PROPORTIONING CONCRETE MIXES A BRIEF GUIDE

SIMPLE STEPS IN MIX DESIGN WITH NO DURABILITY CONCERNS.

1. Based on strength requirement, select water to cementitious materials (w/cm) ratio from Figure 1 For example, if we select air entrained concrete with strength of 3000 psi, then the required w/c = 0.59

2. Based on required slump select the amount of water. For example, if we require for our concrete a slump of 2 inches with a maximum aggregate size of , then, for air entrained concrete, the water requirement is 280 lb/cy. Since w/c = 0.59, the cement content is 474 lb/cy.

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Based on the nominal maximum coarse aggregate size and the fineness modulus of the fine aggregate, we select the bulk volume fraction of the coarse aggregate to concrete volume. If our fine aggregate (sand) has a fineness modulus of 2.81 then, from Figure 7, the bulk volume fraction is 0.62. The concrete volume is 1 cy. Thus, the bulk volume of the coarse aggregate is 0.62 cy. If the oven dry rodded bulk density of the coarse aggregate is 100 pcf, then, the total weight of the aggregate is (0.62x27)x100=1674 lb/cy of concrete.

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Now all ingredients, but the sand, are known. We can find the content of sand, by simply finding the volume that all other materials occupy. The remaining volume, to create a cubic yard must be sand. 280 4.49 cu. ft 5. Water 62.4 474.3 2.41 cu. ft. Note here, that the relative density of cement has been assumed to 6. Cement 3.15 62.4 be 3.15. 7 27 1.89 cu.ft. 7. Air (7% entrainment) 100 1674 10.01 cu. ft. Note again that the relative density of the coarse aggregate 8. Coarse Aggregate 2.68 62.4 is assumed to be 2.68. 9. Total volume of these ingredients is: 18.8 cu ft. Thus the sand volume is 27-18.8 = 8.2 cu. ft. 10. If the relative density of sand is 2.64, then the weight of the sand is 8.2x2.64x62.4=1351 lb/cy.

Thus, our mix is as follows: Water 280 lbs Cement 474 lbs Coarse Aggr. 1674 lbs Fine Aggr. 1351 lbs Total Weight 3779 lbs Unit weight =3979/27=140 pcf

For a fine aggregate, FM is calculated from the cumulative percentages of aggregate retained on sieves No.4,8, 16, 30, 50, 100, 3/8in., 3/4in., 1.5in., 3in., and 6in., divided by 100. The Fineness Modulus should be between 2.3 and 3.1.

SIMPLE STEPS IN MIX DESIGN WITH NO DURABILITY CONCERNS AND NO COARSE AGGREGATES (e.g. CONCRETE CANOE MIX)
1. Based on strength requirement, select water to cementitious materials (w/cm) ratio from Figure 1 For example, if we select air entrained concrete with strength of 2000 psi, then the required w/c = 0.74

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Based on required slump select the amount of water. For example, if we require for our concrete a slump of 2 inches with a maximum aggregate size of , then, (based on the extrapolated curve for air entrained concrete), the water requirement is 350 lb/cy. Since w/c = 0.74, the cement content is 473 lb/cy. Skip

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5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Now all ingredients, but the fine aggregate, are known. We can find the content of fine aggregate, by simply finding the volume that all other materials occupy. The remaining volume, to create a cubic yard must be the fine aggregate. Water cu. ft Cement assumed to be 3.15. Air (7% entrainment) cu. ft. Note here, that the relative density of cement has been

7 27 1.89 cu.ft. 100

SKIP Total volume of these ingredients is: 9.90 cu ft. Thus the fine aggregates volume is 27-9.90 = 17.10 cu. ft. If the relative density of the fine aggregate is 0.72, then the weight of the fine aggregate is 17.10x0.72x62.4=768.0 lb/cy. Thus concrete weighs (350+473+0+768) = 1591 lb/cy or 59 pcf

The design can be yield a lighter concrete mix by replacing up to 40% by weight, or maybe more, of cement (relative density = 3.15) with fly ash (relative density 2.58 to 2.63) if it is allowed by the rules.