Designing a High-strength
Concrete mix
he age at which concrete must develop its high
T strength is an important factor in the design of
a mix. If high early strength is required, it can of-
ten be achieved by modifying an existing mix
design to incorporate: (1) Type III rather than Type I or
Type II portland cement; (2) additional cement; (3) an
accelerator, such as calcium chloride; and/or (4) a wa-
ter-reducing admixture.
The choice of one or more of these methods of achiev-
ing high early strength is dictated by batching provisions
and concrete performance requirements on each job.
When the high-strength concrete is to be used in pre-
stressed work—one of the applications most frequently
calling for high-strength concrete—the use of an accel-
erator or a water-reducing admixture containing chlo-
ride ions could not be tolerated.
If high ultimate strength—strength at 28 days or lat-
er—is the aim, the steps available to achieve it include
using: (1) a high cement content; (2) a low water/cement
ratio and (3) a water-reducing admixture. The use of a
high cement content will ordinarily produce higher ul-
timate strength. In general, however, no more cement
should be used than necessary for required workability.
A low water/cement ratio produces high strengths,
and typically results in minimum shrinkage, low per-
meability and a host of other desirable concrete perfor-
mance features. However, even with well-graded aggre-
gates, a low water/cement ratio may result in concrete
that is not sufficiently workable for the job at hand.
Water-reducing admixtures will permit a reduction in
unit water content without loss of workability. The effec-
tiveness of water-reducing admixtures will vary signifi-
cantly with the brand of admixture and the brand of
portland cement with which it is used.
Extensive studies made by the Research and Technol-
ogy Division of the Air Force on development of mix-
tures for high compressive strength concrete (usually
around 10,000 psi at 90 days or less) led to the following
conclusions:
(1) Workable concrete mixtures with compressive
strengths in excess of 10,000 psi at 90 days are feasible.
(2) A water/cement ratio of approximately 0.30, by
weight, which will normally require a cement factor of at
least 10 bags per cubic yard, is required to produce con-
crete with strengths in excess of 10,000 psi at 90 days.
(3) The use of crushed limestone aggregate, graded to
a maximum size of 1⁄2 inch, will aid in producing high-
compressive-strength concrete.
(4) Water-reducing admixtures are definitely benefi-
cial in the production of workable, high-compressive-
strength concrete.
(5) Continuous moist-curing of the concrete for at
least 28 days is necessary to develop compressive
strengths in excess of 10,000 psi at 90 days.
(6) It is desirable to use coarse sand (fineness modulus
of approximately 3.00) in high-compressive-strength
concrete.
(7) At least 10 percent, by weight, of the portland ce-
ment used in high-compressive-strength concrete can
be replaced by pozzolans such as fly ash or calcined
shale.
(8) The temperature of the mixing water at the time
high-compressive-strength concrete is mixed does not
affect the strength of the concrete. Cooling the mixing
water slightly will increase the workability of the con-
crete.
(9) The tensile and flexural strengths of high-com-
pressive-strength concrete are approximately 770 psi
and 1,050 psi respectively. The static and dynamic mod-
uli of elasticity are 6.5 and 7.5 x 10 6 psi, respectively.
Although few of us will be called upon to design
10,000 psi concrete, these same criteria are valuable in
developing 5,000 psi mixes.
This article has dealt only with the factors arising in
the development of the mix design. But, the selection of
materials and mixing, transporting, placing and curing
conditions will have an important bearing on both the
early and ultimate strength development of concrete.
HIGH STRENGTH MIX DESIGN
The following table provides one-year compressive
strength and shrinkage data on concretes made with
Type I, Type I and Type III cements, sand and 11⁄2 -inch
gravel.
A comparison of moist- and air-cured concrete con-
taining 6, 71⁄2 and 9 bags of cement per cubic yard is al-
so given. The concrete used in these tests was ma-
chine-mixed. It was tested in accordance with ASTM
specifications. For each of the cements, three 6- by 12-
inch cylinders and three 3- by 3- by 12-inch beams, one
each from batches made on different days, were tested
after 1 year. The results given below are an average of
one-year compressive strengths taken from concrete
cylinders made with 15 Type I, 10 Type II and 13 Type
III cements.
 One-Year Compressive Strength-psi Cement 6 bgs. 71⁄2 bgs. 9 bgs. 6 bgs. 7 1⁄2 bgs. 9 bgs.
1
Cement* 6 bags 7 ⁄2 bags 9 bags Type 2-inch slump 6-inch slump
moist air moist air moist air I .059 .060 .061 .061 .061 .061
Type cured cured cured cured cured cured II .058 .059 .059 .059 .059 .060
2-inch slump III .059 .061 .061 .062 .061 .062
I 7260 5220 8230 6080 8450 6360
II 7470 4980 8470 5780 8610 6400 * Compression test cylinders: Type I and II moist cured three days,
then laboratory air cured. Type III moist cured one day, then labora-
III 7470 6070 8470 6900 8720 6880 tory air cured.
6-inch slump
I 6890 4780 7800 5420 8250 5830 This data is taken from an extensive investigation at the Lone Star
II 6990 4470 7920 5380 8210 5700 Cement Research Laboratory.
III 6860 5440 7850 5930 8210 6030

Results of one-year shrinkage tests on 3- by 3- by 12-inch beams

are given below. Beams were moist cured for three days and then
placed in a room set to provide an air temperature of 74 degrees F. PUBLICATION#C680333
with 50 percent relative humidity. The percent length change is Copyright © 1968, The Aberdeen Group
shown below. All rights reserved