Introduction

Concrete is composed principally of aggregate, a Portland or blended cement, and water,

and may contain other cementitious materials and/or chemical admixtures. Chemical
admixtures used to accelerate, retard, improve workability, reduce mixing water
requirements, increase strength, or alter other properties of the concrete. The selection of
concrete proportions involves a balance between economy and requirement for placeability,
strength, durability, density and sometimes appearance. The calculated proportions must
always be considered subject to revision on the basis of experience with trail batches.
Laboratory trail batches should be verified and adjusted in field using mixes of the size and
type to be used during construction.

Mix Design Procedure

Step1,Since slump is not specified, a value appropriate for the work can be selected from Table
(1):

Table (1) : Recommended Slumps For various Types of Construction (ACI 211.1)

Slumps given in Table(1) may be increased when chemical admixtures are used, provided that
the admixture-treated concrete has the same or lower water-cementitious material ratio
dose not exhibit segregation potential or excessive bleeding. On the other hand the
maximum values of slump shown in Table (1) may be increased by 25mm for methods os
consolidation other than vibration.

Step 2. Choice of Maximum Size of Coarse Aggregate: The nominal maximum size of coarse
aggregate should not exceed one-fifth of the narrowest dimension between sides of forms,
one-third the depth of slabs, nor three-fourths of the minimum clear spacing between
individual reinforcing bars, bundles of bars, or pre-tensioning strands. The maximum size of
each type of supplied coarse aggregate was taken from the results of sieve analysis of supplied
coarse aggregate shown in appendix A.

3.3 Step 3. Estimation of Mixing Water and Air Content: The required quantity of mixing water
to produce a specified slump depends on the nominal maximum size , particle shape, and
grading of aggregate. Also it is dependent of concrete temoerature and the use of chemical
admixture. Table (2) gives estimates of required mixing water. Chemical admixtures are used
to modify the properties of concrete to make it more workable, durable, and/or economical,
increase or decrease the time of set, accelerate the strength gain and/or control temperature rise.

Table (2) : Approximate Mixing Water and Air Content Requirements for Different Slumps and
Nominal Maximum Size of Aggregates (ACI 211.1
.4 Step 4. Selection of Water-Cementitious Material Ratio(w/cm): The required w/cm is
determined not only by strength requirement but also by other factors such as durability.
The average selected compressive strength of concrete must exceed the specific strength by a
sufficient margin to keep the number of low tests within specific limits that stated in ACI 318
and ACI 214. Table (3) shows the relationship between w/cm and 28 days cylinder
compressive strength of concrete

Table (3): Relationship between w/cm and 28 days Cylinder Compressive Strength of
Concrete (ACI 211.1)

The assigned value of w/cm should not exceed the suggested maximum permissible w/cm
for concrete in sever exposure shown in Table (4). Table (4): Maximum Permissible w/cm for
Concrete in Sever Exposure (ACI 201.2R)

3.5 Step 5. Calculation of Water-Cement Content: The required cement content is equal to the
estimated mixing water content (step 3) divided by w/cm (step 4). If, however, the specification
includes a minimum limit of cement content in addition to the requirement of strength and
durability, the mix design must be based on whichever criterion leads to the larger amount of
cement.

3.6 Step 6. Estimate of Coarse Aggregate Content: The volume of coarse aggregate per unit
volume of concrete is related with the nominal maximum size of aggregate and fineness
modulus of fine aggregate as shown in Table (5). This relationship comes from the effect of
coarse aggregate quantity in a given mix on its workability. Therefore, to produce a
satisfactory workable mix it important to select a mass of coarse aggregate from Table (5)
that is by multiplying the value taken from this table by the oven-dry rodded bulk density
of coarse aggregate material.

Table (5): Volume of Coarse Aggregate per Unit Volume of Concrete (ACI 211.1)

3.7 Step 7. Estimate of Fine Aggregate Content: To obtain the required volume of fine
aggregate, the total volume displaced by the known ingredients; water, air, cementitious
materials, and coarse aggregate is subtracted from the unit volume of concrete. The volume
occupied in concrete by any ingredient is equal to its weight divided by the density of that
material which is the product of the unit weight of water and the specific gravity of the material.

3.8 Step 8. Adjustment for aggregate moisture: In general, the aggregate will be moist and their
dry weights should be increased by the percentage of water they contain, both absorbed and
surface. So that, the mixing water that added to the batch should be reduced by amount equal to
the free moisture contributed by the aggregate, i.e. total moisture minus absorption. Then
recalculation of new batch weighs starting with Step 4 modifying the volume of coarse
aggregate from Table (4) if necessary to provide proper workability.