shapes of members.

The formula for calculation of materials for required volume of concrete is

given by:

Where, Vc = Absolute volume of fully compacted fresh concrete

W =Mass of water

C = Mass of cement

Fa = Mass of fine aggregates

Ca = Mass of coarse aggregates

Sc, Sfa and Sca are the specific gravities of cement, fine aggregates and coarse
aggregates respectively.
The air content has been ignored in this calculation.

This method of calculation for quantities of materials for concrete takes into
account the mix proportions from design mix or nominal mixes for structural
strength and durability requirement.

Now we will learn the material calculation by an example.

Calculating Quantities of Materials for per cubic meter

or cubic feet or cubic yards concrete
Consider concrete with mix proportion of 1:1.5:3 where, 1 is part of cement,
1.5 is part of fine aggregates and 3 is part of coarse aggregates of maximum
size of 20mm. The water cement ratio required for mixing of concrete is
taken as 0.45.

Assuming bulk densities of materials per cubic meter, cubic feet and cubic yards as follows:

Cement = 1500 kg/m3 = 93.642 lb/ft3 = 3.4682 lb/cubic yards

Sand = 1700 kg/m3 = 105 lb/ft3 = 3.89 lb/cubic yards
Coarse aggregates = 1650 kg/m3 = 105 lb/ft3 = 3.89 lb/cubic yards
Specific gravities of concrete materials are as follows:
Cement = 3.15

Sand = 2.6

Coarse aggregates = 2.6.

The percentage of entrained air assumed is 2%.

The mix proportion of 1:1.5:3 by dry volume of materials can be expressed in terms of
masses as:
Cement = 1 x 1500 = 1500

Sand = 1.5 x 1700 = 2550

Coarse aggregate = 3 x 1650 = 4950.

Therefore, the ratio of masses of these materials w.r.t. cement will as

follows =

= 1 : 1.7 : 3.3

The water cement ratio = 0.45

Now we will calculate the volume of concrete that can be produced with one bag
of cement (i.e. 50 kg cement) for the mass proportions of concrete
materials.
Thus, the absolute volume of concrete for 50 kg of cement =

Thus, for the proportion of mix considered, with one bag of cement of 50 kg,
0.1345 m3 of concrete can be produced.
We have considered an entrained air of 2%. Thus the actual volume of
concrete for 1 cubic meter of compacted concrete construction will be = 1 -
0.02 = 0.98 m3.
Thus, the quantity of cement required for 1 cubic meter of concrete =
0.98/0.1345 = 7.29 bags of cement.

The quantities of materials for 1 m3 of concrete production can be calculated as

follows:
The weight of cement required = 7.29 x 50 = 364.5 kg.
Weight of fine aggregate (sand) = 1.5 x 364.5 = 546.75 kg.

Weight of coarse aggregate = 3 x 364.5 = 1093.5 kg.

How to Calculate Concrete Volume?

If it is a volume, then we know there must be 3 dimensions, Length, Height,
Width or Breadth.
We covered some Basic Surface Area and Volume Formulas.
For Slab, If we need to calculate the concrete volume,

Volume = Length X Breadth X Width/Thickness = 5 X 3 X 0.125 = 3.75 m3

For Beam, If we need to calculate the concrete volume,

Volume = Length X Breadth X Width = 5 X 0.6 X 0.3 = 3.75 m3

For Column, If we need to calculate a concrete volume for the below Columns,
Rectangular Column, Volume = Height X Breadth X Width = 5 X 0.6 X 0.3 =
0.9 m3
Circular Column, Volume = πr2 h= 3.141256 X (0.15)2 X 5 = 0.35 m3

Concrete Ingredients Calculation

For Cement, Sand and Coarse Aggregate.
This is a Volumetric Calculation.
Assuming we need 2 m3 of concrete for M20 Concrete Mix, (Mix Ratio, M20 = 1
: 1.5 : 3)
Total Part of the Concrete = 1+1.5+3 = 5.5 Parts
Therefore, Cement Quantity = (Cement Part / Concrete Parts ) * Concrete
Volume
= (1/5.5)* Concrete Volume = (1/5.5)*2 = 0.3636
m3
Density of Cement = 1440 kg/ m3 = 0.3636 X 1440 = 523 kg = 10.5 Approx.
Bags
Sand Quantity = ( Sand Part / Concrete Parts ) * Concrete Volume = (1.5/5.5)
* 2 = 0.5454 m3
Coarse Aggregate = (Coarse Aggregate Part / Concrete Parts ) * Concrete
Volume
= (3/5.5) * 2 = 1.09 m3

Water Cement Ratio

According to IS 10262 (2009), Assuming Water-Cement Ratio for the Concrete
as 0.45
Required Amount of Water = W/C Ratio X Cement Volume

Therefore, Water = 0.45 X 0.3636 m3 = 0.16362 m3

Unit Weight of Water = 1000 litres/m3

Required Amount of Water = 0.16362 X 1000 = 163.62 litres

Therefore, we need 10.5 bags of cement, 0.5454 m3 of sand, 1.09 m3 of
Coarse aggregates and 163.62 litres of water.