MIX DESIGN AND PROPORTIONING GUIDELINE FOR NORMAL CONCRETE

(ABSOLUTE VOLUME METHOD)

Specifications (Design):
1. Exposure condition: Concrete protected from freezing to thawing.
2. Design compressive strength: 3000 psi at 28 days.
3. Air included: No.
4. Slump: 3-4 in.
5. Aggregate maximum nominal size: 0.5 in.
6. Normal cement (Specific gravity: 3.15)
7. Specific gravity for coarse aggregate: 2.78
8. Coarse aggregate absorption: 1.19%.
9. Ovendry rodded bulk density (Unit weight) for coarse aggregate: 98.6 lb/ft3
10. Aggregate moisture at the time of testing: 2%.
11. Specific gravity for fine aggregate: 2.41
12. Fine aggregate absorption: 1%
13. Fine aggregate moisture at the time of testing: 1.71%.
14. Fine aggregate fineness modulus: 2.80
Steps:
1. Check Table 12.1 for exposure condition and compare the minimum compressive
strength with the design strength. Design strength should be equal or higher to the
mnimum specified in the table.

2. Since there is no statistical data, go to table 12.10 and add the factor that corresponds to
the design strength range.
f ' ( c )=3000+1200=4200 psi
3. Calculate the required water/cement ratio to achieve the desired compressive strength, by
means of interpolation if necessary (Table 12.3).
w ( 50004200 ) (0.570.48)
=
+0.48=0.552
c
(50004000)
4. Now we go to Table 12.5. From the columns we select the one that corresponds to the
aggregate maximum nominal size (0.5 in) inside the section of Non-Air Entrained
Concrete. From there, we can see that the approximate amount of entrapped air is 0.025.
Then we check the line that corresponds to the design slump (3-4 in) and we can see that
the water content of the concrete should be _365 lbs per yd3.

5. The cement content is therefore:

Cement=

Water 365
=
=664 lbs per yd 3
w/c 0.552

6. The coarse aggregate content is calculated based on Table 12.4. Since our aggregate
maximum nominal size is 0.5 in and the fine aggregate fineness modulus is 2.80 , the
bulk volume of dry-rodded coarse aggregate per unit volumen of concrete is 0.55 .
Since the aggregate ovendry rodded bulk density is 98.60 , the mass of coarse aggregate
to use in the design is:
Coarse aggregate mass=98.6 lb/ ft 3 0.55 27 ft 3 / yd 3=1464.21 lb per yd 3
7. The fine aggregate content is determined as the difference between the total volume of
the concrete minus the known components of the mix (cement, water, air and coarse
aggregate), therefore, first the volume of these components must be calculated:
Water=

365 lb
3
=0.22 yd
3
3
3
1.0 62.42796 lb /ft 27 ft / yd

Cement=

Air =

664 lb
3
=0.13 yd
3
3
3
3.15 62.42796 lb /ft 27 ft / yd

2.5
=0.025 yd 3
100

Coarse aggregate=

1464 lb
=0.31 yd 3
3
3
3
2.78 62.42796 lb/ft 27 ft / yd

Fine aggregate=1.00.220.130.310.025=0.32 yd 3
Therefore the mass of the fine aggregate is:
2.64 0.32 62.42796 lb/ft 3 27 ft 3 / yd 3=1424 lb per yd 3
8. Since the aggregates will be used in the wet condition, their proportions should be
adjusted as follows:
Coarse aggregate ( 1.20 MC ) =1.0121464=1482 lb
Fine aggregate (1.71 MC )=1.017 1424=1448lb
9. The water content should also be adjusted:

[1424 lb x (1.71.7 )]=365 lb

Water =365 lb
10. The mass of every component to mix 1 yd3 of concrete is therefore the following:
Water (to be added):
Cement
Coarse aggregate (2% MC):
Fine aggregate (0.5% MC):
Total

365
664
1482
1448

lb
lb
lb
lb
lb

11. The last step is to calculate weights for a trial batch of a total volume of 1 ft3.
12. The last step is to calculate weights for a trial batch of a total volume of 0.1 m3:
Water (to be added):
Cement
Coarse aggregate (2% MC):
Fine aggregate (0.5% MC):
Total

365 lb x 1/27 =
664 lb x 1/27 =
1482 lb x 1/27 =
1448 lb x 1/27 =
lb x 1/27 =

13.52 lb
24.60 lb
54.90 lb
53.63 lb
lb