DEVELOPING A CONCRETE

MIX DESIGN MANUAL FOR

NIGERIA ANALYSIS OF
TEST RESULTS
CONCRETE RESEARCH GROUP

Matawal Danladi S.
Ojo Emeso B.
Gai Friday I.
Adamu Isah K.
Tyoden Juliana N.
Chukwuma Gerald O.

CONCRETE
Concrete is one of the most widely

used construction materials

It is a composite building material
Widespread use of concrete
Effectiveness,
Cost and
Performance for most construction
works.
Its ability to exhibit such properties is
a function of the constituents as well
as
the
proportions
of
these
constituents.
Can be designed for strength ranging
from 10N/mm2 to 100N/mm2, making
it an extremely versatile building
material.
The basic constituents remain

Concrete Mix Design

The primary objective is to select suitable

constituent materials and determine their

required amounts in order to produce concrete
of specific characteristics and properties as
economically as possible.
Major Characteristics
Workability,
Strength and
Durability.
Other characteristics include density, thermal characteristics,

elastic modulus etc.

Performance of concrete is dependent on the required
performance of concrete in two states: the fresh/plastic and
hardened states.

Constituent Materials - Cement

Cement is the basic constituent material in

concrete.
Concrete is formed when cement creates a paste
with water that binds with sand and gravel to
harden.
Significant Properties and Quality Indicators
Strength Class
Water to Cement ratio

Constituent Materials Aggregates

Significant component of concrete which

constitutes 70-80% of total volume

Significant Properties
Size of Aggregates: Fine and Coarse
Particle Size Distribution
Specific gravity
Maximum size of aggregates
Nature of aggregates
Water absorption
Shape of aggregates.

Objective

To develop a manual which provides a step by

step procedure for carrying out mix designs
for the various grades of concrete by
deducing the appropriate quantities of
materials required for each mix.

Methodology
Adoption of BRE Method (British Standards) as a

baseline
Series of tests were carried out on major
constituents: aggregates and cement to ensure
conformity with British Standards
Mix Design was carried out using the British
Standards to ascertain required proportions for
various concrete mixes
Sixteen cubes were prepared for each mix
Workability was verified for each mix
Compressive Strength and Density was determined
at various ages of concrete
Comparison of charts developed with BS charts

Scope of Project
Maximum Aggregate Size: 10mm and 20mm
Strength class of cement: 32.5, 42.5 and

52.5
Slump: 30-60mm and 60-180mm
Compressive strength at different ages of
concrete: 3, 7, 14 and 28 days
Concrete grade: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50
Type of fine aggregate: stone dust and river
sand

Properties of Aggregate Used

Test
Aggregate

Value

Specification

Impact Value

13.72

45 (BS 882 )

Crushing

27.29

45 (BS 882 )

Value %
Flakiness %
Specific

21.25

40 (BS 882 )

2.67

2.3 2.9

0.3

0.2 4

2.45

2.3 2.9

0.26

0.2 - 2

%
Aggregate

Gravity
(Coarse
Aggregate)
Absorption %
(Coarse
Aggregate)
Specific
Gravity (Fine
Aggregate)
Absorption %
(Fine

10

Sieve Analysis of Coarse aggregates

Grading Envelope for maximum size 20mm

120.00

19.05mm
Upper Limit

100.00

Lower Limit
12.7mm

80.00
60.00
40.00

Grading Envelope for maximum size 10mm

120.00

20.00

9.53mm
Lower Limit

100.00

0.00
1

10

Upper Limit

100

12.7mm

80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
1

10

100

11

Sieve Analysis of Coarse

aggregates
19mm + 12.5 mm for Maximum Size 20mm
100.00
80.00
60.00
Percentage Passing %

40.00
20.00
0.00
1

10
Sieve Size mm

100

12.5mm + 10.5mm for Maximum size 10mm

100.00
80.00
60.00
Percentage Passing %

40.00
20.00
0.00
1

10
Sieve Size mm

100

12

Combined Gradation of
Aggregates
Proportions %

Aggregate Size
mm
0 -- 4
4--8
8--16
16--20

Maximum size 10mm Maximum size 20mm

50.00
50.00
---

100.00

80.00

100.00
Grading
curve

80.00

Upper Limit
60.00

45.00
25.00
24.00
6.00

Lower Limit
60.00

Percentage Passing %
40.00

Grading curve

Percentage Passing %
40.00

Upper Limit
Lower Limit

20.00

0.00
0.1

20.00

1
Sieve Size mm

10

0.00
0.1

1
Sieve Size mm

10

13

Properties of Cement Used

32.5N
TEST PARAMETER

RESULT

Specific Gravity

3.1

Fineness %

34.2

Soundness (Expansion using le

chatelier mould) mm

0.75

Setting time:
Initial setting time

final setting time

(mins)
2 day Compressive Strength
N/mm2
7 day Compressive Strength
TEST PARAMETER
N/mm2
28 day Compressive Strength
Specific
Gravity
N/mm2
Fineness %
Soundness (Expansion using le
chatelier mould) mm

23

42.5R
RESULT
37.2
3.12
47.4
24.9
1

Satisfactory

30.6

Satisfactory

STANDARD
16
NIS 4441:2003

2.5

NIS 4441:2003

10mm

142

final setting time

2

Satisfactory

NIS 444-1:2003
60mins
600mins

187
(mins)
2 day Compressive Strength

REMARKS

127
(mins)
185

Setting time:
Initial setting time
(mins)

STANDARD
NIS 444-1:2003
2.5

NIS 4441:2003

10mm

NIS 4441:2003

60mins

600mins

REMARKS
Satisfactory
Satisfactory

Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Compressive Strength against Age

Compressive Strength N/mm2

Satisfactory

Age (days)

32.5N
42.5R

14

Mix Design Procedure

Step 1: Determination of target mean strength
Step 2: Determination of Water-cement ratio
Step 3: Determination of water content
Step 4: Determination of cement content
Step 5: Determination of aggregate content

15

Mix Design Procedure

Step 1: Determination of target mean strength

fm = the target mean strength

fc = the specified characteristic strength
k = a constant (taken as 1.64 for a 5% defective level)
s = standard deviation

where

16

Mix Design Procedure

Step 2: Determination of Water-cement ratio
80
42.
5

70
60
50
40
Compressive Strength
30
20
10
0
0.3

0.4

0.5
0.6
0.7
Water cement ratio

0.8

0.9

Relationship between free water cement ratio and compressive

strength of concrete for different cement strength (Adopted from
BRE 2009)

17

Mix Design Procedure

Step 3: Determination of water content

Maximum size of
aggregate mm
10
20
40

Type of
aggregate
Uncrushed
Crushed
Uncrushed
Crushed
Uncrushed
Crushed

Water Content kg/m3

Slump 0- Slump
10
10-30

Slump
30-60

Slump
60-180

150

180

205

225

180

205

230

250

135

160

180

195

170

190

210

225

115

140

160

175

155

175

190

205

Approximate Free water contents required to give

various levels of workability (Adopted from BRE 2009)

18

Mix Design Procedure

Step 4: Determination of cement content

19

Mix Design Procedure

Step 5: Determination of aggregate content
2800
2700
2600
2500

Relative density
of combined
aggregate (on
saturated and
2.4 surface dry basis)

Linear (2.4)

Wet density of concrete mix kg/m3 2400

2.5

2300

2.6

2200
2100

2.7
2.8
2.9

Free water content kg/m3

where

Co = wet density of concrete (kg/m3)

C = cement content (kg/m3)
W = free water content (kg/m3)

20

21

Production of Concrete Cubes

22

Relationship between age of concrete and

compressive strength of concrete: 32.5N
35

40

G20

30
25

30

20

25

Compressive
Strength N/mm2
15
10
5
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

G25

35

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

25

30

20
Compressive Strength N/mm2
15
10
5
0
0

60

50

G35

45

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

25

30

G40

50

40

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

40

35
30
25
Compressive Strength N/mm2
20
15

30
Compressive Strength N/mm2
10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump

10

20mm/30-60
S lump

5
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

25

30

20
10
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

25

30

23

Relationship between age of concrete and

compressive strength of concrete: 32.5N
45

70

G30

40
35
30

50

25

40

Compressive
Strength N/mm2
20

Compressive
Strength N/mm2
30

15

10mm/30-60
S lump

10

10mm/60-180
S lump

20

20mm/30-60
S lump

10

5
0
5

10

15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

G50

60

25

30

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

0
5

10

15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

25

30

24

Relationship between age of concrete and

compressive strength of concrete: 42.5R
35

35

G20

30

G25

30

25

25

20
Compressive
Strength N/mm2
15
10
5
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

45

20
10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

25

30

10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

5
0
5

40

30

35

25

30

15

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

10
5
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

45

35

Compressive
Strength N/mm2
20

25

30

10mm/30-60
S lump

10

G30

40

Compressive
Strength N/mm2
15

25

30

G35

25
Compressive
Strength N/mm2
20
10mm/30-60
S lump

15
10

10mm/60-180
S lump

5
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

25

30

25

Relationship between age of concrete and

compressive strength of concrete: 42.5R
60

60

G40

50

G50

50
40

40
30
Compressive Strength N/mm2
20
10
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

30
Compressive Strength N/mm2
10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/60-180
S lump

25

30

20
10
0
0

10
15
20
Age of Concrete (days)

10mm/30-60
S lump
10mm/60-180
S lump
20mm/30-60
S lump

25

30

Increase of compressive strength with age of concrete

Characteristic strength of concrete was achieved by 7 days in most
cases
The higher the 3-day compressive strength, the higher the 28-day
compressive strength
About 70% of 28 day strength is achieved within the first three days;
about 80% is achieved by seven days and 90% is achieved by 14 days

26

True Slump Attained

32.5

42.5

10mm

Max Size
of Aggt

20mm

10mm

20mm

Design
Slump
mm

30-60

60-180

30-60

60-180

30-60

60-180

30-60

60-180

20

30

179.5

51

77.5

50

149

25

85

25

40

179.5

49.5

82.5

45

172

53

137

30

43

175

35

60.5

43

155

46

91

35

27.5

90

49.5

28

53

108

45

71

40

10

18.5

50

50

56

122

46

49.5

50

12

nil

nil

40

63

nil

nil

27

Relationship between compressive strength

and water cement ratio: 32.5N
70

Characteristic Strength
Target Strength

60

30-60 Slump (10mm)

60-180 Slump (10mm)

50

30-60 Slump (20mm)

60-180 Slump (20mm)

40
Compressive Strength N/mm2
30

20

10

0
0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5
Water - Cement ratio

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

28

Relationship between compressive strength

and water cement ratio: 32.5N
70

60

50

f(x) = - 89.05x + 86.06

R = 0.81

40
Compressive Strength N/mm2
30

20

10

0
0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5
Water - Cement ratio

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

29

Relationship between compressive strength

and water cement ratio: 42.5R
Characteristic Strength

70

Target Strength
30-60 Slump (10mm)
60

60-180 Slump (10mm)

30-60 Slump (20mm)

50

60-180 Slump (20mm)

40
Compressive Strength N/mm2
30

20

10

0
0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5
Water Cement ratio

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

30

Relationship between compressive strength

and water cement ratio: 42.5R
60

50

f(x) = - 86.93x + 83.12

R = 0.88

40

30

20

10

0
0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

31

Proposed Relationship between compressive

strength and water cement ratio
70

60

50

40
Compressive Strength N/mm2
30
British Method 42.5
20

Nigerian Method 32.5

Nigerian Method 42.5

10

0
0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5
Water-Cement ratio

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

32

Conclusion/ Recommendations
Further tests would need to be conducted to

verify/adjust proposed charts

Aggregates: Emphasize the need for combined
gradation of aggregates and discourage the use of
one size aggregates for construction in Nigeria
Controversy of recommendations of specific
applications of cement based on strength class by
SON may need to be revisited.
Development of Software/model to aid in the mix
design process

33

Thank you for

listening