The ACI Method of Mix Proportioning

According to ACI 211

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 Consideration in the proportioning of
Concrete Mixtures

✓ Consistency or Workability (slump) and Placeability

✓ Strength

✓ Durability

✓ Appearance

✓ Economy (Cost)

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 Materials

✓ Cement

✓ Water

✓ Aggregate

✓ Admixtures

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 Ten Steps for Mix Proportioning
1. Assemble information
2. Know desired slump
3. Choose max. size aggregate
4. Estimate the water and air
5. Choose the W/C ratio
6. Determine the cement content
7. Estimate the CA content
8. Determine the FA content
9. Adjust for moisture
10. Perform trial batches
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 Required Material Informations

Cement:
Fine Aggregate:
✓ Type
✓ Bulk specific gravity (SSD)
✓ Specific gravity
✓ Absorption capacity;
Coarse Aggregate:
✓ Fineness modulus
✓ Bulk specific gravity (SSD);
✓ Moisture Content ✓ Moisture content

✓ Dry-rodded unit weight Water:

✓ Absorption capacity ✓ Density

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Step #1: Select Slump

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 Step #2: Choose max. size aggregate

◼ DEFINITION: Nominal maximum aggregate size is the largest sieve

that retains some(<5%) of the aggregate particles.

◼ ACI Limits:

◼ 1/3 of the slab depth

◼ 1/5 of the minimum dimension of structural members

◼ 3/4 of the minimum clear space between bars/form

◼ Aggregate larger than these dimensions may be difficult to consolidate

and compact resulting in a honeycombed structure or large air pockets.

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Step #3: Estimate the water and air

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Approx. Water Requirements for Various Agg. Sizes and Slumps

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Step #4: Select W/C Ratio
TMS(Target Mean Strength) = Specified Strength + Margin

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✓ W/C ratio also chosen based on strength and durability property

W/C Requirements for Exposure Conditions

from ACI 318 (w/c here is water to cementitious materials ratio)

Maximum w/c Min. strength,

Exposure condition
ratio by mass f'c, MPa (psi)

Select for strength, Select for

No freeze-thaw, deicers,
workability, and structural
aggressive substances
finishing needs requirements

Concrete with low permea

0.50 28 (4000)
bility; exposed to water

Concrete exposed to freezing

and thawing in a moist 0.45 31 (4500)
condition or deicers

For corrosion protection for

reinforced concrete exposed 0.40 35 (5000)
to chlorides

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 W/C Requirement for Concrete Exposed to Sulfates
Sulfate(SO4) Maximum Minimum
Sulfate Sulfate (SO4) in
in soil, % by Cement type w/c-ratio, strength,
exposure water, ppm
mass by mass f'c,MPa (psi)

Less than Less than No special

Negligible — —
0.10 150 type required

II, MS,
IP(MS),
0.10 to 150 to IS(MS),
Moderate 0.50 28 (4000)
0.20 1500 P(MS),
I(PM)(MS),
I(SM)(MS)

0.20 to 1500 to
Severe V, HS 0.45 31 (4500)
2.00 10,000

Very Over
Over 2.00 V, HS 0.40 35 (5000)
severe 10,000

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 Step #5: Cement Content

✓ The calculated cement amount is based on the

selected mixing water content and water-cement
ratio.
𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑊 ൗ𝐶 =
𝑊𝑡. 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

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Step #6: Coarse Aggregate Content
✓ Volume of dry-rodded coarse aggregate per unit volume of
concrete for different coarse aggregates and fineness
modulus of fine aggregates.

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Step #7: Fine aggregate content

Unit Volume (1m3)

Volume of mixing water
Volume of Air
Volume of Portland Cement
Volume of Course aggregate
Volume of Fine Aggregate

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 Step #8: Batch weight and water adjustment

Aggregate weights.
 Any moisture in the stockpiled aggregate will increase its
weight.
 Without correcting for this, the batched aggregate volumes
will be incorrect.
Amount of mixing water.
 If the batched aggregate is not in saturated surface dry
state it will absorb water (if Air dry) or give up water (if wet)
to the cement paste.
 This causes a net change in the amount of water available in
the mix and must be compensated for by adjusting the amount
of mixing water added.

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Properties of Concrete Specified By Engineer

 Slump = 2.5cm
 28-day strength of C-26
 Air content: 4.5 - 6.5 percent
 Risk of freezing and thawing
 Slab depth =250mm

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 Information About Materials:
◼ Coarse aggregate :
 Nominal maximum size = 37.5mm
 Dry-rodded weight = 1600 kg/m3
 Specific gravity = 2.68
 Moisture content = 1.0 percent
 Absorption = 0.5 percent
◼ Fine aggregate:
 Fineness modulus = 2.80
 Specific gravity = 2.64
 Moisture content = 5 percent
 Absorption = 0.7 percent

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Step #1: Select Slump

✓ Engineer Specified 2.5cm (correlates w/table)

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Step #2: Choose max. size aggregate Check

✓ ACI Limits:
1/3 of the slab depth

250mm/3 =83.33mm > 37.5mm OK

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 Step #3: Estimate the water and air 37.5mm CA

2.5 cm Slump 21
Weight of Water = 148 kg

Volume of Water = 148 kg = 0.148m3

1000 kg/m3
Volume of Water = 148 liters per cubic meter of concrete

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 Step #4: Select W/C Ratio
TMS(Target Mean Strength) = Specified Strength + Margin= 26+8.5=34.5

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Step #5: Cement Content

◼ W/C= Wt. of Water

Wt. of Cement
◼ Wt. of Cement = 148 kg
0.40
= 370kg

Volume of Cement = 370 kg

3.15 x 1000kg/m3

Volume of Cement = 0.117m3 per cubic meter of concrete

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Step #6: Coarse Aggregate Content

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Weight (Dry) =.71 x 1600 kg/m3 = 1,136 kg

Dry Rodded Unit Wt of Agg

Volume = 1,136 kg = 0.42 m3

2.68 x 1000kg/m3

Sp.G

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 Step #7: Fine aggregate content

1m3 Cubic meter of Concrete

Unit Volume (1m3)
Volume of mixing water 0.148m3 Water
Volume of Air 0.055m3 Air
Volume of Portland Cement 0.117m3 Cement
Volume of Course aggregate
0.42m3 coarse Agg.
Volume of Fine Aggregate 0.26m3 Sand

Wt of Sand(Dry) = 0.26m3 x 2.64 x 1000kg/m3 = 686.4 kg.

SG Sand
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Step #8: Batch weight and water adjustment

◼ Wt of coarse Agg. = 1,136 kg x 1.01= 1,147.4kg

1% Moisture
◼ Wt of Sand =686.4 kgx 1.05= 720.7kg

5% Moisture

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✓ Mixing water needs to be adjusted. Both the coarse and fine
aggregate are wet and will contribute water to the cement paste.

Water from coarse Agg. = 1,136 kg x (.01-.005) = 5.68kg

Dry Wt. Moisture Absorption

Water from Sand= 686.4 kg x (.05-.007) = 29.52kg

Dry Wt. Moisture Absorption

Water = 148kg – 5.68kg – 29.52kg= 112.8kg

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Final Batch Weight (1 Cubic meter)

Water 112.8kg

Cement 370kg

Coarse agg. 1,147.4kg

Sand 720.7kg

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 Mix Design Assignment

▪ Specified strength of 25 MPa

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 Information About Materials:
Concrete property:
• C-25
• Exposure to Sulfate (Sever)`
Property of cement:
• Type :opc
• Specific gravity:3.15
Properties of coarse aggregate from the test results :
• Nominal maximum size =19mm
• Unit weight =1662.9 kg/m3
• Specific gravity =2.83
• Absorption =0.8%
• Moisture content =0.64%
Properties of fine aggregate from the test results :
• Unit weight =1813.26 kg/m3
• Fineness modulus =2.79
• Specific gravity =2.692
• Absorption =1.18%
• Moisture content =2.29%
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Thank you!!!

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