Report on

Proportioning of concrete mix

M30 Grade concrete

At the request of The Assistant Engineer, UWS, Sub Division, PHD, PWD, Pudcherry, the
above work was done by the Department of Civil Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering
College, Puducherry – 605 014. The report includes salient features of the mixture, basic
properties of materials tested, mix proportioning and recommendations.

Name of Work: Proposed water supply scheme for Ariyapalayam and adjoining areas in
Villianur Commune, Puducherry

Lr. No. : 682/D/PW/AE UWS/JE V/PHD/11 dated 31.10.2011

Design parameters
The design parameters adopted are given below:
M30 Grade concrete using (Brand) : 43 OPC Dalmia SRPC
– Workability (Slump) : 50-100 mm
– Max. Water-Cement Ratio : 0.45
– Min. Cement Content : 400 kg/m3
– Aggregate requirement : Sizes 20 & 12.5 mm
– Admixture : Nil

Basic Properties of Materials:

The basic properties of the constituent materials, such as, cement, fine and coarse aggregates
were tested in accordance with IS: 4031 and IS: 383 respectively and the test results are
given in Tables 1 to 3.

Table 1 Properties of Cement

–– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– ––
Specific gravity = 2.95
Consistency, (% by mass) = 30.0
Initial setting time, (minutes) = 160
Final setting time, (minutes) = 250
Compressive strength of
cement mortar cubes @
3 days (MPa) = 17.6
7 days (MPa) = 23.9
–– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– ––
Note: The above test results comply with IS Specifications for SRPC.

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Properties of Aggregates:

The client had supplied coarse aggregates in two different sizes in addition to fine aggregate
(river sand). The gradation details are given in Tables 2 & 3.

Table 2 Grading of Coarse Aggregates

IS Sieve size, Cumulative aggregate

mm passing, percent by mass Remarks
20 mm (a) 12.5 mm (b)
40.0 100 100 A combination of 55% of
20.0 70.0 100 (a) + 45% of (b) is
16.0 49.4 100 combined to obtain the
12.5 21.6 96.2 desired slump and
10.0 4.8 79.0 strength.
4.75 0.3 1.3
2.36 0.0 0.0

Other properties of coarse aggregates:

20mm 12.5 mm
Specific gravity of aggregate = 2.77 2.76
Fineness modulus = 8.54 6.24
Average bulk density, (kg/m3) = 1445 1431

Table 3 Grading of Fine Aggregate

Cumulative aggregate passing,

IS Sieve size
percent by mass
4.75mm 97.6
2.36mm 96.5
1.18mm 79.4
600mm 40.3
300mm 25.1

150mm 1.1

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Other properties of fine aggregate:

Fineness modulus = 2.6

Grading Zone = II (IS: 383)
Specific gravity = 2.71
Average bulk density, kg/m3 = 1553

Mix Proportioning

Mix proportioning was carried out in accordance with IS: 10262 and the guidelines of IS:
456-2000 were followed. The target mean strength of the mix was arrived at based on IS:
456-2000.

Target mean strength (fct) of M30 grade concrete =30+1.65X5= 38.25 MPa

Trial Mixes were prepared and checked for workability with various proportions particularly
with fine and coarse aggregate contents.

After fulfilling workability requirements, six cubes (150mm size) were prepared. Three
cubes were tested for 28th day strength and the remaining three cubes were tested for actual
7th - day strength after normal water curing. With a few trials on strength requirements, final
proportions were evaluated. The test results of the concrete cubes are given in Table 4.

Table 4 Properties of Concrete Mixture

Mix Proportion by Slump Actual 7th day Accelerated

Designation weight observed strength (MPa) strength R- 28
(mm) (MPa)
M30 1:1.56 : 3.05 75 33.1 40.55
(W/C = 0.45)

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RECOMMENDATION

The following proportion for M30 grade concrete is recommended (kg per m3 of concrete)
Cement (C) = 400
Fine aggregate (Fa) = 625
Coarse aggregate (Ca)
20 mm = 675
12.5 mm = 550
Water (W) = 180 lits.

Important:

Fineness modules of aggregate may be checked periodically and checked with the values
used in this test program. Aggregate proportion recommended in Table -2 may be followed
strictly

(Dr.G.RAMAKRISHNA)
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CIVIL ENGG.

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