CHAPTER 5

MIX DESIGN

(GRADE M20)

I) DESIGN STIPULATIONS:

a) Characteristics compressive strength

Required in the field at 28 days → 20 Mpa

b) Maximum size of aggregates → 20 mm (Angular)

c) Degree of workability → 0.75 to 0.8

Compacting factor

d) Degree of quality control → Very Good

e) Type of exposure → Mild

f ) Entrapped air as % of volume of concrete → 2%

II)TEST DATA FOR MATERIALS:

a) Specific gravity of cement → 3.15

b) Compressive strength of cement at 7 days → satisfies the
requirement of
IS: 269-1989
c) 1) Specific gravity of coarse aggregates → 1.34
2) Specific gravity of fine aggregates → 1.12
d) 1) Water absorption of Coarse aggregate → 0.5 %
2) Water absorption of Fine aggregate →1%
e) 1) Free moisture of Coarse aggregate → Nil
2) Free moisture of Fine aggregate → 2.00 %
STEP I

TARGET MEAN STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

The target mean compressive strength (Fck) strength at 28 days is given by,
Fck = fck + t * s
Where,
fck = Characteristics compressive strength at 28 days.
Fck =The average compressive strength at 28 days.
s = Standard deviation
t = A static, depending upon the accepted proportion of low
results and the number of tests, for large number of
tests, the value of ‘t’ is given in table 2.

Note : According to IS:456-1978 and IS:1348-1980 the characteristic strength

is defined as that value below which not more than 5 percent(1 in 20) results are
expected to fall.
Fck = fck + 1.65s
= 20 + (1.65 x 5)
= 28.25N/mm2
(Standard deviation value taken from table 1, according to the grade of
concrete and degrees of control). In this mix degree of control in N/mm2 is good
for M20 grade.
STEP II
SELECTION OF WATER CEMENT RATIO
Since different cements and aggregates of different maximum size, grading,
surface texture, shape and other characteristics may produce concretes of different
compressive strength for the same free water-cement ratio, the relationship
between strength and free water-cement ratio should preferably be established for
the materials actually to be used. The absence of such data, the preliminary free
water cement ratio (by mass) corresponding to the target strength at 28 days may
be selected from the relationships.

The water cement ratio = 0.40

STEP III
SELECTION OF WATER AND SAND CONTENT
From the table 4 of IS: 10262 –1982 for 20 mm max size aggregate,
Water content per metre cube of concrete = 160 kg.
Sand as percentage of total aggregate by = 35%
absolute volume

Adjustment of values in water content and sand % for other condition:

 Change in condition
stipulated for Tables Adjustment required in Percentage
4 and 5
Water content Sand in total aggregate
For sand conforming 0 -1.5
to grading Zone I,
Zone III or Zone IV
of Table 4 of IS : 383
– 1970
Increasing or 3 0
Decreasing in the
value of compacting
factor by 0.1
Each 0.05 increase or 0 -1
decrease in free water
cement ratio
Total 3% -2.5%

Required water content = 186 + 3

= 189 l/m3
Required sand content as percentage of
Total aggregate = 35 % - 2.5%
= 32.5 %

STEP IV
DETERMINATION OF CEMENT CONTENT
 Water – Cement ratio = 0.40
160
= 0.40
C

Cement = 400 kg/m3

STEP V
DETERMINATION OF COARSE & FINE AGGREGATE CONTENTS

1 − P Sca 
Ca = 
P
x fa x 
Sfa 


 
 
C 1 f 1
V = W + + x  x
a
 S c P S f a 1 0 0 0
 
 
Where,
V = absolute volume of fresh concrete, which is equal to gross
Volume (m3) minus the volume of entrapped air.
W = mass of water (kg) per m3 of concrete
C = mass of cement (kg) per m3 of concrete
Sc = specific gravity of cement
P = ratio of fine aggregate to total aggregate by absolute volume
fa, Ca = total masses of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate per m3
of concrete respectively.
Sfa, Sca= specific gravity of saturated surface dry fine aggregate and
coarse aggregate respectively.
For the taken nominal size of aggregate entrapped air as percentage of volume of
concrete = 2%
V = 1- 0.02
= 0.98 m3
C = 400 kg/m3
Sc = 3.15
W = 189 lit
P = 32.5%
Sfa = 1.12
Sca = 1.34

Fine aggregate
 400 1 fa  1
0.98 = 189 + 3.15 + 0.325 x 1.12  x 1000
 

fa = 568 kg/m3

Coarse aggregate
1 − 0.325 1.34 
Ca =  x568 x
1.12 
 0.325 

Ca = 884kg/m3
Results per m3 of concrete for M30 grade
160 : 400: 568: 884
0.4 : 1 : 1.42 :2.21
STEP VI
ACTUAL QUANTITIES REQUIRED FOR THE MIX PER BAG OF
CEMENT

(i) Cement = 50 kg
(ii) Sand = 61 kg

(iii) C. A = 129.5 kg

(iv) Water

(a) Extra quantity of water added for the absorption of

Coarse aggregate for 1% = 1.295 Litres
(b) Extra quantity water added for the absorption of
Fine aggregate for 1% = 0.61 Litre
(c) Quantity water deduced for the free moisture of
Fine aggregate for 2 % = 1.22 Liters
(d) Actual Quantity of water required = 20+1.295+0.61-
1.22

W = 20.685 Litres