Chapter Six

Mix Design of Concrete

Content:
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Factors to be Considered in Mix Design
6.3 Concrete Proportioning According to ACI Method
6.1 Introduction

Mix design process consists of two steps:

1. Selection of suitable ingredients of concrete: cement,

aggregate, water, and admixtures.

2. Determining Ingredients relative quantities to produce

concrete which is:

Economic
Workable
Strong and Durable
6.2 Factors to be Considered in Mix Design.

(A) Economy:

The cost of concrete is mostly dependent of content on

cement. Therefore, to use the lowest amount of cement the
following should be done:

Using mixes with low slump concrete.

Using largest possible maximum size of aggregate.
Using appropriate admixtures.

Quality Control: To pay more for quality control or to

increase cement content so as to compensate for lake of
quality control at the site.
Mean strength > Minimum specified strength
 fm = fmin+ KS

fm = mean strength
fmin : minimum specified strength
K : Probability factor (Table I)
S : Modified standard deviation
= F (from Table II) * given standard deviation

•When data are not available to estimate S, Use Table III

Table I Probability Factors.

K Probability (risk)

1.00 1 in 6

1.64 1 in 20

1.96 1 in 40

2.33 1 in 100

3.00 1 in 700
Table II Modification factor for standard
deviation given by ACI 318-83

Number of Factor for standard

Test Derivation (F)

15 1.16

20 1.08

25 1.03

30 or more 1.00
Table III Required Average Compressive Strength
When Data are not Available to Establish A standard
Deviation
(B) Workability:

Minimum workability that permit adequate placement

with minimum segregation and bleeding.

Water requirements depend on the characteristics of the

aggregate.

Increase mortar content instead of increasing water in

order to achieve good workability.
(C) Strength and Durability

28-Day compressive strength must control the mix.

Durability: Resistance to FT and chemical attack

To do so control:
cement content and W/C
use proper admixture.
6.3 Concrete Proportioning According to ACI Method

A. Fundamentals of Mix Design

1. Water / Cement Ratio: W/C ratio controls strength

c  A  Empirical constant (usually taken as 14,000 Psi or 96.5 MPa)

1.5(w/c)
B  Constant depends mostly on the cement properties
(usually taken as 4.0)

Since the W/C controls the porosity it therefore, control the

durability.
2. Aggregate Grading

Average particle size  Packing Density 

Fines needed Improve workability

Use the grading according to ASTM.

B. Mix Design Procedures [ According to ACI Method]

1. Material Information

Sieve analyses (fine and coarse)

Unit Weight (coarse aggregate)
Bulk Specific Gravity (CA, FA)
Absorption (CA, FA)
Fineness Modules (FA)

2. Choice of slump
Depends on the Job. If not specified, use Table 6.1
3. Maximum Aggregate Size

Choose the minimum Dmax of:

S/5
3/4 S
1/3 h

where,
S: spacing between steel and framework.
S: Spacing between reinforcing steel
h: depth of slab (in case of a slab)
Maximum  20-25mm; larger values →
lower strength.
4. Estimation of Mixing Water and Air content

Workability depends on :
Dmax
Paste content
Air entrained %
Grading
Practical shape of aggregate

Slump and Dmax: Water and air contents (see Table 6.2)

Entrained Air %: Depends on level of severity of FT conditions

5. W/C Ratio

Depends on :
Strength : use Table 6.3
Durability: use Tables 6.4,6.5,6.6, and 6.7

6. Calculation of cement content

Based on W/C and water content.

For concretes with fc< 25 MPa, check cement content. It
should be more than those specified by Table 6.8.
7. Estimation of coarse Aggregate Content

Given : Fineness modulus and Dmax

volume of Dry-Rodded coarse aggregate [ see Table 9.9 ]

Oven Dry weight of CA (WD) = Volume (Table 6.9)* 

where,  is the unit weight of rodded aggregate.

WSSD = WD * (1+ Abs/100)

where, A is the absorption of coarse aggregate.

8. Estimation of fine Aggregate Content

a. Mass Method
b. Volume Method (More accurate)
 a. Mass Method

Um = 10Ga (100-A )+ Cm (1-Ga/Gc)-Wm(Ga-1)

[or use Table 9.10 to obtain rough estimate of concrete density]

Where,
Ga= % CA*GCA(SSD) + % FA * GFA (SSD)
Gc= Sp. Gr. of Cement  3.15
Wm=Mixing Water (kg/m3)
Cm= Cement (kg/m3)

Mass of FA= Um- Mass (cement + Water + CA)

b. Volume Method (More accurate)

Vw+Vc+VCA+ Vfa+ Vair = 1

9. Adjustment of Moisture of Aggregate

Since the “weights” masses calculated are based on SSD

or OD condition these should be adjusted based on the
moisture content in the aggregate.

Correction for Moisture

Case1:
Moisture Content (M.C%) > Absorption (Abs%)
We have surface moisture (SM)

Waggregate(Moist) = (1+S.M) WSSD

where, S.M = M.C% - Abs%

Water to be extracted = S.M% WSSD
Case2:
Moisture content ≤ Absorption

W -W
M.C  moist D

W D

Wmoist or Dry = (1+M.C) WD

WSSD = (1+Abs) WD

water to be added = WSSD - Wmoist = (Abs% - M.C%) * WD

10. Trial Batch

Should be prepared based on calculated proportions.

Measurements:
Slump, Uw, Air Content% and 28-days compressive strength

Based on obtained measurements adjustment can be made:

low slump Increase water
Strength less than mean strength
lower W/C ratio or Lower water and add admixtures.

Air Entertainment :
Increase or decrease admixture quantity.
Change water content (Increase or decrease)
If unit weight of fresh concrete is incorrect when using mass
method Change air content.

Any adjustment will change the yield

New batch weight must be calculated, following
steps from 5 on.