CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

By : Prof. Ir. Dr. Muhd.Fadhil Nuruddin

 Concrete Mix Design
• Consists of selecting the proportions of
 Cement
 Fine and coarse
aggregate
 Water
To produce concrete having the
specified properties such as workability,
strength, etc.
Introduction
§ Concrete is chosen by most of structure engineers due to
several reasons:
1. It is cheaper
2. Lesser maintenance cost
3. Shape-modifiable
4. Strength development of concrete
5. Durability
§ However, there is a case when concrete is combined with steel
to achieve a specific structural purpose. It is often called as a
reinforced concrete.
Introduction
§ Definition of concrete capability through its CHARACTERISTIC
STRENGTH
House, min 20 MPa
Bridge, min 40 MPa
§ Special concrete for special structure
Harsh environment, i.e. port, jetty, foundation
Dense reinforcement structure, i.e. skyscraper, offshore
platform
Mix Design
Factor to be considered in mix design :

(a) Grade of concrete: This gives the characteristic strength requirements

of concrete. Depending upon the level of quality control available at the
site, the concrete mix has to be designed for a target mean strength
which is higher than the characteristic strength.

(b) Type of cement: The type of cement is important mainly through its
influence on the rate of development of compressive strength of
concrete as well as durability under aggressive environments.

c) Maximum nominal size of aggregate: It is found that larger the size of

aggregate, smaller is the cement requirement for a particular water
cement ratio. Aggregates having a maximum nominal size of 20mm or
smaller are generally considered satisfactory.
Mix Design
d) Minimum water cement ratio: The minimum w/c ratio for a specified
strength depends on the type of cement.

e) Type of mixing: Certain type of mixer require a higher degree of workability

for efficient operation and this may have
Mix Design
Example:
Design a concrete mix
proportion of concrete with
characteristic strength is
40 Mpa at 28 days with
5% defective rate (k =
1.64)
Mix Design Procedure
· One must establish a target strength, which differs from the specified strength
(i.e. characteristic strength).

· Characteristic strength - determined by standard tests, which is exceeded by at

least 95% of individual results, permitting only 5% to be defective or below
strength.

 So the target strength is set at higher than specified strength (see Fig 1.). If degree
of quality control is greater, the curve is steeper and the two strengths are closer.

Figure 1 Normal Distribution of concrete strength

 Mix Design: Selection of target water/cement ratio

40 28
5

k for 10% defectives = 1.28 M = K x s ……….. C1

k for 5.0% defectives= 1.64 Where M = the margin
k for 2.5% defectives= 1.96 K = value of percentage defective
s = the standard deviation
k for 1.0% defective = 2.33
fm = fc + M …………..C2
Where fm = the target mean strength
fc = the specified characteristic strength
M = the margin
Mix Design: Selection of target water/cement ratio

Figure 3 Relationship between standard deviation and

characteristic strength
 Mix Design: Selection of target water/cement ratio

40 28
5
8
1.64 1.64 8 13.12
40 13.12 53.12

crushed
uncrushed

k for 10% defectives = 1.28 M = K x s ……….. C1

k for 5.0% defectives= 1.64 Where M = the margin
k for 2.5% defectives= 1.96 K = value of percentage defective
s = the standard deviation
k for 1.0% defective = 2.33
fm = fc + M …………..C2
Where fm = the target mean strength
fc = the specified characteristic strength
M = the margin
Mix Design: Selection of free-water content

Table 2. Approximate Compressive Strength Figure 4. Relationship between Compressive

(N/mm2) of Concrete Mixes made with a strength and Free-Water/ Cement
Free-Water/Cement 0.5
Compressive Strengths (N/mm2)
Type of Age (days)
Type of
Coarse
Cement 3 7 28 91
Aggregate

Ordinary Uncrushed 22 30 42 49
Portland
Cement
(OPC) of
Sulphate
Crushed 27 36 49 56
Resisting
Portland
Cement
(SRPC)
Rapid Uncrushed 29 37 48 54
Hardening
Portland
Crushed 34 43 55 61
Cement
(RHPC)
 Mix Design: Selection of free-water content

40 28
5
8
1.64 1.64 8 13.12
30 13.12 43.12

crushed
uncrushed
0.47  Use this value
0.50

k for 10% defectives = 1.28 M = K x s ……….. C1

k for 5.0% defectives= 1.64 Where M = the margin
k for 2.5% defectives= 1.96 K = value of percentage defective
s = the standard deviation
k for 1.0% defective = 2.33
fm = fc + M …………..C2
Where fm = the target mean strength
fc = the specified characteristic strength
M = the margin
 Mix Design: Determination of free-water content

100
20
205

Table 3. Approximate Free-Water Contents (kg/m3)

required to give Various Levels of Workability
Slump (mm) 0-10 10-30 30-60 60-180 2.3 Free-water content:
Vebe Time (s) > 12 6 -12 3–6 0-3
Maximum Size of Type of = 2/3(195) + 1/3(225)
Aggregate (mm) Aggregate = 130 + 75
Uncrushed 150 180 205 225
10
Crushed 180 205 230 250 = 205 kg/m3
Uncrushed 135 160 180 195
20
Crushed 170 190 210 225
Uncrushed 115 140 160 175
40
Crushed 155 175 190 205

Note: When coarse and fine aggregate of different types are used, the
free-water content is estimated by the expression
2/3 Wf + 1/3 Wc
Where: Wf = free-water content appropriate to type of fine aggregate
Wc = free-water content appropriate to type of coarse aggregate
Mix Design: Determination of cement content

205 0.47 436.17

-
-
-

3.1 Cement content:

free-water / cement = 0.47
205 (kg/m3) / cement = 0.47
cement = 205 (kg/m3) / 0.47
=436.17 kg/m3
 Mix Design: Determination of total aggregate content

2.7
2410
2410 205 436.17 1768.83

Figure 5. Estimated Wet Density of Fully Compacted

Concrete
4.3 Total Aggregate content
concrete=cement+water+aggregate

aggregate=concrete–cement- water
 Mix Design: Selection of fine and coarse aggregate contents

3
31% - 35% use 33%
0.33 1768.83 583.71
1768.83 583.71 1185.12

5.1 Grading of Fine Aggregate Figure 6. Recommended Proportions of Fine Aggregate

 obtained through sieve analysis According to Percentage Passing 600 m sieve
5.3 Fine Aggregate Content
 Aggregate = Fine + Coarse
 100% = A% + B%
5.4 Coarse Aggregate Content
 Total Aggregate = Fine + Coarse
 Coarse = Total Aggregate -
Fine
 Mix Design

436 205 584 1169

0.05 21.8 10.25 29.2 58.45

 Assuming a trial mix of 0.05 m3 to be used using

aggregate with saturated surface dry condition for
this example
 The required amount for each material al for this
volume is listed in the final line of this mix design
form.
Concrete Lab Group Task
No Characteristic Strength Slump (mm)
(Mpa)
1 25 10 – 30
2 25 30 – 60
3 25 60 – 180
4 30 10 – 30
5 30 30 – 60
6 30 60 - 180
7 35 10 – 30
8 35 30 – 60
9 35 60 - 180
10 40 0 – 10
11 40 10 – 30
12 40 30 - 60
THANK
YOU