CONCRETE MIX

DESIGN ACI 211 - 1

CONCRETE PROPERTIES

• PLACEABILITY
• CONSISTENCY
• STRENGTH
• DURABILITY
• DENSITY
 CONCRETE MIX DESIGN
PROCEDURE
1. CHOICE OF SLUMP
2. CHOICE OF MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATE
3. ESTIMATION OF MIXING WATER AND AIR
CONTENT
4. SELECTION OF WATER – CEMENT RATIO
5. CALCULATION OF CEMENT CONTENT
6. ESTIMATION OF COARSE AGGREGATE CONTENT
7. ESTIMATION OF FINE AGGREGATE CONTENT
8. ADJUSTMENTS FOR AGGREGATE MOISTURE
9. TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENT
 TABLE A1.5.3.1 – RECOMMENDED SLUMP FOR
VARIOUS TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION (METRIC)
TYPES OF SLUMP, MM
CONSTRUCTION MAXIMUM MINIMUM
REINFORCED FOUNDATION 75 25
WALLS & FOOTINGS
PLAIN FOOTINGS, CAISSONS 75 25
& SUB-STRUCTURE WALLS
BEAMS & REINFORCED WALLS 100 25

BUILDING COLUMNS 100 25

PAVEMENT & SLABS 75 25

MASS CONCRETE 75 25
 TABLE A1.5.3.3 – APPROXIMATE MIXING WATER REQUIREMENTS
FOR DIFFERENT SLUMPS AND MAXIMUM SIZES OF AGGREGATES
(METRIC)
WATER, KG/M³ OF CONCRETE FOR INDICATED MAXIMUM SIZES OF
SLUMP, MM AGGREGATES IN MM
9.5 12.5 19 25 37.5 50 75 150
NON-AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 207 199 190 179 166 154 130 113
75 TO 100 228 216 205 193 181 169 145 124
150 TO 175 243 228 216 202 190 178 160 -
APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF AIR
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
IN NON-AIR
ENTRINED
CONCRETE, %
AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 181 175 168 160 150 142 122 107
75 TO 100 202 193 184 175 165 157 133 119
150 TO 175 216 205 197 184 174 166 154 -
RECOMMENDED
AVERAGE TOTAL
8 7 6 5 4.5 - 3.5 3
AIR CONTENT,
PERCENT
 TABLE A1.5.3.4 (A) – RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
WATER-CEMENT RATIO AND COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
COMPRESSIVE WATER-CEMENT
STRENGTH AT 28 RATIO, BY WEIGHT
DAYS, MPA
NON-AIR AIR-ENTRAINED
ENTRAINED CONCRETE
CONCRETE
40 0.42 -
35 0.47 0.39
30 0.54 0.45
25 0.61 0.52
20 0.69 0.60
15 0.79 0.70
 TABLE A1.5.3.6 – VOLUME OF COARSE AGGREGATE
PER UNIT OF VOLUME OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
CU.M PER CU. M OF CONC.
MAXIMUM SIZE VOLUME OF DRY-RODDED COARSE
OF AGGREGATE PER UNIT VOLUME OF CONCRETE
AGGREGATES, FOR DIFFERENT FINENESS MODULUS OF SAND
MM
2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00
9.5 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.44
12.5 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.53
19 0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60
25 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
37.5 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69
50 0.78 0.76 0.74 0.72
75 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.76
150 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.81
SAMPLE DESIGN PROBLEM
CONCRETE IS REQUIRED FOR A PORTION OF A STRUCTURE
WHICH WILL BE BELOW GROUND LEVEL IN A LOCATION
WHERE IT WILL NOT BE EXPOSED TO SEVERE WEATHERING OR
SULFATE ATTACK. STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS REQUIRED
IT TO HAVE AN AVERAGE 28-DAY COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF
24.1 Mpa (3500 PSI). ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION IN TABLE
5.3.1 AS WELL AS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE A SLUMP OF 75-100 mm
SHOULD BE USED AND THAT THE AVAILABLE 4.75-37.5 mm
AGGREGATE WILL BE SUITABLE. THE DRY RODDED WEIGHT OF
C.A IS FOUND TO BE 1600 Kg/m3 . OTHER PROPERTIES OF THE
INGREDIENTS ARE CEMENT TYPE I SP.GR = 3.15, C.A BULK SP.
GR. = 2.68 AND ABSORPTION 0.5 %, FINE AGGREGATE BULK
SP.GR. = 2.64, ABSORPTION 0.7 % AND FINENESS MODULUS OF
2.8
SAMPLE DESIGN COMPUTATION

STEP 1: CHOICE OF SLUMP

SLUMP IS 75-100 MM
 STEP 2: CHOICE OF NOMINAL
MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATE

MAXIMUM SIZE OF
AGGREGATES IS 37.5 MM
STEP 3: ESTIMATION OF MIXING
WATER AND AIR CONTENT

CONCRETE IS ASSUMED TO BE NON AIR

ENTRAINED
ESTIMATED MIXING WATER CONTENT
= 181 kg/m³ (from table A1.5.3.3)
 TABLE A1.5.3.3 – APPROXIMATE MIXING WATER REQUIREMENTS
FOR DIFFERENT SLUMPS AND MAXIMUM SIZES OF AGGREGATES
(METRIC)
WATER, KG/M³ OF CONCRETE FOR INDICATED MAXIMUM SIZES OF
SLUMP, MM AGGREGATES IN MM
9.5 12.5 19 25 37.5 50 75 150
NON-AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 207 199 190 179 166 154 130 113
75 TO 100 228 216 205 193 181 169 145 124
150 TO 175 243 228 216 202 190 178 160 -
APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF AIR
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
IN NON-AIR
ENTRINED
CONCRETE, %
AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 181 175 168 160 150 142 122 107
75 TO 100 202 193 184 175 165 157 133 119
150 TO 175 216 205 197 184 174 166 154 -
RECOMMENDED
AVERAGE TOTAL
8 7 6 5 4.5 - 3.5 3
AIR CONTENT,
PERCENT
STEP 4: SELECTION OF WATER –
CEMENT RATIO
 TABLE A1.5.3.4 (A) – RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
WATER-CEMENT RATIO AND COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
COMPRESSIVE WATER-CEMENT
STRENGTH AT 28 RATIO, BY WEIGHT
DAYS, MPA
NON-AIR AIR-ENTRAINED
ENTRAINED CONCRETE
CONCRETE
40 0.42 -
35 0.47 0.39
30 0.54 0.45
25 0.61 0.52
20 0.69 0.60
15 0.79 0.70
 Compute for the water – cement ratio
25 0.61
24.1-25.0 X-0.61
X 0.69-0.61
24.1
20-25
20 0.69

24.1-25.0 X – 0.61
=
0.69 – 0.61
X = 0.62
20 - 25
STEP 5: CALCULATION OF
CEMENT CONTENT

Water = 181 kg/m³

Water / Cement = 0.62

181.0/ Cement = 0.62

Cement = 291.9 kgs of cement/m³ of concrete

STEP 6: ESTIMATION OF COARSE
AGGREGATES CONTENT
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES
Materials Specific Absorp- Fineness Dry Rodded Moisture
Gravity tion % Modulus Unit weight Content
kg/m³
Cement 3.15
Coarse Agg.
37.5 2.68 0.5 1600
Fine Agg. 2.64 0.7 2.80 1368
 STEP 6: ESTIMATION OF COARSE
AGGREGATES CONTENT
Fineness Modulus of Sand = 2.80
From table A1.5.3.6 the quantity of CA
per cu. m of concrete is = 0.71 cu.m
Coarse Agg. = 1600 kg/cu .m X 0.71 cu.m
C. A. = 1136 kg per cu. m of concrete
 TABLE A1.5.3.6 – VOLUME OF COARSE AGGREGATE
PER UNIT OF VOLUME OF CONCRETE
CU.M OF AGG. PER CU. M OF CONC.
MAXIMUM SIZE VOLUME OF DRY-RODDED COARSE
OF AGGREGATE PER UNIT VOLUME OF CONCRETE
AGGREGATES, FOR DIFFERENT FINENESS MODULUS OF SAND
MM
2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00
9.5 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.44
12.5 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.53
19 0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60
25 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
37.5 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69
50 0.78 0.76 0.74 0.72
75 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.76
150 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.81
 STEP 7: ESTIMATION OF FINE
AGGREGATE CONTENT
By Weight Method
Water (net mixing) 181 kg
Cement 292 kg
Coarse Aggregate (dry) 1136 kg
Total 1609 kg

The mass of fine aggregate, therefore, is estimated to be

2410 – 1609 = 801 kg

From table A1.5.3.7.1

 TABLE A1.5.3.7.1 – FIRST ESTIMATE OF WEIGHT OF
FRESH CONCRETE (METRIC)
MAXIMUM SIZE FIRST ESTIMATE OF CONCRETE
OF WEIGHT, KG/M³
AGGREGATES, NON AIR- AIR-ENTRAINED
MM ENTRAINED CONCRETE
CONCRETE
9.5 2280 2200
12.5 2310 2230
19 2345 2275
25 2380 2290
37.5 2410 2350
50 2445 2345
75 2490 2405
150 2530 2435
 BATCH WEIGHTS PER M³
FOR 1ST TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Absolute Volume

Water 181

Cement 292

37.50mm CA 1136

Fine Agg. 801

STEP 8: ADJUSTMENT OF
AGGREGATE MOISTURE
Moisture Content, Absorption, %
%
37.50mm CA 2.0 0.5

Fine Agg. 6.0 0.7

 STEP 8: ADJUSTMENT OF
AGGREGATE MOISTURE

Free Moisture content of Aggregates

37.0mmCA = 2.0 - 0.5 = 1.5%
Sand (FA) = 6.0 - 0.7 = 5.3%
STEP 8: ADJUSTMENT OF
AGGREGATE MOISTURE

Free Moisture Adjustment

Water = 181 - 1136(0.015) - 801(0.053) = 121.5 Kgs

37.0mmCA =1136 x 1.02 = 1159 kgs (wet basis)
Sand (FA) = 801 x 1.06 = 849 kgs (wet basis)
ESTIMATED BATCH WEIGHTS PER M³
(1ST TRIAL BATCH)

WATER (to be added) = 122 Kgs

CEMENT = 292 Kgs
37.50MM CA (wet) = 1159 Kgs
SAND (wet) = 849 Kgs
TRIAL MIX QUANTITIES
For 6 sample cylinders:
Volume = 0.050 m³
WATER (added) = 6.8 KGS*
CEMENT = 14.6 KGS
37.50MM CA (wet) = 58.0 KGS
SAND (wet) = 42.5 KGS
TOTAL = 121.9 KGS
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH
ADJUSTMENTS
Measured Unit Weight = 2399 kg/m³
Slump = 50 mm
Yield = 121.9 / 2399 = 0.0508 m³

Actual Mixing water = 6.8 + 0.85 + 2.12

= 9.77 kgs
Actual Water Required = 9.77/0.0508
=192 kgs (per cu. m of concrete, slump 50 mm)
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
Adjustment for water content
Actual Water Required = 9.77/0.0508
=192 kgs (per cu. m of concrete, slump 50 mm)

Total H2O requirement:

= 192 + 6 = 198 Kgs
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
Adjustment for cement content
Water – Cement ratio is 0.62
Cement = 198/0.62 = 319 Kgs

Adjustment for CA
C. A = 58/0.0508 = 1142 Kgs (wet basis)
Dry basis = 1142/1.02 = 1120 Kgs
SSD basis = 1120 x 1.005 = 1126 Kgs
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
Adjustment for FA
Measured Unit Wt. Of Conc = 2399 Kg/cu.m

F.A (sand) = 2399 – ( 198 + 319 + 1126 )

= 756 Kgs (SSD basis)
Dry basis = 756/1.007 = 751 Kgs
 BATCH WEIGHTS PER CU. M
FOR 2nd TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Absolute Volume

Water (net mixing) 198

Cement 319

37.50mm CA 1120
(dry basis)
Fine Agg. 751
(dry basis)
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
(absolute volume method)
Adjusting for moisture
Water (to be added) = 124 Kgs
Cement = 292 Kgs
C.A (wet) = 1136 x 1.02 = 1159 Kgs
F.A (wet) = 759 x 1.06 = 804 Kgs

Water = 181 – (0.015)(1136) – (0.053)(759) = 124 Kgs

TRIAL MIX QUANTITIES
For 6 sample cylinders:
Volume = 0.050 m³
WATER (added) = 6.8 KGS*
CEMENT = 14.6 KGS
37.50MM CA (wet) = 58.0 KGS
SAND (wet) = 40.2 KGS
TOTAL = 119.6 KGS
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
absolute volume method
Measured Unit Weight = 2399 kg/m³
Slump = 50 mm
Yield = 119.6 / 2399 = 0.0498 m³

Mixing water for same slump = 6.8 + 0.85 + 2.01

= 9.66 kgs
Mixing water per cu.m = 9.66/0.0498
=194 kgs (per cu. m of concrete, slump 50 mm)
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
Total H2O requirement:
= 194 + 6 = 200 Kgs

Adjusted cement content for increased water

= 200 / 0.62 = 323 Kgs
Adjusted C.A content
= 58 / 0.0498 = 1165 Kgs (wet)
= 1165 / 1.02 = 1142 Kgs (dry)
= 1142 x 1.005 = 1148 Kgs (ssd)
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
absolute volume method
Water = 9.66 / 1000 = 0.00966 m3
Cement = 14.6 / (3.15)(1000) = 0.00463 m3
C. A = 56.86 / (2.68)(1000) = 0.02122 m3
F. A = 37.92 / (2.64)(1000) = 0.01436 m3
Total = 0.04987 m3
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
absolute volume method

Water = 200 / 1000 = 0.2000 m3

Cement = 323 / (3.15)(1000) = 0.1025 m3
C. A = 1142 / (2.68)(1000) = 0.4261 m3
Air = 0.0000 m3
Total = 0.7286 m3
Volume of F. A = 1 – 0.7286 = 0.2714 m3
Wt. of F. A = 0.2714 (2.64)(1000) = 716.0 Kgs
 BATCH WEIGHTS PER CU. M
FOR 2nd TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Absolute Volume

Water (net mixing) 200

Cement 323

37.50mm CA 1142
(dry basis)
Fine Agg. 716
(dry basis)
 BATCH WEIGHTS PER CU. M
FOR 2nd TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Absolute Volume

Water (net mixing) 198 200

Cement 319 323

37.50mm CA 1120 1142

(dry basis)
Fine Agg. 743 716
(dry basis)
THE END

GOOD DAY
STEP 4: SELECTION OF WATER –
CEMENT RATIO
fc’ - specified compressive strength of
concrete (mpa, psi)
fcr’ - required average compressive
strength on concrete (mpa, psi)
S - standard deviation

fcr’ = fc’ + 1.34 s

fcr’ = fc’ + 2.33 s – 3.5
STANDARDS OF CONCRETE CONTROL
STANDARD DEVIATION
STANDARD DEVIATION
STEP 4: SELECTION OF WATER –
CEMENT RATIO
fc’ - 20.0 Mpa

fcr’ = fc’ + 1.34 s

say s = 3.5 Mpa
fcr’ = fc’ + 2.33 s – 3.5
fcr’ = 20 + 2.33(4.1) – 3.5 = 26.0 Mpa
 Recommendation for ps to be used in computation the
required average strength based on critical nature of strength
of concrete
Type of structural member Probability of Recommendation values for ps for
low test computing required average strength
(fcr=fc’+ps)
Concrete strength below fc’ can not 1.3 in 1000 3.00 s
be tolerated (minimum strength
specification)
Strength critical 1 in 100 2.32 s

Strength below fc’ is not critical but a

test below fc’-500 is critical. This Variable 2.32s-500 psi
requirement applies only where s
above 500 psi (ACI 318)
Strength of concrete is not critical 1 in 10 1.28 s
(ACI 214, ACI 318)
Average of three consecutive test does 1 test: 9 in 100
not fall below fc’ (ACI 318) Average of 1.34s
three: 1 to 100
Strength of concrete is of minor 1 in 5 0.85s
consequence in design