Never presented

ACI METHOD OF MIX

DESIGN
(Absolute volume method)

Done by:
PRIYANKA
RENU RANI
DURGESH NANDINI
 INTRODUCTION

 In1991,the American Concrete Institute(ACI)

published guidelines for normal, heavyweight
and mass concrete mix design.
 The absolute volume method of mix design as
described by ACI committee 211 is presented.
It has the advantages of simplicity
that it:
 Applies equally well with more or less
identical procedure to rounded or angular
aggregate.
 To regular or light weight aggregates.
 To air entrained or non-air-entrained
concretes.
 ACI 211

A Properly Proportioned Concrete Mix Should

Posses These Qualities.
Acceptable Workability of Freshly Mixed
Concrete
Durability, Strength and Uniform Appearance of
the Hardened Concrete
Economy
 DATA REQUIRED
1. Class of concrete to be designed.
2. Fine aggregate:
a. Specific gravity
b. Fineness modulus
3. Coarse aggregate:
a. Maximum size aggregate
b. Specific Gravity
c. Unit Weight (dry rodded unit weight)
4. From Code Specifications:
a. Cement factor (minimum cement content).
b. W/C ratio (maximum W/C ratio)
c. Air content (mean air content).
d. Nominal Maximum size of aggregate.
The standard ACI mix design procedure can be divided
into 9 basic steps:
1.Compressive strength.
2.Water cement ratio.
3.Air content selection.
4.Choice of slump
5.Water content selection.
6.Cement content
7.Coarse aggregate content.
8.Fine aggregate content.
9.Adjustments for aggregate moisture
1.The required (target) average compressive strength (f'cr)
at 28 days for mix design is determined by adding up
an empirical factor ‘k’ to the designed compressive
strength f'c as per given equation:
f'cr=f'c+k

2.The water cement ratio is correlated with strength and

durability of concrete. Lower the w/c ratio higher the
durability of concrete and is selected based on the target
strength and the type of concrete(air entrained or non-
air entrained).
WATER/CEMENT
RATIO
3. Slump: Mainly attributes to the workability of
concrete which depends upon ease of mixing, placing,
compaction and finishing.

Types of construction Slump(mm)

Reinforced foundation 20-80
walls and footings
Plain footings caissons 20-80
and substructure walls
Beams and reinforced 20-100
walls
Building columns 20-100
Pavements and slabs 20-80
Mas concrete 20-80
4. Air content, as percentage of the concrete
volume is estimated depending upon the air
entrained or non-air entrained type of concrete
exposure condition. Air contents for AE
concrete are normally specified but can also
be determined by exposure conditions based
on Table 9-5

5.Water content, is determined based on the

NMSA, type of concrete(air entrained or non-
entrained), and specified slump. Then it is
adjusted for the types of aggregates.
6. Cement content is calculated based on the
water cement ratio and the water content.

 Cement Content = Recommended water

content (Table 9-5) / the recommended water-
to-cement ratio (Table 9-3)
7. Coarse aggregate content ACI recommends
the percentage(by unit volume) of coarse
aggregate based on nominal maximum
aggregate size and fine aggregate fineness
modulus.

Weight of CA = volume of CA x dry rodded unit

weight of CA .
8.FINE AGGREGATE (fa) is calculated by subtracting
the absolute volume of the known ingredients from
unit volume of the fresh concrete(1m3) as following:
fa=1-X
Where X= sum of all other ingredients(air, water,
cement and coarse aggregates) in cubic meter.

Weight of FA = volume of FA x specific gravity of FA .

9.Finally, water content is adjusted based on the
absorption and the current moisture content of
coarse and fine aggregates, in account of SSD
condition of the aggregates. This is done because
moisture in aggregate affects the aggregate
weight and the amount of mixing water.
 Dry Weights vs. Actual Weights

Batch weights calculated from volumes assume dry

CA and dry FA.
Actual weight of CA and FA are NOT dry
Adjustment based on moisture contents for both
CA and FA.
Correction for the water content is must.
 CONCLUSION
 The mix proportions for the actual
materials to be used must be checked and
adjusted by means of laboratory trials
consisting of small batches.
 Fresh concrete should be tested for
slump, workability, unit weight and air
content; specimens of hardened concrete
cured under standard conditions should
be tested for strength at the specified
age.