9 CONCRETE MIX DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Schedules of Concretes

A) Concrete shall be as shown in the Table of Mixes below.
B) The criteria given in the Table of Mixes are designed to produce concrete of the
required strength and durability.
C) The Design Characteristic Strength values are for concrete which has been cured at
a temperature of 20°/C ±2/°C, and are the values below:

Table 4: Table of Mixes A - Reinforced Concrete Marine

Reference M40

Concrete Type Designed

Use Cast In-situ Concrete

28-day Characteristic Strength (N/mm2) Cylinder/Cube 32/40

Cement/ Combination Type CEM IIIA (65% GGBS)

Minimum Cement Content (kg/m3) 380

Maximum Cement Content (kg/m3) 420

Maximum free Water/Cement Ratio1 0.4

Maximum Aggregate Size 20

Required admixtures ASTM

C494Types B, F, G

Temperature range for fresh concrete (°C) 5-322

Target Workability/consistence3 100mm slump

Minimum Cover (mm) Clause 16.6

Control Testing Interval (m3) 25

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 Reference M40

Note:
1 Water cement ratio shall include silica fume and water in admixtures and silica fume

slurry
2 Where the minimum dimension of the section exceeds 0.5 m, then precautions

against early - age thermal cracking and Delayed Ettringite Formation shall be taken in
accordance with Clause 14.9
3 To be confirmed by Contractor

4 Concrete containing GGBS may contain Silica Fume approved by the Engineer up to

5% by weight of binder
5 Compliance age can be extended to 56 days for CEM IIIA (65% GGBS).

Table 5: Table of Mixes C- Unreinforced Concrete

Reference G30P G40F G20

Concrete Type Designed Designed Designed
Use Precast block Cast in-situ Blinding
work Capping beam
28-day Characteristic 25/304 32/404 16/20
Strength (N/mm2)
Cylinder/Cube
Cement/ Combination CEM I
Type CEM IIIA (65% CEM IIIA (65% or
GGBS) GGBS) SRPC

Minimum Cement 325 370 260

Content (kg/m3)
Maximum Cement 380 400 360
Content (kg/m3)
Maximum free 0.50 0.45 0.65
Water/Cement Ratio1
Maximum Aggregate 20 20 20
Size
Required admixtures ASTM ASTM
C494Types A, B, C494Types A, B,
D, F D, F
Other additives Polypropylene
fibres
Temperature range for 5-322 5-322 -
fresh concrete (°C)
Target 100mm slump 100mm slump 75mm slump
Workability/consistence3

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 Reference G30P G40F G20
Minimum Cover (mm) N/A N/A N/A
Control Testing Interval 100 100 -
(m3)
Note:
1 Water cement ratio shall include silica fume and water in admixtures and silica fume

slurry
2 Where the minimum dimension of the section exceeds 0.5 m, then precautions

against early - age thermal cracking and Delayed Ettringite Formation shall be taken in
accordance with Clause 14.9
3 To be confirmed by Contractor

4 Concrete containing GGBS may contain Silica Fume approved by the Engineer up to

5% by weight of binder
5 Compliance age can be extended to 56 days for CEM IIIA (65% GGBS).

9.2 Quality and Testing

A) Sampling for test purposes shall comply with BS EN 12350-1. The making and curing
of specimens shall comply with BS EN 12390-2.
B) Concrete for water-retaining structures shall be watertight and shall comply with the
recommendations of BS 8007.
C) Mass concrete for paving shall be tested to BS EN 12390-5 and shall have a
characteristic flexural strength of 4.0 N/mm² at 28 days. Characteristic flexural
strengths are for concrete which has been cured at a temperature of 20°C ±1°C and
are values below which no more than 5% of the test results fall.
D) Before placing concrete the Contractor shall obtain approval of the mixes proposed
for each grade of concrete and the design characteristic strength. The mixes shall
be designed to achieve the minimum workability for the Contractor to place and
compact the concrete with the equipment proposed for use.
E) The compliance criteria for compressive strength shall be considered as per Table
14 of BS EN 206 and Section 11.3 of this specification.

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