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CE 310 – LECTURE 7
PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE II
CONCRETE MIX DESIGN
ACI 211.1

MILITARY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

RISALPUR

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 INTRODUCTION

• Concrete, second largest material consumed by human beings after food and water
as per WHO
• Obtained by mixing cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and water in required
proportions
• When placed in forms and allowed to cure becomes hard like stone
• The hardening is caused by chemical reaction between water and the cement due to
which concrete grows stronger with age
• Strength, durability and other characteristics of concrete depend upon the properties
of its ingredients, proportion of the mix, the method of compaction and other
controls during placing, compaction and curing

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 DEFINITION

Mix design is the process of selecting suitable ingredients and determining

their relative proportions with the objective of producing concrete of certain
minimum strength and durability as economically as possible

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 OBJECT OF MIX DESIGN

To determine the most economical & practical combination of

locally available materials to produce a concrete that will satisfy
the performance requirements under particular conditions of use

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 Factors to be considered in mix design

• Workability
• Placement conditions
• Strength
• Durability
• Appearance
• Economy

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 Goals to be achieved
 Strength – important to the design engineer
 Durability – important to the owner
 Workability – important to the contractor
 Economy – important to the owner

Proportioning concrete is the art of optimizing the mixture to meet

these requirements

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 Compressive strength of concrete

 Specified compressive strength f’c, on which the concrete mix design is based
will be largest of the following values.
 Minimum strength specified for structural purposes by ACI code 19.2.1
 Minimum compressive strength specified by ACI Code chapter 19 for
durability requirement under various exposure conditions
 Compressive strength specified by structural engineer and on which the
member design is based

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 Required average comp strength
The required average compressive strength on which the concrete mix design
is based shall be calculated as under:

Specified compressive Required average compressive

strength, psi strength, psi
fc′ ≤ 5000 Use the larger value computed
from Eq. (5-1) and (5-2)
fcr′ = fc′ + 1.34ss (5-1)
fcr′ = fc′ + 2.33ss – 500 (5-2)

fc′ > 5000 Use the larger value computed

from Eq. (5-1) and (5-3)
fcr′ = fc′ + 1.34ss (5-1)
fcr′ = 0.90fc′ + 2.33ss (5-3)

Ss = Sample standard deviation

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 Required average comp strength
When data is not available to calculate sample standard deviation

Specified compressive Required average

strength, psi compressive
strength, psi
fc′ < 3000 fcr′ = fc′ + 1000

3000 ≤ fc′ ≤ 5000 fcr′ = fc′ + 1200

fc′ > 5000 fcr′ = 1.10fc′ + 700

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 Fineness Modulus of Sand

• The FM is calculated from

particle size distribution of
the sand
• Values of FM should range
between 2.3 to 3.1
• Coarse sand has a higher
FM than fine sand
• FM influences the bulk volume of
coarse aggregate

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 Workability Requirements

• Concrete must always be

made with a workability,
consistency and plasticity
suitable for job placement

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 DATA REQUIRED
1. Compressive strength or Class of concrete to be designed
2. Durability requirements, if any
3. Cement
a. Specific gravity of cement
b. compliance with relevant specification
4. Fine aggregate
a. Specific gravity
b. Grading of aggregates according to ASTM
c. Fineness modulus
d. Moisture content
e. Absorption

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 DATA REQUIRED

5. Coarse aggregate
a. Maximum size of aggregate
b. Specific Gravity
c. Unit Weight (dry rodded unit weight, lb/ cu ft)
d. Moisture content of coarse aggregate
e. Absorption of coarse aggregate

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 Steps For concrete mix design
ACI 211.1
1. Choice of slump
2. Choice of maximum size of aggregates
3. Estimate of water and air content
4. Selection of water cement ratio
5. Calculation of cement content
6. Estimate of coarse aggregate content
7. Estimate of fine aggregate content
8. Adjustments for aggregate moisture
9. Trial batch adjustment

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 Steps For concrete mix design

Step 1: choice of Slump. Slump of concrete mix depends on the

structural member to be casted and method of placing concrete. Slump
values are normally specified with minimum and maximum limits.
Concrete to be placed under water and concrete to be placed using
concrete pump will generally require a very high slump, as high as 8”
to 9”. Typical values of the slump recommended for various members
are shown in the table 6.3.1 of ACI standard 211.1. Minimum values
of slump can be used when compaction is done using mechanical
vibrators

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Steps For concrete mix design

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 2. Choice of Maximum Size of Aggregate
 It is generally decided by structural engineer, bearing in mind the member
size and spacing of reinforcement and method of placing. It should be the
largest that is economically available.
 When high strength concrete is desired, best results may be obtained with
reduced nominal maximum sizes of aggregate since these produce higher
strengths at a given water-cement ratio.
 Maximum size of aggregate is selected from following criteria of ACI
Code ;
– Cover between steel & form, C: Dmax <1/5*C
– Spacing between bars, bundles of bars or pretensioning strands S:
Dmax <3/4S
– Depth of slab, D: Dmax <D/3
– Normally ¾” – 1½” size may be used.
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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 3. Estimate of Water Content and Air Content
 Water content required to produce the given slump depends on several
factors;
• Maximum size of aggregate, its shape, texture and grading
• Content of entrained air
• Use of admixture or superplasticizer
• Temperature
• If no direct experimental data is available, table 6.3.3 of ACI standard,
can be used

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Steps For concrete mix design

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 Steps For concrete mix design

 The values of water content in Table 6.3.3 are for typical well graded angular
aggregate. When coarse aggregate is rounded, water requirement per cu yd of
concrete is reduced by 30 lb in case of non entrained concrete and 25 lb for air
entrained concrete. Superplasticizer can significantly reduce (20 - 25%), water
demand which can be determined experimentally.
 The table 6.3.3 of ACI 211.1 also gives the amount of entrapped air in concrete.
 Air content required for various types of exposure are also shown in the above
referred table.

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 4. selection of Water- cement Ratio. There are two criteria for selection of water-
cement ratio, strength and durability.
 Required concrete strength can be calculated from ACI code.
 ACI Code chapter 4 lays down minimum specified compressive strength for
various types of exposure.
 Select the water cement ratio from strength criteria and for appropriate condition of
placing the concrete.
 Water cement ratio for the required strength can be found from table 6.3.4 attached
 Concrete mix should be designed for the lower of the above two values.

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Steps For concrete mix design

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 Steps For concrete mix design

Step 5. Calculation of Cement Content

 Cement content can be calculated by dividing water content by water cement ratio
selected.
cement content = Water content/ w-c ratio
 If minimum cement content is specified from durability requirement, the
maximum of the two values may be used.

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 Steps For concrete mix design

Step 6. Estimation of Coarse Aggregate Content

 Bulk volume of coarse aggregate to total volume of concrete depends on
maximum size of aggregate and on the grading of fine aggregate
(Fineness Modulus)
 Table 6.3.6 gives the bulk volume of coarse aggregate per unit volume of
concrete for given coarse aggregate size and fineness modulus of fine
aggregate, f.
Wt of C.A.= f x dry rodded unit wt of C.A. x 27
 Bulk volume of C.A. may be increased or decreased by about 10 % for
less or more workable concrete mix

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Steps For concrete mix design

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 7. Estimate of Fine Aggregate – By Volume
 Absolute volume of fine aggregate is obtained by subtracting the sum of
the absolute volume of water, cement, entrained air, and coarse aggregate
from the volume of concrete.
 Absolute volume is equal to weight divided by the density of the material.

Vol. of water = wt. of water/62.4

Volume of Portland cement = wt. of PC/(3.15 x 62.4)
Vol. of CA = wt. of CA/(SG(ca) x 62.4)
Volume of Air = (%Air content x 100)*27
Volume of FA= 27- vol of water, cement, CA and air
 Wt of F.A = (Vol of FA x s.g of F A x 62.4 ) lb

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 7. Estimate of Fine Aggregate – By weight.
 An estimate about density of concrete per cu yd can be had from table 6.3.7.1 of ACI
211.1
 Weight of fine aggregate can be calculated by subtracting the weight of materials already
calculated.
Weight of fine aggregate = density of concrete/cu yd – wt of cement - wt of water - wt of
C.A

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Steps For concrete mix design

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 8. Adjustment for aggregate moisture
 Batch quantities are calculated according to the capacity of concrete mixer
or volume to be cast.
 Quantities calculated are for aggregate in dry condition. They should be
adjusted according to the moisture content of aggregate.
 If the aggregate is wet (moisture content more than absorption, as after
rains), their weight should be increased and water content be reduced
accordingly.
 If the aggregate has moisture less than its 24 hour absorption, its weight and
water content should be increased according to the absorption and moisture
content of the aggregate.

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 Steps For concrete mix design
Step 9. Trial batch adjustment.
 The calculated mix proportions should be checked by making trial mixes.
 Only sufficient water to produce the required slump should be used regardless
of the amount calculated.
 Trial mix should be checked for workability, unit weight, cohesiveness and air
content.
 Trial batch should then be cast and should yield the results within the
following limit.
• Slump should be ± ½ inch.
• Air content should be ± 0.5 %.
– Average compressive strength must be equal to or greater than
the required compressive strength.

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 Steps For concrete mix design
 Yield of concrete can be calculated by dividing the wt of materials actually
used by unit wt of concrete found during trial mix.
 If slump required is not achieved, re-estimate the mixing water per cu yd by
multiplying the net mixing water content of trial batch by 27 and dividing the
product by the yield of the trial batch in cu ft. Increase or decrease the re-
estimated amount of water by 10 lb for each 1 inch required increase or
decrease in slump.
 If the desired air content is not achieved, the dosage of air entraining admixture
should be adjusted to produce the specified air content.

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 Steps For concrete mix design

 The water content is then increased (or decreased) by 5 lb/cu yd for each 1 %
decrease (or increase) in air content.
 If estimated wt of concrete is the basis for proportioning, re-estimate the wt by
multiplying the unit wt in lb/cu ft of trial batch by 27 and reducing or increasing
the result by the anticipated %age increase or decrease in air content of the
adjusted batch from the first trial batch.
 Calculate new batch weights starting from step 4, modifying the volume of
coarse aggregate if necessary to provide proper workability.

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Example

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 Mixes for small jobs
 For small jobs where time and personnel are not available to
determine the proportions in accordance with the recommended
procedure, mixes in the attached table will usually provide
concrete that is amply strong and durable if the amount of water
added not large enough to make it over wet.
 Three mixes are given for each nominal maximum size of coarse
aggregate. Mix B is intended for initial use. If mix is over sanded,
change to mix C, if it is under sanded, change to mix A. Mixes
listed are based on dry or surface dry sand. If sand is saturated,
change the batch quantities accordingly.

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 Example
Max size of Mix Approx wt of material per cu ft of concrete, lb
aggregate designation cement Sand Coarse
inch content aggregate
Air entrained Non air Gravel or
entrained crushed stone

½ A 25 48 51 54
B 25 46 49 56
C 25 44 47 58
¾ A 23 45 49 62
B 23 43 47 64
C 23 41 45 66
1 A 22 41 45 70
B 22 39 43 72
C 22 37 41 74
1½ A 20 41 45 75
B 20 39 43 77
C 20 37 41 79

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 Practical Concrete Mix Design
HW 3
• 1 & 2 Reinforced foundation, Non air entrained / air entrained, 4000 psi, FM 2.8, 3.0
• 3 & 4 Beams, Non air entrained / air entrained, 3500 psi, FM 2.8, 3.0
• 5 & 6 Slabs, Non air entrained / air entrained, 3000 psi, FM 2.8, 3.0
• 7 Mass concrete, Non air entrained, 2500 psi, FM 2.8

• Assume missing data

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THANK YOU

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