Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) Mix Design
Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a type of concrete that is highly flowable and can spread and
fill formwork under its own weight without the need for mechanical vibration. SCC is
characterized by its excellent workability, stability, and durability, making it suitable for intricate
formwork, congested reinforcement, and structures requiring high-quality finishes.
For this specific mix design, the required compressive strength is 72 MPa, with Slump Flow (SF)
= 2 and V-funnel time (VF) = 2. The design will be based on the EFNARC guidelines and ACI
recommendations, considering the use of high-performance materials.
2. Materials Selection
The following materials are selected based on their availability and suitability for high-strength
SCC:
Cement: Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
Fine Aggregate: Natural river sand or crushed sand, with a fineness modulus between
2.5 to 3.5.
Coarse Aggregate: Crushed granite or limestone with a maximum aggregate size of 10
mm, suitable for high-strength applications.
Water: Potable water.
Superplasticizer: A high-performance superplasticizer to achieve the desired slump
flow.
Air Content: 2.5%, typical for SCC to ensure durability.
3. Mix Design Methodology
The mix design follows the following sequence of steps:
1. Target Compressive Strength Calculation
2. Selection of Materials and Trial Mix
3. Proportions of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
4. Adjustments for Workability and Rheology
4. Target Compressive Strength
The target compressive strength of SCC is specified as 72 MPa. The characteristic compressive
strength is calculated based on standard deviation values, following the typical guidelines for
high-strength concrete.
The target strength is calculated using the formula:
f_ck = f_ck_target + 1.64 × S
Where:
f_ck_target = 72 MPa (Target compressive strength)
S = 6 MPa (Standard deviation, typical for high-strength mixes)
Thus, the characteristic compressive strength at 28 days is:
f_ck = 72 + (1.64 × 6) = 83.84 MPa
5. Proportioning of Materials
Based on the selected materials and the desired compressive strength, the following proportions
are determined:
Cement Content: 470 kg/m³ (within the typical range for high-strength SCC mixes)
Water-Cement Ratio: 0.32 (ensuring both high strength and adequate workability)
Superplasticizer: 9 kg/m³ (1.8% of cement weight) to achieve the required workability
and fluidity.
Fine Aggregate: 337.5 kg/m³ (calculated based on the total aggregate volume)
Coarse Aggregate: 412.5 kg/m³ (calculated to balance the fine aggregate proportion)
6. Aggregate Content
The total aggregate content, including both fine and coarse aggregates, typically accounts for 70-
80% of the total concrete volume in SCC. For this design, the total aggregate volume is
calculated to be 75% of the total concrete volume.
Assuming the total concrete volume is approximately 1 m³, the total aggregate content is
calculated as:
Total Aggregate Content = 0.75 × 1000 = 750 kg/m³
The proportion of fine to coarse aggregate is adjusted to ensure the desired flowability and
workability. For high-strength SCC, the fine aggregate typically makes up 45% and the coarse
aggregate 55% of the total aggregate content. Thus, the fine and coarse aggregates are
proportioned as follows:
Fine Aggregate: 0.45 × 750 = 337.5 kg/m³
Coarse Aggregate: 0.55 × 750 = 412.5 kg/m³
7. Workability and Rheology
The mix is designed to meet the following rheological requirements:
2
Slump Flow (SF): The desired SF of 2 corresponds to a flow of 650 mm to 800 mm,
which is within the acceptable range for SCC.
V-Funnel Time (VF): The target VF of 2 corresponds to a flow time of 6 to 8 seconds,
indicating that the mix will have the appropriate viscosity for self-compaction.
The combination of the water-cement ratio, superplasticizer content, and aggregate proportions
ensures the mix will achieve the desired slump flow and V-funnel time.
8. Final Mix Proportions
The final proportions for the Self-Compacting Concrete mix are as follows:
Cement: 470 kg/m³
Water: 150 kg/m³
Superplasticizer: 9 kg/m³
Fine Aggregate: 337.5 kg/m³
Coarse Aggregate: 412.5 kg/m³
Air Content: 2.5%
These proportions are designed to achieve the target compressive strength of 72 MPa, the desired
Slump Flow (SF) of 2, and a V-Funnel time of 2.
