CE 308

Plain and Reinforced Concrete I

Mix Design of Concrete

Dr. Wasim
Khaliq

Process of Mix Design

Consists of two interrelated steps:
1.

Selection of the suitable ingredients (cement, aggregate, water,

and admixtures) of concrete

2.

Determining their relative quantities ("proportioning") to

produce, as economically as possible, concrete of the appropriate
workability, strength, and durability.

Basic Considerations

Economy
Cement is much more expensive than aggregate, it is clear that minimizing
the cement content is the most important single factor in reducing concrete
costs

Workability
Properly designed mix must be capable of being placed and compacted
properly with the equipment available.
Finish-ability must be adequate, and segregation and bleeding should be
minimized.
A deaf ear should be turned to the frequent pleas from any job site for "more
water."

Strength, and Durability

concrete specifications will require a minimum compressive strength
Specifications may also require that the concrete meet certain durability
requirements, such as resistance to freezing and thawing or chemical attack.

Economics of Mix Design

Goals: Complying with the Design considerations at

minimum cost

How to reduce cost :

Minimize the material cost

Minimize cement cost

Use the available materials

Minimum cement content can be achieved by

Using lowest slump that will permit handling

Using good ratio to coarse to fine aggregates

Possible use of admixtures

Mix Design by ACI Method

The most common method used in North America (and elsewhere) established by ACI Recommended Practice 211.1

Provide a first approximation of the proportions and must be

checked by trial batches

Local characteristics in materials should be considered

ACI Method - Sequence of Steps

Pre-determined parameters, Steps 1 - 3

Pre-determined parameters, Steps 1 - 3

Estimation of Mixing Water and Air Content

Estimation of Mixing Water and Air Content

Determination of w/c based on Strength

Table is based on OPC, for other cements use data obtained from experiments

Determination of w/c based on Durability

Calculation of Cement or Cementitious Material

Content

Slump, w/c ratio, water content Already decided

Cement or cement plus mineral admixture
Simplest by dividing the estimated water requirement by the w/c ratio.

However, many specifications, in addition, require a minimum

cement content. Such a requirement may be used to ensure

Satisfactory finish-ability,
Quality of vertical surfaces,
Workability;
Ensure specified strength at the job site.

When a portion of the cement is replaced by a mineral admixture,

the replacement can be made on the basis of mass (weight) or
volume, mass method is most commonly used.
Since portland cement and the admixture have different specific
gravities, the values of the weight and volume percentages will differ.

Cementitious Material Content

Cement content

Cement

Replacement of cement with mineral admixture (weight fraction)

Weight of pozzolan P = FwCT (As per desired weight replacement %age)

Weight of cement C = (1 - Fw)CT

CT = P+C = Total cement content (100% of Cement)

Note: All common mineral admixtures have specific gravities lower than
portland cement, so that when replaced on a mass basis, they occupy a larger
volume than the cement they replace.

Estimation of Coarse aggregate content

Volume of Coarse Aggregate (CA) depends on max size and fineness modulus of fine
aggregate. The OD weight of CA per m3 of concrete = value * dry rodded unit weight
of CA in kg/m3

First Estimate of Fresh Concrete

Exact Calculation of Weight of Fresh Concrete

The weight of fine aggregate is then the difference between the total
weight of the fresh concrete and the weight of the other ingredients.

Estimation of fine aggregate content Volume Method

Volume Method. This is the preferred method, as it is a somewhat

more exact procedure, which requires a knowledge of the volumes
displaced by the various ingredients.
The volumes of the cementitious material, water, air, and coarse
aggregate are subtracted from the total volume; the difference is the
volume of fine aggregate.
The weight of fine aggregate can then be obtained by multiplying
this volume by the density of the fine aggregate.

Adjustment for Moisture in the Aggregates

Trial Batch

Trial Batch

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

10.2

10.3

ACI Mix Design Example

10.8

ACI Mix Design Example

10.9

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

ACI Mix Design Example

Required Average
Compressive Strength
ACI Committee 301