CHAPTER # 2

MIX DESIGN
OF
CEMENT CONCRETE

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 Mix Design
Mix design is a process of selecting
suitable ingredients & determining
their relative proportions with the
objective of producing concrete of
having certain minimum workability,
strength and durability as
economically as possible
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 2.1 Introduction Nominal Mix
• Proportion are adopted in generalized form
irrespective of its ingredients properties
• Used for relatively unimportant and simple
concrete works
• All the ingredients are prescribed and their
proportion are specified. Therefore, there is no
scope for any deviation by the
engineer/designer
• Nominal concrete mix may be used for concrete
of M20 or below
• Desired strength/ workability can’t be
guaranteed, but still useful if no any mix design
data is available in site
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 Nominal Mix

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 2.2 Design Mix
• Proportion are adopted depending upon the
ingredients properties to obtain the desired
workability, strength & durability of concrete
• It is a performance based mix where choice of
ingredients & proportioning are left to the
designer to be decided
• The user has to specify only the requirement of
concrete in fresh as well as hardened state
Fresh concrete >> workability & finishing
characteristics
Hardened concrete >> comp strength & durability

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 Design Mix
Designation of concrete
• Concrete is generally characterized by
compressive strength & designated by grade of
concrete
• As per IS 456: 2000, the grade of concrete is 28
days characteristics compressive strength of
concrete cube of 150mm size expressed in
N/mm2
Acceptance criteria
• While designing the mix, we have to target for a
higher strength called target mean strength, so
that not more than 5% test results fall below a
desired strength called characteristic strength, fck.
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 Design Mix by IS method
Steps:
1) Determine target mean strength (Fm) from
specified characteristics strength(fck)
Fm = fck + S x K
where S = standard deviation = 1.64
K = constant( = 3.5 for M10/M15, = 4 for
M20/M25 & =5 for M30/M50)
2) Determine minimum W/C ratio based on
target mean strength and cement type and
compare with W/C requirement for durability
consideration.
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 Design Mix by IS method

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 Design Mix by IS method

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 Design Mix by IS method
3) Determine free water content and fine
to total aggregate ratio depending upon
maximum size of aggregate and concrete
strength for standard deviation.
• make the adjustment depending upon
ingredient properties

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 Design Mix by IS method

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 Design Mix by IS method

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 Design Mix by IS method
4) Calculate cement content from W/C ratio
and water content of mix determine
previously.
• compare values with minimum/maximum
value of the cement content of durability
requirement and modify if required.
5) Calculate the aggregate content

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 Design Mix by IS method
Where, V = net vol. of fresh concrete
W = mass of water in Kg per m3 of concrete
C = mass of cement in Kg per m3 of concrete
Sc = sp.gr. Of cement
p = ratio of fine agg. to total agg. by absolute vol.
Fagg, Ca = total mass of FA & CA in Kg per m3 of concrete
Sfa, Cca = sp.gr. of saturated FA & CA
6) The mix proportions above obtain by the assumption that
the aggregates are saturated and surface dry. If any deviation,
make adjustment in water and aggregate content.
7) Mix proportion = C : FA : CA & W/C

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 Design Mix by DOE method
Steps:
1) Determine target mean strength (Fm) from
specified characteristics strength(fck)
• Fm = fck + S x K
where S = standard deviation
and K = constant

2) Determine minimum W/C ratio based on target

mean strength and compare with W/C
requirement for durability consideration.
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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method
3) Determine the free water content depending upon
the maximum size and type of aggregate and degree of
workability.

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 Design Mix by DOE method
4) Calculate cement content from W/C ratio and
water content of mix determined previously.
• Compare value with minimum/maximum value
of cement content of durability requirement
and modify if required.
5) Determine wet density of concrete aggregates
depending upon free water content and relative
density of combine aggregate.
• #Calculate total aggregate content knowing the
wet density of concrete.
• Total aggregate content (SSD) = ϒ0 – ϒc – ϒw

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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method
6) Determine the proportion of the
aggregate depending upon the W/C ratio,
size of aggregate, the aggregate grading
zone and workability level.
• Fine aggregate = total aggregate x
proportion of fine aggregate
• Coarse aggregate = total aggregate –
fine aggregate
7) Now, mix proportion = C: FA : CA &
W/C
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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by DOE method

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 Design Mix by ACI method
Steps:
1) Determine target mean strength (Fm)
from specified characteristics strength(fck)
Fm = fck + S x K,
where S = standard deviation and
K = constant.
2) Determine minimum W/C ratio based
on target mean strength and compare
with W/C requirement for durability
consideration.
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 Design Mix by ACI method

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 Design Mix by ACI method

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 Design Mix by ACI method
3) Determine the free water content
depending upon the maximum size
and type of aggregate and degree of
workability.

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 Design Mix by ACI method

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 Design Mix by ACI method
4) Calculate cement content from W/C
ratio and water content of mix
determined previously.
5) Determine bulk density of dry rodded
coarse aggregates depending upon
maximum aggregate size and fineness
modulus of the aggregate.
• #Calculate weight of coarse aggregate =
bulk volume x bulk density
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 Design Mix by ACI method

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 Design Mix by ACI method
6) Determine weight of fresh concrete per cubic
meter

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 Design Mix by ACI method

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 Design Mix by ACI method
7) Determine weight of fine aggregates
required
• Weight of fine aggregates = total
weight(step6) – cement(step4) –
water(step3) - coarse
aggregate(step5)
• Now, mix proportion = C: FA : CA &
W/C
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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
Quantity of concrete(m3) No.s of samples
1-5 1
6 – 15 2
16 – 30 3
31 – 50 4
51 & above 4 + 1 for each 50m3
part thereof
Note: 3 cubes constitute one sample
 In one sample, the strength of individual cube should
not vary more than ±15% of average strength of
3cubes of samples, otherwise the sample is considered
to be invalid

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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
• the mean of sample mean is given by:
1 𝑛
𝑥= 𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖
𝑛
• 𝑥 >> typical value or central value of data
(single number or value for the data)
When the test results of large nos. of
cubes, prepared under similar condition,
are plotted on a histogram, the results
are found to follow a definite Bell
Shaped Curve known as Normal
distribution Curve
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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength

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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
• Large nos. of cubes will have the strength near the
mean value & the nos. of have more or less strength
will reduce progressively depending upon the
difference from mean value
• This deviation in strengths do quality control in the
field
• Statistically, this deviation is known as Standard
Deviation & calculated by
2
𝑥−𝑥
• S.D. (𝜎) =
𝑛 −1
Where, x = value for individual cubes
n = total nos of cubes
𝑥 = arithmetic mean of n cubes
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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength

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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
• The arithmetic mean of test results gives
no indication of the extent of variation of
strength
• However, this can be ascertained by
relating the individual strength to mean
strength & determining the variation from
the mean with the help of properties of
normal Distribution Curve

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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength

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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
Q. Although the cube strength does not represent
the actual strength of concrete in the structure, yet
the importance of cube testing can not be
underestimates, why?
i. It indicates the potential strength of the mix
ii. It detects the variation in quality control at
site
iii. It helps in determining the rate of gain of
strength of concrete
iv. It helps in determining the time of removal of
formwork
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 2.3 some aspects of probabilistic
approach on strength
Q. The cube strength does not guarantee the same
strength in the structure, why?
i. The concrete in cube does not pass through
the misadventures of transportation,
placement, compaction & curing. All the
process are much superior in cube as
compared to the structure
ii. Its shape is different from the shape of
structure i.e. the shape factor also plays an
important role in strength.
(The strength of actual structure is approx. 2/3rd of
cube strength for the same concrete)
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 2.4 Choice of constituents in different
mixes
1 The environment exposure condition for the structure
2 The grade of concrete, their characteristic strength’s and
standard deviations
3 The type of cement
4 The types and sizes of aggregates and their sources of supply
5 The nominal maximum sizes of aggregates
6 Maximum and minimum cement content in kg/m3
7 Water cement ratio
8 The degree of workability of concrete based on placing
conditions
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 2.4 Choice of constituents in different
mixes
9 Air content inclusive of entrained air
10 The maximum/minimum density of concrete
11 The maximum/minimum temperature of fresh
concrete
12 Type of water available for mixing and curing
13 The source of water and the impurities present
in it.
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 2.5 Curing
• A procedure of promoting the hydration of
cement for development of concrete strength &
controlling the temperature and humidity
conditions after the placement of concrete
mixture into formworks
• Result of curing is higher strength, reduce
permeability, durability
• The hydration of cement is not a momentary
action, but a process continuing for long time.
• The rate of hydration is fast to start with, but
continuous over a long time at a decreasing rate

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 2.5 Curing
• The effect of curing is

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 2.5 Curing
• Thumb rule for type-I cement:
7 days strength >> 60% - 80%
28 days strength >> 100%
120 days strength >> 120%

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 2.5 Curing
• Thumb rule for type-I cement:
7 days strength >> 60% - 80%
28 days strength >> 100%
120 days strength >> 120%
• In sealed container, theoretically W/C ratio of
0.38 is required
• Practically 0.5 will be required for complete
hydration in a sealed container for keeping
desirable relative humidity level
• In actual works, to continue hydration, extra
water must be added to replenish the loss of
water on account of absorption & evaporation
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 2.5 Curing
• For high quality concrete, curing is very
important. If curing is neglected in early
period of hydration, the quality of concrete
will experience a sort of irreparable loss
• An efficient curing in the early period of
hydration can be compared to a good &
wholesome feeding given to a new born baby
• Heat releases during hydration is harmful from
the point of view of volume stability. The heat
generation can be reduced by through water
curing
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 2.5 Curing
Methods of curing
A. Replenishing the lost water
i. By immersion in water
ii. By ponding water on surface
iii. By sprinkling water on surface
iv. Using saturated coverings
v. Steam and hot water curing (steam temp 750C)
B. Preventing loss moisture
i. Using curing compounds
ii. Using impermeable membrane coverings
iii. Shading of concrete work (limited application)

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 Curing by immersion

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 Curing by ponding

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 Curing by sprinkling

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 Curing by saturated covering

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 Curing by impermeable membrane

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 Curing by compounds

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 Curing by steam

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 2.6 properties of Hardened Concrete
1. Strength
i. Compressive
ii. Tensile
iii. Flexural
iv. Shear
v. bonding
2. Permeability
3. Shrinkage
4. Creep
5. Durability
6. Stress-strain character
7. Poisson’s ratio
8. ……………..etc

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