Design of RC Structures Dr. N.

Subramanian

Oxford University Press 2013. All rights reserved.

SOLUTION MANUAL
CHAPTER 1
Exercise 1.1 Mix proportioning for M 30 concrete
Calculate the mix proportioning for M30 concrete if the following are the stipulations for
proportioning:
1. Grade designation: M 30
2. Type of cement: OPC 43 grade conforming to IS 8112
3. Maximum nominal size of aggregate: 20 mm
4. Exposure condition: Severe
5. Minimum cement content for moderate environment (Table 5 of IS 456): 320 kg/m
3

6. Workability: Slump -100 mm
7. Method of concrete placing: Pumping
8. Degree of supervision: Good
9. Type of aggregate: Crushed angular aggregate
10. Maximum cement content: 450 kg/m
3

11. Chemical admixture type: Superplasticizer
The test data for materials is as follows:
1. Cement used: OPC 43 grade conforming to IS 8112
2. Specific gravity of cement: 3.15
3. Chemical admixture: Superplasticizer conforming to IS 9103
4. Specific gravity of:
a. Coarse aggregate: 2.68
b. Fine aggregate: 2.65
c. Chemical admixture: 1.145
5. Water absorption:
a. Coarse aggregate: 0.6 percent
b. Fine aggregate: 1.0 percent
6. Free (surface) moisture:
a. Coarse aggregate: Nil (absorbed moisture also nil)
b. Fine aggregate: Nil
7. Sieve analysis
a. Coarse aggregate: Conforming to Table 2 of IS 383:1970
b. Fine aggregate: Conforming to grading Zone 1 of Table 4 of IS 383:1970
Solution:
Step 1: calculate the target Strength for mix proportioning
From Eq. (1.1)
s f f
ck ck
65 . 1 '
From Table 8 of IS 456 (see Table 1.13), standard deviation for M 30, s = 5 N/mm
2

Therefore, target strength = 30 + 1.65 x 5 = 38.25 N/mm
2


Step 2: Select the water - cement ratio
Design of RC Structures Dr. N. Subramanian

Oxford University Press 2013. All rights reserved.

From Table 5 of IS 456 (Table 4.5), maximum water cement ratio for moderate exposure = 0.50;
Adopt water-cement ratio as 0.45 < 0.50

Step 3: Select water content
From Table 2 of IS 10262 (Table 1.14),
Maximum water content = 186 kg (for 25-50 mm slump and for 20 mm aggregate)
Estimated water content for 100 mm slump = 186 + 6/100 x 186 = 197 kg.
As superplasticizer is used, the water content can be reduced up to 20 % or more
Based on trials with superplasticizer, water content reduction of 20 percent has been achieved.
Hence, the assumed water content = 197 x 0.80 = 157.6 kg.

Step 4: Calculate the cement content
Water-cement ratio = 0.45
Cement content = 157.6/0.45 = 350 kg/m
3

From Table 5 of IS 456 (Table 4.5), minimum cement content for moderate exposure condition =
300 kg/m
3
. Since 350 kg/m
3
> 300 kg/m
3
, it is acceptable.

Step 5: Determine the proportion of volume of coarse aggregate and fine aggregate content.
From Table 3 of IS 10262 (Table 1.15), volume of coarse aggregate corresponding to 20 mm size
aggregate and fine aggregate (Zone 1) for water-cement ratio of 0.50 = 0.60.
We now have water-cement ratio as 0.45. Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate has to be
increased to decrease the fine aggregate content. As the water-cement ratio is lower by 0.05, the
proportion of volume of coarse aggregate is increased by 0.01 (at the rate of -/+ 0.01 for every +
0.05 change in water-cement ratio). Therefore, corrected proportion of volume of coarse
aggregate for the water-cement ratio of 0.45 = 0.61.
Note If the selected coarse aggregate is not angular, then also volume of coarse aggregate has
to be increased suitably, based on experience.
For pumpable concrete these values should be reduced by 10 percent.
Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate = 0.61 x 0.09 = 0.55
Volume of fine aggregate content = 1 - 0.55 = 0.45

Step 6: Perform the mix calculations: the mix calculations per unit volume of concrete are as
follows:
a) Volume of concrete = 1 m
3

b) Volume of cement = Mass of cement / Specific gravity of cement x 1/1000
a = 350 / 3.15 x 1 /1000 = 0.111 m
3

c) Volume of water = Mass of water / Specific gravity of water x 1 / 1000
b = 157.6 /1 x 1/ 1000 = 0.157 m
3

d) Volume of chemical admixture (superplasticizer) (@1.0 % by mass of cementitious
material)
= Mass of chemical admixtures / Specific gravity of admixture x 1/1000
c = 3.5/1.145 x 1 /1000 = 0.00306m
3

e) Volume of all aggregates (coarse + fine)
d = [1 - (a + b + c)] = 1- (0.111 + 0.157 + 0.00306) = 0.729 m
3

f) Mass of coarse aggregate
= d x volume of coarse aggregate x specific gravity of coarse aggregate x 1000
Design of RC Structures Dr. N. Subramanian

Oxford University Press 2013. All rights reserved.

= 0.729 x 0.55 x 2.68 x 1000 = 1074.55 kg
g) Mass of fine aggregate = d x volume of fine aggregate x specific gravity of fine aggregate
x 1000
= 0.729 x 0.45 x 2.65 x 1000 = 869.33 kg

Step 7: Determine the mix proportions for trial number 1
Cement = 350 kg /m
3

Water = 157.6 kg / m
3

Fine aggregate = 869 kg / m
3

Coarse aggregate = 1075 kg /m
3

Chemical admixture = 3.5 kg/m
3

Water Cement ratio = 0.45

The following are the adjustments for moisture in aggregates and water absorption of
aggregates:
Correction for aggregates:
Free (surface) moisture is nil in both fine and coarse aggregates.
Corrected water content = 157.6 + 869 (0.01) + 1075 (0.006) = 172.7 kg
The estimated batch masses (after corrections) are as given below:
Cement = 350 kg /m
3

Water = 172.7 kg/m
3

Fine aggregate = 869 kg/m
3

Coarse aggregate = 1075 kg/m
3

Superplasticizer = 3.5 kg/m
3

Two more trial mixes with variation of 10 percent of water-cement ratio should be carried
out, to achieve the required slump and dosage of admixtures. A graph between three water-
cement ratios and their corresponding strengths should be plotted to correctly determine the
mix proportions for the given target strength.



Exercise 1.2 Mix proportioning for M 30 concrete (using fly ash as part replacement of
OPC)
Calculate the mix proportioning for M30 concrete, with same stipulations for proportioning
and the same data as given in Exercise 1.1, except that flyash is used as part replacement of
OPC.
Solution:
Considering the same data as in Exercise 1.1 for M 30 concrete, the mix proportioning steps
from 1 to 3 will remain the same.

The procedure of using flyash as a partial replacement to OPC has been explained in step 4.

Step 4: Calculate the cement content
From Exercise 1.1 cement content = 350 kg/m
3

Now, to proportion a mix containing flyash, the following steps are suggested
Design of RC Structures Dr. N. Subramanian

Oxford University Press 2013. All rights reserved.

a) Decide percentage of flyash to be used based on project requirement and quality of
materials.
b) In certain situations increase in cementitious material content may be warranted.
The decision to increase cementitious material content and its percentage may be based on
experience and trial. Let us consider an increase of 10% in cementitious material content.
Cementitious material content = 350 x 1.1 = 385 kg /m
3

Water content = 157.6 kg/m
3
(from Exercise 1.1)
Hence, water-cement ratio = 157.6/385 = 0.41
Flyash @ 35% of total cementitious material content = 385 x 35% = 135 kg/m
3

Cement (OPC) content = 385 135 = 250 kg/m
3

Saving of cement while using flyash = 350 250 = 100 kg/m
3
, and
Flyash being utilized = 135 kg/m
3


Step 5: Determine the proportion of volume of coarse aggregate and fine aggregate content
From Table 3 of IS 10262 (Table 1.15), volume of coarse aggregate corresponding to 20 mm size
aggregate and fine aggregate (Zone I) for water-cement ratio of 0.50 = 0.60.

In this example, water-cement ratio is 0.41. Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate is required to
be increased to decrease the fine aggregate content. As the water-cement ratio is lower by
approximately 0.10, the proportion of volume of coarse aggregate is increased by 0.02 (at the
rate of -/+ 0.01 for every +0.05 change in water-cement ratio). Therefore, corrected proportion
of volume of coarse aggregate for the water-cement ratio of 0.41 = 0.62.
Note: If the selected coarse aggregate is not angular, then also volume of coarse aggregate has to
be increased suitably, based on experience.
For pumpable concrete these values should be reduced by 10 percent.
Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate = 0.62 x 0.09 = 0.56.
Volume of fine aggregate content = 1 - 0.56 = 0.44.

Step 6: Perform mix calculations
The mix calculations per unit volume of concrete shall be as follows:
a) Volume of concrete = 1 m
3

b) Volume of cement = Mass of cement / Specific gravity of cement x 1 /1000
a = 250 / 3.15 x 1 /1000 = 0.0794 m
3

c) Volume of Flyash = Mass of Flyash / Specific gravity of Flyash x 1 /1000
b = 135 / 2.0 x 1 /1000 = 0.0675 m
3

d) Volume of water = Mass of water / Specific gravity of water x 1 /1000
c = 157.6 /1 x 1 /1000 = 0.157 m
3

e) Volume of chemical admixture (superplasticizer) (@ 0.8 percent by mass of cementitious
material)
d = Mass of chemical admixture / Specific gravity of admixture x 1 /1000
= (0.8/100 x 385) / 1.145 x 1 /1000 = 0.0027 m
3

f) Volume of all aggregates = [1- (a + b + c + d)]
e = 1 - (0.0794 + 0.0675 + 0.157 + 0.0027) = 0.6934 m
3

g) Mass of coarse aggregate
= e x volume of coarse aggregate x Specific gravity of coarse aggregate x 1000
= 0.6934 x 0.56 x 2.68 x 1000 = 1041 kg
Design of RC Structures Dr. N. Subramanian

Oxford University Press 2013. All rights reserved.

h) Mass of fine aggregate
= e x volume of fine aggregate x Specific gravity of fine aggregate x 1000
= 0.6934 x 0.44 x 2.65 x 1000 = 809 kg
Step 7: Determine the mix proportions for trail number 1
Cement = 250 kg / m
3

Flyash = 135 kg /m
3

Water = 157 kg /m
3

Fine aggregate = 809 kg /m
3

Coarse aggregate = 1041 kg /m
3

Chemical admixture = 3 kg /m
3

Water cement ratio = 0.41
Note: Aggregate should be used in saturated surface dry condition. As mentioned in the previous
example, three trial mixes with slightly varying w/cm ratio has to be made to determine
experimentally the exact mix proportions that will result in the required workability, strength and
durability.