Concrete Mix

Design
-M.I.F-
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter, students will be
able to:
 Design the intended concrete strength.
5 steps
 Step 1 : Deal with strength leading to the free
w/c ratio.
 Step 2: Deals with workability leading to the
free free water content.
 Step 3: Combines the results of Stage 1 and 2
to determine cement content
 Step 4: Deals with the determination of the
total aggregate content.
 Step 5: Deals with the selection of the fine
and coarse aggregate contents.
STEP 1
 Target mean strength:
Fm = fc + ks
Fm = target mean strength
Fc = Specified characteristic strength
Ks = the margin, s= standard deviation,
k=constant
 Step 1
Proportion Defective k
10% 1.28
5% 1.64
2.5% 1.96
1% 2.33

The constant k is derived from the mathematics of the normal

distribution and increases as the proportion of defectives is decreased
BS5328
 Step 1
 Standard deviation
If previous information concerning the variability of strength tests comprises
less than 20 results, the s to be adopted should be that obtained from Line A.
If previous information is available consisting of 20 or more results, the s is
obtained from line B.
Step 1
 Example fc = 35N/mm2, 1% proportion
defective (k=2.33), SD, s= 8 N/mm2,
Target Mean Strength
fm = 35 + 2.33 (8) = 53.64N/mm2
Selection W/C ratio
 Thestrength obtained from TABLE 2, then
plotted on FIGURE 3.
STEP 2: Free water content
 Can be obtained from TABLE 3
Step 3 Determination of
Cement Content
 Is Free water content (from TABLE 3 or
item 2.3) divided by free water cement
ration (obtained from item 1.7)

 If W/C=0.45 and water = 233 kg/m3,

Cement c= 518kg/m3 (item 3.1)
Step 4 Determination of total
aggregate
 Can be obtained from FIGURE 5.
(Note: If no information is available
regarding the relative density of the
aggregate, an approximation can be made
by assuming a value of 2.6 for uncrushed
and 2.7 for crushed aggregate)
Step 4
 Total aggregate content = D – C – W
where;
D = wet density of conrete (kg/m3)
C = cement content (kg/m3)
W = free water content (kg/m3)
Step 5 Selection fine and
coarse aggregate
 Can be obtained from FIGURE 6
Step 5
 Example ; from Figure 6 (44%), Total
aggregate content 1624.
 1624 x 44%=715 kg/m3
 Thus total coarse aggregate =
1624-715= 910 kg/m3
Step 5
Ratios for 10mm, 20mm, 40mm:

a) 1:2 for combination of 10 and 20mm

b) 1:1.5:3 for combination of 10,20, 40mm
Final Quantities
3 cubes of 100mmx100mmx100mm
 2 prisms of 100mmx100mmx0.5
 Total volume x 10% wastage