Concrete Mix Design

By:- Prashant Garg

 Concrete
When the Graded stones (aggregates) are
mixed together with the dry cement and
water, they form a fluid mass that is easily
molded into shape, The cement reacts
chemically with the water and other
ingredients to form a hard matrix which binds
all the materials together into a durable stone
called Concrete.
 Ingredient of Concrete
Cement
Sand
Aggregate
Water
Admixture
Micro Fine
 Concrete Mix Design - Definition
Concrete mix design is defined as the appropriate selection
and proportioning of constituents to produce a concrete
with pre-defined characteristics in the fresh and hardened
states.
In general, concrete mixes are designed in order to achieve
a defined workability, strength and durability .
The selection and proportioning of materials depend on:-
The structural requirements of the concrete.
The environment to which the structure will be exposed
The job site conditions, especially the methods of concrete
production, transport, placement, compaction and finishing
The characteristics of the available raw materials
 Main Aspects to be considered in Mix
Design

Workability

Strength

Durability
Exposure Conditions
 DATA FOR MIX PROPORTIONING
According to IS:10262 :2009 clause no. 3.1:- Data required are as follows:-

1. Grade designation
2. Type of cement
3. Maximum nominal size of aggregate
4. Minimum cement content
5. Maximum water-cement ratio
6. Workability
7. Exposure conditions as per Table 4 and Table 5 of IS -456
8. Maximum temperature of concrete at the time of placing
9. Method of transporting and placing
10. Early age strength requirements, if required
11. Type of aggregate
12. Maximum cement content and
13 . Whether an admixture shall or shall not used and the type of admixture and the
condition of use.
Step 1
Determine Target mean strength of concrete as:
fck = fck + 1.65 *S
where,
fck = Target mean compressive strength at 28 days,
fck = Characteristic compressive strength of concrete at 28 days,
S = Standard deviation
Assumed standard deviation
Selection of Water-Cement Ratio &
Minimum Cement Content
 Selection of Water Content
The water content of concrete is influenced by a
number of factors, such as aggregate size, aggregate
shape, aggregate texture, workability, water-cement
ratio, cement and other supplementary cementations
material type and content, chemical admixture and
environmental conditions. An increase in aggregates
size, a reduction in water-cement ratio and slump, and
use of rounded aggregate and water reducing
admixtures will reduce the water demand. On the
other hand increased temperature, cement content,
slump, water-cement ratio, aggregate angularity and a
decrease in the proportion of the coarse aggregate to
fine aggregate will increase water demand
 EXAMPLE ON CONCRETE MIX
PROPORTIONING
Grade designation:- M40
Type of cement:- OPC 43 grade conforming to IS 8112
Maximum nominal size of aggregate:- 20mm
Minimum cement content:- 320kg/cum
Maximum water-cement ratio:- .45
Workability:-100 mm slump
Exposure condition:- Severe (for reinforced concrete)
Method of concrete placing:-Pumping
Degree of supervision:-Good
Type of aggregate:-Crushed angular aggregate
Maximum cement content:-450 kg/cum
Chemical admixture type:-Superplasticizer