CONCRETE MIX DESIGN
ACI 211 -1
CONCRETE PROPERTIES
PLACEABILITY
CONSISTENCY
STRENGTH
DURABILITY
DENSITY
CONCRETE MIX DESIGN PROCEDURE
1. CHOICE OF SLUMP
2. CHOICE OF MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATE
3. ESTIMATION OF MIXING WATER AND AIR CONTENT
4. SELECTION OF WATER – CEMENT RATIO
5. CALCULATION OF CEMENT CONTENT
6. ESTIMATION OF COARSE AGGREGATE CONTENT
7. ESTIMATION OF FINE AGGREGATE CONTENT
8. ADJUSTMENTS FOR AGGREGATE MOISTURE
9. TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENT
TABLE A1.5.3.1 – RECOMMENDED SLUMP FOR VARIOUS TYPES
OF CONSTRUCTION (METRIC)
TYPES OF SLUMP, MM
CONSTRUCTION
MAXIMUM MINIMUM
REINFORCED FOUNDATION 75 25
WALLS & FOOTINGS
PLAIN FOOTINGS, CAISSONS 75 25
& SUB-STRUCTURE WALLS
BEAMS & REINFORCED WALLS 100 25
BUILDING COLUMNS 100 25
75 25
PAVEMENT & SLABS
MASS CONCRETE 75 25
TABLE A1.5.3.3 –APPROXIMATE MIXING WATER
REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT SLUMPS
AND MAXIMUM SIZES OF AGGREGATES
(METRIC)
WATER, KG/M³ OF CONCRETE FOR INDICATED MAXIMUM SIZES
SLUMP, MM OF AGGREGATES IN MM
9.5 12.5 12.5 25 37.5 50 75 150
NON-AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 207 199 190 179 166 154 130 113
75 TO 100 228 216 205 193 181 169 145 124
150 TO 175 243 228 216 202 190 178 160 -
APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF AIR
IN NON-AIR 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
ENTRINED
CONCRETE, %
AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 181 175 168 160 150 142 122 107
75 TO 100 202 193 184 175 165 157 133 119
150 TO 175 216 205 197 184 174 166 154 -
RECOMMENDED
AVERAGE
TOTAL AIR 8 7 6 5 4.5 - 3.5 3
CONTENT,
PERCENT
TABLE A1.5.3.4 (A) – RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER-
CEMENT RATIO AND COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
WATER-CEMENT
COMPRESSIVE RATIO, BY WEIGHT
STRENGTH AT 28 NON-AIR ENTRAINED AIR-ENTRAINED
DAYS, MPA CONCRETE CONCRETE
40 0.42 -
35 0.47 0.39
30 0.54 0.45
25 0.61 0.52
20 0.69 0.60
15 0.79 0.70
TABLE A1.5.3.6 – VOLUME OF COARSE AGGREGATE PER UNIT
OF VOLUME OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
CU.M PER CU. M OF CONC.
MAXIMUM VOLUME OF DRY-RODDED COARSE
SIZE OF AGGREGATE PER UNIT VOLUME OF CONCRETE
AGGREGATES, FOR DIFFERENT FINENESS MODULUS OF SAND
MM 2.4 2.6 2.3 3.0
9.5 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.44
12.5 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.53
19 0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60
25 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
37.5 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69
50 0.78 0.76 0.74 0.72
75 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.76
150 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.81
SAMPLE DESIGN PROBLEM
CONCRETE IS REQUIRED FOR A PORTION OF A STRUCTURE WHICH WILL
BE BELOW GROUND LEVEL IN A LOCATION WHERE IT WILL NOT BE EXPOSED TO
SEVERE WEATHERING OR SULFATE ATTACK. STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
REQUIRED IT TO HAVE AN AVERAGE 28-DAY COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF 24.1
Mpa (3500 PSI). ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION IN TABLE 5.3.1 AS WELL AS
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE A SLUMP OF 75-100 mm SHOULD BE USED AND THAT THE
AVAILABLE 4.75-37.5 mm AGGREGATE WILL BE SUITABLE.
THE DRY RODDED WEIGHT OF C.A IS FOUND TO BE 1600 Kg/m3 . OTHER
PROPERTIES OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE CEMENT TYPE I [Link] = 3.15, C.A BULK
SP. GR. = 2.68 AND ABSORPTION 0.5 %, FINE AGGREGATE BULK [Link]. = 2.64,
ABSORPTION 0.7 % AND FINENESS MODULUS OF 2.8
SAMPLE DESIGN COMPUTATION
STEP 1: CHOICE OF SLUMP
SLUMP IS 75-100 MM
STEP 2: CHOICE OF NOMINAL MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATE
MAXIMUM SIZE OF AGGREGATES IS 37.5 MM
STEP 3: ESTIMATION OF MIXING WATER AND AIR CONTENT
CONCRETE IS ASSUMED TO BE NON AIR ENTRAINED
ESTIMATED MIXING WATER CONTENT = 181 kg/m³ (from table A1.5.3.3)
TABLE A1.5.3.3 –APPROXIMATE MIXING WATER
REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT SLUMPS
AND MAXIMUM SIZES OF AGGREGATES
(METRIC)
WATER, KG/M³ OF CONCRETE FOR INDICATED MAXIMUM SIZES
SLUMP, MM OF AGGREGATES IN MM
9.5 12.5 12.5 25 37.5 50 75 150
NON-AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 207 199 190 179 166 154 130 113
75 TO 100 228 216 205 193 181 169 145 124
150 TO 175 243 228 216 202 190 178 160 -
APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF AIR
IN NON-AIR 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
ENTRINED
CONCRETE, %
AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE
25 TO 50 181 175 168 160 150 142 122 107
75 TO 100 202 193 184 175 165 157 133 119
150 TO 175 216 205 197 184 174 166 154 -
RECOMMENDED
AVERAGE
TOTAL AIR 8 7 6 5 4.5 - 3.5 3
CONTENT,
PERCENT
STEP 4: SELECTION OF WATER – CEMENT RATIO
TABLE A1.5.3.4 (A) – RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER-
CEMENT RATIO AND COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE (METRIC)
WATER-CEMENT
COMPRESSIVE RATIO, BY WEIGHT
STRENGTH AT 28 NON-AIR ENTRAINED AIR-ENTRAINED
DAYS, MPA CONCRETE CONCRETE
40 0.42 -
35 0.47 0.39
30 0.54 0.45
25 0.61 0.52
20 0.69 0.60
15 0.79 0.70
Compute for the water – cement ratio
25 0.61
24.1-25.0
20-25 X X-0.61 0.69-0.61
24.1
0.69
20
24.1-25.0 X – 0.61
20 - 25
= X = 0.62
0.69 – 0.61
STEP 5: CALCULATION OF CEMENT CONTENT
Water = 181 kg/m³
Water / Cement = 0.62
181.0/ Cement = 0.62
Cement = 291.9 kgs of cement/m³ of concrete
STEP 6: ESTIMATION OF COARSE AGGREGATES CONTENT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES
Materials Specific Absorption Fineness Dry Rodded Moisture
Gravity Modulus Unit weight Content
kg/m³
Cement 3.15
Coarse Agg.
37.5 2.68 0.5 1600
Fine Agg 2.64 0.7 2.80 1368
Fineness Modulus of Sand = 2.80
From table A1.5.3.6 the quantity of CA
per cu. m of concrete is = 0.71 cu.m
Coarse Agg. = 1600 kg/cu .m X 0.71 cu.m
C. A. = 1136 kg per cu. m of concrete
TABLE A1.5.3.6 – VOLUME OF COARSE AGGREGATE PER UNIT
OF VOLUME OF CONCRETE CU.M OF AGG.
PER CU. M OF CONC.
MAXIMUM VOLUME OF DRY-RODDED COARSE
SIZE OF AGGREGATE PER UNIT VOLUME OF CONCRETE
AGGREGATES, FOR DIFFERENT FINENESS MODULUS OF SAND
MM 2.4 2.6 2.3 3.0
9.5 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.44
12.5 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.53
19 0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60
25 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
37.5 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69
50 0.78 0.76 0.74 0.72
75 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.76
150 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.81
STEP 7: ESTIMATION OF FINE AGGREGATE CONTENT
By Weight Method
Water (net mixing) 181 kg
Cement 292 kg
Coarse Aggregate (dry) 1136 kg
Total
1609 kg
The mass of fine aggregate, therefore, is estimated to be
2410 – 1609 = 801 kg
TABLE A1.[Link] – FIRST ESTIMATE OF WEIGHT OF FRESH
CONCRETE (METRIC)
FIRST ESTIMATE OF CONCRETE WEIGHT,
MAXIMUM SIZE OF KG/M³
AGGREGATES, MM
NON AIR- AIR-ENTRAINED
ENTRAINED CONCRETE
CONCRETE
9.5 2280 2200
12.5 2310 2230
19 2345 2275
25 2380 2290
37.5 2410 2350
50 2445 2345
75 2490 2405
150 2530 2435
BATCH WEIGHTS PER M³
FOR 1ST TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Absolute Volume
Water 181
Cement 292
37.50mm CA 1136
Fine Aggregates 801
STEP 8: ADJUSTMENT OF AGGREGATE MOISTURE
Moisture Content, % Absorption, %
37.50mm CA 2.0 0.5
Fine Aggregates 6.0 0.7
Free Moisture content of Aggregates
37.0mmCA = 2.0 - 0.5 = 1.5%
Sand (FA) = 6.0 - 0.7 = 5.3%
Free Moisture Adjustment
Water = 181 - 1136(0.015) - 801(0.053) = 121.5 Kgs
37.0mmCA =1136 x 1.02 = 1159 kgs (wet basis)
Sand (FA) = 801 x 1.06 = 849 kgs (wet basis)
ESTIMATED BATCH WEIGHTS PER M³
(1ST TRIAL BATCH)
WATER (to be added) = 122 Kgs
CEMENT = 292 Kgs
37.50MM CA (wet) = 1159 Kgs
SAND (wet) = 849 Kgs
TRIAL MIX QUANTITIES
For 6 sample cylinders:
Volume = 0.050 m³
WATER (added) = 6.8 KGS*
CEMENT = 14.6 KGS
37.50MM CA (wet) = 58.0 KGS
SAND (wet) = 42.5 KGS
TOTAL = 121.9 KGS
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS
Measured Unit Weight = 2399 kg/m³
Slump = 50 mm
Yield = 121.9 / 2399 = 0.0508 m³
Actual Mixing water = 6.8 + 0.85 + 2.12= 9.77 kgs
Actual Water Required = 9.77/0.0508 = 192 kgs (per cu. m of concrete, slump 50mm)
Total H2O requirement: = 192 + 6 = 198 Kgs
Adjustment for cement content
Water – Cement ratio is 0.62
Cement = 198/0.62 = 319 Kgs
Adjustment for CA
C. A = 58/0.0508 = 1142 Kgs (wet basis)
Dry basis = 1142/1.02 = 1120 Kgs
SSD basis = 1120 x 1.005 = 1126 Kgs
Adjustment for FA
Measured Unit Wt. Of Conc = 2399 Kg/cu.m
F.A (sand) = 2399 – ( 198 + 319 + 1126 )
= 756 Kgs (SSD basis)
Dry basis = 756/1.007 = 751 Kgs
BATCH WEIGHTS PER CU. M
FOR 2nd TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Weight
Water (net mixing) 198
Cement 319
37.50mm CA 1120
(dry basis)
Fine Agg. 751
(dry basis)
STEP 9: TRIAL BATCH ADJUSTMENTS (absolute volume method)
Adjusting for moisture
Water (to be added) = 124 Kgs
Cement = 292 Kgs
C.A (wet) = 1136 x 1.02 = 1159 Kgs
F.A (wet) = 759 x 1.06 = 804 Kgs
Water = 181 – (0.015)(1136) – (0.053)(759) = 124 Kgs
TRIAL MIX QUANTITIES
For 6 sample cylinders:
Volume = 0.050 m³
WATER (added) = 6.8 KGS*
CEMENT = 14.6 KGS
37.50MM CA (wet) = 58.0 KGS
SAND (wet) = 40.2 KGS
TOTAL = 119.6 KGS
Measured Unit Weight = 2399 kg/m³
Slump = 50 mm
Yield = 119.6 / 2399 = 0.0498 m³
Mixing water for same slump = 6.8 + 0.85 + 2.01= 9.66 kgs
Mixing water per cu.m = 9.66/0.0498 =194 kgs (per cu. m of concrete, slump 50 mm)
Total H2O requirement:
= 194 + 6 = 200 Kgs
Adjusted cement content for increased water
= 200 / 0.62 = 323 Kgs
Adjusted C.A content
= 58 / 0.0498 = 1165 Kgs (wet)
= 1165 / 1.02 = 1142 Kgs (dry)
= 1142 x 1.005 = 1148 Kgs (ssd)
Water = 9.66 / 1000 = 0.00966 m3
Cement = 14.6 / (3.15)(1000) = 0.00463 m3
C. A = 56.86 / (2.68)(1000) = 0.02122 m3
F. A = 37.92 / (2.64)(1000) = 0.01436 m3
Total = 0.04987 m3
Water = 200 / 1000 = 0.2000 m3
Cement = 323 / (3.15)(1000) = 0.1025 m3
C. A = 1142 / (2.68)(1000) = 0.4261 m3
Air = 0.0000 m3
Total = 0.7286 m3
Volume of F. A = 1 – 0.7286 = 0.2714 m3
Wt. of F. A = 0.2714 (2.64)(1000) = 716.0 Kgs
BATCH WEIGHTS PER CU. M
FOR 2nd TRIAL BATCH
By Weight By Weight
Water (net mixing) 200
Cement 323
37.50mm CA 1142
(dry basis)
Fine Agg. 716
(dry basis)
STEP 4: SELECTION OF WATER – CEMENT RATIO
