Mix Design Basics

CIVL 3137 1
 Mix Design Goals

adequate workability
adequate strength
adequate durability
minimum cost

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 Cost of Materials

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Source: November 7, 2011 enr.com
 Mix Design Goals

adequate workability
adequate strength
adequate durability
minimum cost

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 Minimizing Cost Cement

minimize the void space between
the aggregate particles

minimize the surface area of
the aggregate particles

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 Minimizing Void Space

Void content = 48% Void content = 41%

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 Minimizing Surface Area

10"

surface area = 11 ft2 surface area = 22 ft2

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 Minimizing Surface Area

surface area = 6.0 ft2/ft3 surface area = 4.8 ft2/ft3

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 Obtaining Adequate Workability

gravel

Need enough 
mortar to keep 
all the gravel 
particles apart.

mortar

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 Inside Concrete
gravel sand

mortar cement paste

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 Obtaining Adequate Workability

sand

Need enough 
cement paste to 
keep all the sand 
grains apart

cement paste
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 Inside Concrete
sand cement

cement paste water

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 Obtaining Adequate Workability

cement

Need enough 
mixing water to 
lubricate all the 
cement grains

water
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 Obtaining Adequate Workability

cement

Air entrainment 
adds lubrication 
without adding 
additional water
air
bubble
water

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 Figure 7‐14

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CIVL 3137 fc  4500 psi 20
CIVL 3137 fc  4500 psi 21
CIVL 3137 fc  4500 psi fcr  5700 psi 22
 Overdesign Factors
Table 7-12 Overdesign Necessary to Meet Strength RequirementsA

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 Overdesign Factors

Required Average Compressive Strength When Data
Are Not Available to Establish a Standard Deviation

Adapted from ASTM C94

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CIVL 3137 26
 Trial Mix Design

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 Mix Design Example

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 Step 1: Select the slump
Equivalent to Table 7‐13

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 29

 Step 2: Select the NMAS

narrowest dimension
NMAS 
5

depth of slab
NMAS 
3

NMAS  0.75  clear space

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 Step 3: Estimate the water and air
Equivalent to Table 7‐14

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 31

 Air Content

40% Paste Air Content

Cement Assume 7%
Paste

Concrete Air Content

60%
Smaller 0.4  7% = 2.8%
Aggregate
NMAS

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 Air Content

30%
Cement Paste Air Content
Paste Assume 7%

70%
Concrete Air Content
Aggregate
Larger 0.3  7% = 2.1%
NMAS

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 Adjust for Aggregate Shape

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 35

 Step 4: Select the w/c ratio
Equivalent to Table 7‐15

fcr 

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 37

 Overdesign Factors

Required Average Compressive Strength When Data
Are Not Available to Establish a Standard Deviation

Adapted from ASTM C94

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 Step 4: Select the w/c ratio
Equivalent to Table 7‐15

fcr 

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 39

 Figure 7‐14

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 Step 5: Calculate the cement weight

Wwater
Wcement =
w/c ratio

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 Step 6: Estimate coarse aggregate
Equivalent to Table 7‐17

b
bo

CIVL 3137 Source: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (PCA, 2003) 43

 b/bo

bo

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 Step 6: Estimate coarse aggregate

V bulk
gravel   b bo  V bulk
concrete

Wgravel  V  dry-rodded
bulk bulk
γ
gravel gravel unit weight

Wgravel   b b o  V bulk bulk

γ
concrete gravel

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 Step 7: Estimate fine aggregate
Estimated Weight Method
(Section 7‐8.1)
NMAS 3
First Estimate of Concrete Unit Mass (lb/ft )
(in) Non‐Air‐Entrained Concrete Air‐Entrained Concrete
⅜ 142.0 137.5
½ 144.0 139.0
¾ 146.5 141.5
1 148.5 143.5
1½ 151.0 146.0
2 153.0 147.5
3 155.5 150.0
6 157.5 152.0

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Equivalent to Table 7‐18 46
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 Step 7: Estimate fine aggregate

Estimated Weight Method
(Section 7‐8.1)

Wtotal  Wcement  Wgravel  Wsand  Wwater

Wsand  Wtotal   Wcement  Wgravel  Wwater 

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 Step 7: Estimate fine aggregate

Absolute Volume Method
(Section 7‐8.2)

Vtotal  Vcement  Vgravel  Vsand  Vwater  Vair

Vsand  Vtotal   Vcement  Vgravel  Vwater  Vair 

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 Step 7: Estimate fine aggregate
Absolute Volume Method
(Section 7‐8.2)

Vsand  Vtotal   Vcement  Vgravel  Vwater  Vair 

1  Wcement Wgravel Wwater 

Vsand  Vtotal    bulk    Vair
γ w  3.15 G gravel 1.00 

Wsand  Vsand  G bulk

sand  γw
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Step 8: Adjust for Aggregate Moisture

1. Increase Wwater by an amount equal to the

weight of water needed to saturate the fine
and coarse aggregate.
2. Increase Wsand and Wgravel by an amount
equal to the moisture contents of the
aggregate stockpiles.
3. Decrease Wwater by the same amount you
increased Wsand and Wgravel.

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