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UNIT III

PROPORTIONING OF CONCRETE MIX

1. Give the types of concrete mixes.

� Nominal Mixes
� Standard mixes
� Designed Mixes

2. Define Nominal Mixes and its advantages.

Nominal mix is permitted by IS456:2000 for concrete of strength lower than
M25. In the past the specifications for concrete prescribed the proportions of
ww
cement, fine and coarse aggregates. These mixes of f ixed cement-aggregate ratio
which ensures adequate strength are termed nominal mixes. These offer

w.E
simplicity and under normal circumstances, have a margin of strength above
that specified. However, due to the variability of mix ingredients the nominal

asy
concrete for a given workability varies widely in strength.

3. Define Standard mixes.

En
The nominal mixes of fixed cement-aggregate ratio (by volume) vary widely in
strength and may result in under- or over-rich mixes. For this reason, the minimum
gin
compressive stength has been included in many specifications. These mixes are
termed standard mixes.

ee
IS 456-2000 has designated the concrete mixes into a number of grades as

rin
M10, M15, M20, M25, M30, M35 and M40. In this designation the letter M refers to
the mix and the number to the specified 28 day cube strength of mix in N/mm2.

g.n
The mixes of grades M10, M15, M20 and M25 correspond approximately to the
mix proportions (1:3:6), (1:2:4), (1:1.5:3) and (1:1:2) respectively

4. What is Designed Mixes? et

Design mix is permitted by IS 10262-1982 and IS456:2000for concrete of
strength greater than M25 is design mix.

5. What are the Factors affecting the choice of mix proportions?

The various factors affecting the mix design are:
� Compressive strength

� Workability

� Durability

� Maximum nominal size of aggregate

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� Grading and type of aggregate

� Quality Control
6. What are the Requirements of concrete mix design as per BIS?
The minimum compressive strength required from structural consideration
� The adequate workability necessary for full compaction with the compacting
equipment available.
� Maximum water-cement ratio and/or maximum cement content to give
adequate durability for the particular site conditions
� Maximum cement content to avoid shrinkage cracking due to temperature
cycle in mass concrete

ww
7. Define concrete mix design.
Concrete mix design is defined as the appropriate selection and proportioning

w.E
of constituents to produce a concrete with pre-defined characteristics in the fresh
and hardened states
8. Define Concrete Durability.

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Durability of concrete is the ability of concrete to withstand the harmful effects of
environment to which it will be subjected to, during its service life, without

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undergoing into deterioration beyond acceptable limits.
9. What is proportioning of concrete mix

gin
Proportioning of concrete mix is the art of obtaining a suitable ratio of the
various ingredients of concrete with the required properties at the lowest cost.

ee
10. What is the principle of mix proportioning?

a. Environmental exposure conditions rin

b. Grades of concrete
g.n
c. Type of cement
d. Type and size of aggregates
e. Nominal maximum size of aggregates
et
f. Maximum and minimum cement content
g. Maximum free water cement ratio by weight
h. Degree of workability
i. Air entrained agent
j. Types of admixtures used if any
k. Maximum/ minimum density of concrete
l. Maximum/ minimum temperature of fresh concrete

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m. Type of curing and mixing

n. Source of water

11. Mention the properties related to mix design.

a. Durability

b. Workability

c. Strength

d. High strength concrete

12. Describe the physical properties of materials required to mix design

ww a. Cement

b. Aggregate

w.E c. Water

d. Admixture
asy
13. List out the advantages of Design mix

En
a. Properties of all materials are used.

gin
b. Cement content is low and hence the mix design is economical.
14. List out the disadvantages of nominal mix

used.
a. ee
Nominal mix does not say which type of sand, cement, aggregate to be

rin
b. High cement is required which leads to high cost.
15. What is ACI and the data used for ACI g.n
et
American concrete institute was revised to include the use of entrained air.
a. Fineness modulus
b. Unit weight of dry rodded coarse aggregate
c. Specific gravity of cement, coarse and fine aggregate
d. Absorption characteristic of coarse and fine aggregate
16. Write any four methods of proportioning
x Arbitrary Method
x Fineness Modulus Method
x Minimum Void Method (Does not give satisfactory result)
x Maximum Density Method
x Water – Cement Ratio Method

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PART B
ACI method
1.Design a concrete mix for construction of an elevated water tank. The
specified design strength of concrete (characteristic strength) is 30 MPa at 28
days measured on standard cylinders. Standard deviation can be taken as 4 MPa.
The specific gravity of FA and C.A. are 2.65 and 2.7 respectively. The dry rodded
bulk density of C.A. is 1600 kg/m3, and fineness modulus of FA is 2.80. Ordinary
Portland cement (TypeI) will be used. A slump of 50 mm is necessary. C.A. is found
to be absorptive to the extent of 1% and free surface moisture in sand is found to
be 2 per cent. Assume any other essential data.

ww (a) Assuming 5 per cent of results are allowed to fall below specified design strength

w.E The mean strength, fm= fmin + ks

= 30 + 1.64 x 4

asy
= 36.56
say 36.5 MPa

En
(b) Since OPC is used, from table 11.5, the estimated w/c ratio is 0.47.

gin
This w/c ratio f rom strength point of view is to be checked against maximu m w/c ratio given
for special exposure condition given in Table 11.6 and minimum of the two is to be
adopted.
ee rin
From exposure condition Table11.6, the maximum w/c ratio is 0.50

Therefore, adopt w/c ratio of 0.47

g.n
et
(c) From Table 11.8, for a slump of 50 mm, 20 mm maximum size of aggregate, for
non-air- entrained concrete, the mixing water content is 185 kg/m3 of concrete. Also the
approximate entrapped air content is 2 per cent.

The required cement content = 0 47

= 394 kg/m3
(d) From Table 11.4, for 20 mm coarse aggregate, for fineness modulus of 2.80, the
dry
rodded bulk volume of C.A. is 0.62 per unit volume of concrete.

(e) Therefore the weight of C.A. = 0.62 x 1600

= 992 kg/m3

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(f) From Table 11.9, the first estimate of density of fresh concrete for 20 mm
maximum size of aggregate and for non-air-entrained concrete = 2355 kg/m3

(g) The weight of all the known ingredient of concrete

weight of water = 185 kg/m3

weight of cement = 394 kg.m3

weight of C.A. = 992 kg/m3

weight of F.A. = 2355 – (185 + 394 + 992)

ww = 784 kg/m3

(h) Alternatively the weight of F.A. can also be found out by absolute volume

w.E
method
which is more accurate, as follows.

asy
Tabulate the absolute volume of all the known ingredients

It e m Ingredients En Wei ght

number
gin kg/m3 cm3

1.

2.
Cement ee 3 94 3 15
x 103 = 125 x 103

rin
x 103 = 185 x 103

3.
Wa t e r 185
g.n
x 103 = 367 x 103

4.
C o a r s e A g gr e g at e 992
27

et
Air x 106 = 20 x 103

Total absolute volume = 697 x 103 cm3

Therefore absolute volume of F.A.

= (1000 – 697) x 103

= 303 x 103

Weight of FA = 303 x 2.65

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= 803 kg/m3

Adopt F.A= 803 kg/m3.

(i ) Estimated quantities of materials per cubic meter of concrete are

Cement = 394 kg
F.A = 803 kg

C.A = 992 kg

Water = 185 kg

Density of fresh concrete 2374 kg/m3 as against 2355 read from Table 11.9

ww( j) Proportions

w.E 394
C :

:
F.A

803
:

:
C. A

992
:

:
water

185

1 : asy
2. 0 4 : 2 .5 2 : 0 .4 7

En
Weight of materials for one bag mix in kg = 50 : 102 : 126 : 23.5

gin
The above quantities is on the basis that both F.A and C.A are in saturated and
surface dry condition (SSD conditions).

surface
ee
(k) The proportions are required to be adjusted for the field conditions. FA has
rin
moisture of 2 per cent
g.n
� Total free surface moisture in FA = x 803 = 16.06 kg/m3 et
Weight of F.A in field condition = 803 + 16.06 = 819.06 kg/m3

say 819 kg/m3

C . A a b s o r b s 1 % w at e r

= 9.92 kg/m3
� W eight of C.A in field condition = 992 – 9.92
= 982.08 kg/m3

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say 982.0 kg/m3

With regard to water, 16.06 kg of water is contributed by F.A and 9.92 kg of water
is absorbed by C.A.
Therefore 16.06 – 9.92 = 6.14 kg of extra water is contributed b y aggregates.
This quantity of water is deducted from Total water
i.e., 185.00 – 6.14 = 178.86 kg/m3
say 179 kg/m3

(l) Quantities of materials to be used in field duly corrected for free surface

ww
moisture in F.A and absorption characteristic of C.A

Cement = 394 kg/m3

w.E F.A. = 819 kg/m3

asy
C.A. = 982 kg/m3

Water = 179 kg/m3

En
Field density of fresh concrete = 2374 kg/m3
gin
2.Illustrative Example of Concrete Mix Design (Grade M 20)
(a ) Design stipulations
ee
(i ) Characteristic compressive strength rin
required in the field at 28 days. 20 MPa
g.n
(ii) Maximum size of aggregate

(iii) Degree of workability

20 mm (angular)
et
0.90 compacting factor

(iv) Degree of quality control Good

(v) Type of Exposure Mi l d

(b) Test data for Materials

(i) Specific gravity of cement 3 .1 5

(ii) Compressive strength of cement at 7 days Satisfies the requirement of IS:

269–1989

(iii) 1. Specific gravity of coarse aggregates 2.60

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2. Specific gravity of fine aggregates 2 .6 0

(iv) W ater absorption:

1. Coarse aggregate 0.50%

2. Fine aggregate 1.0%
(v) Free (surface) moisture:

1. Coarse aggregate Nil

2. Fine aggregate 2.0%

(vi) Sieve analysis is shown below:

ww 1. Coarse aggregate

w.E
Si e v e
size
(mm)
Analysis of Coarse
aggregate fractions
(% passing)
Percentage of different
Fractions
Remark
I II asy I II Combined

20 100 100 En 60%

60
40 %
40
100%
10 C o n fo r m i n g
10 0 7 1 .2 0 gin 0 2 8 .5 28.5 to Table 2,

4. 7 5
2. 36 –
9 . 40
–
ee –
–
3.7
–
3.7
–
IS: 383—

rin 1 97 0

g.n
Sieve sizes
2. Fine aggregate
Fine aggregate (% passing)
et
Remarks

4.75 mm 10 0
2.36 mm 10 0 Conforming to grading
1.18 mm 93 Zone III of Table 4
600 micron 60 IS: 385–1970
300 micron 12
150 micron 2

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(c) Target mean strength of concrete

The target mean strength for specified characteristic cube strength is

20 + 1.65 x 4 = 26.6 MPa

(refer Table 11.21 and Ta ble 11.22 for values of t and s)

(d ) Selection of water-cement ratio

From Fig. 11.10 the water-cement ratio required for the target mean strength of
26.6 MPa is 0.50. This is lower than the maximum value of 0.55 prescribed for ‗Mild‘
exposure. (refer Table 9.18) adopt W/C ratio of 0.50.

ww
(e) Selection of water and sand content
From Table 11.24, for 20 mm maximum size aggregate, sand conforming to

w.E
grading Zone II, water content per cubic metre of concrete = 186 kg and sand content as
percentage of total aggregate by absolute volume = 35 per cent.

asy
For change in value in water-cement ratio, compacting factor, for sand belonging
to Zone III, following adjustment is required.

En Per cent adjustment required

Change in Condition
(See Table 1 1.26) gin Water content Sand in total
aggregat e

For decrease in water-cement

ee rin
– 2 .0

ratio by (0.60–0.50) that is 0.10.

For increase in compacting
0
g.n
0
– 1.5

factor (0.9–0.8), that is 0.10

For sand conforming to Zone III
+3
– 3.5
et
of Table 4, IS: 383–1970 0
Total +3

Therefore, required sand content as percentage of total aggregate by absolute

volume

= 3 5 – 3 .5 = 31.5%

Required water content = 186 + 5.58 = 191.6 1/m3

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(f ) Determination of cement content

Water-cement ratio = 0.50

water = 191.6 litre

= 383 kg/m3
cement = 0 50
This cement content is adequate for ‗mild‘ exposure condition.
(g ) Determination of coarse and fine aggregate contents

From Table 11.23, for the specified maximum size of aggregate of 20 mm, the
amount of entrapped air in the wet concrete is 2 per cent. Taking this into account
and applying

ww
equations. 1 and 2 given on page 494.

w.E 0 .9 8 = 191.6 +
383
315 0 31 5
fa
2 6 1000
fa = 546 kg/m , and asy 3

Ca =
1
× En 2 6
0 3 15

gin = 26

fa = 546 kg/m3, and

ee rin
Ca = 1188 kg/m . 3

g.n
The mix proportion then becomes:
Water Cement Fine aggregate
et
C o a r s e A g gr e g at e

191.6 383 kg 546 kg 1188 kg

0 .5 0 : 1 : 1.425 : 3.10

(h ) Actual quantities required for the mix per bag of cement

The mix is 0.50 : 1 : 1.425 : 3.10. For 50 kg of cement, the quantity of materials
are worked out as below:

(i ) Cement = 50 kg

(ii) Sand = 71.0 kg

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Fraction I = 60% = 93 kg
Fraction II = 40% = 62 kg
(iii) Coarse aggregate = 155 kg

(iv) Water

1. for w/c ratio of 0.50, quantity = 25 litres of water.

2. Extra quantity of water to be added for absorption in case of CA, at 0.5 percent
mass. = 0.77 litres

3. Quantity of water to be deducted for moisture present in sand, at 2 per cent by

ma ss. = 1.42 litres
ww4. Actual quantity of water required to be added

w.E = 25.0 + 0.77 – 1.42

= 24.35 litres.
asy
(i ) Actual quantity of sand required after = 71.0 + 1.42

En
allowing for mass of free moisture = 72.42 kgs.
( j ) Actual quantity of CA required
gin
1. Fraction I = 93 – 0.46 = 92.54 kg

ee
2. Fraction II = 62 – 0.31 = 61.69 kg

rin
Therefore, the actual quantities of different constituents required for one bag
mix are
g.n
Water

Cement
:

:
24.35 kg

50.00 kg
et
Sand : 72.42 kg

CA Fraction I : 92.54 kg

Fraction II : 61.69 kg

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3.Explain the concept of mix design and Mention the method of proportioning?

Concept of Mix Design

It will be worthwhile to recall at this stage the relationships between aggregate
and paste which are the two essential ingredients of concrete. Workability of the mass is
provided by the lubricating effect of the paste and is influenced by the amount and
dilution of paste.
The strength of concrete is limited by the strength of paste, since mineral
aggregates with rare exceptions, are far stronger than the paste compound. Essentially

ww
the permeability of concrete is governed by the quality and continuity of the
paste, since little water f lows through aggregate either under pressure or by
capillarity.

w.E Further, the predominant contribution to drying shrinkage of concretes is that

of paste.Since the properties of concrete are governed to a considerable extent by the

asy
quality of paste, it is helpful to consider more closely the structure of the paste. The
fresh paste is a suspension, not a solution of cement in water. The more dilute the

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paste, the greater the spacing between cement particles, and thus the weaker will be
the ultimate paste structure. The other conditions being equal, for workable mixes, the

gin
strength of concrete varies as an inverse function of the water/cement ratio.

ee
Since the quantity of water required also depends upon the amount of

rin
paste, it is important that as little paste as possible should be used and hence the
importance of grading.

g.n
Variables in Proportioning W ith the given materials, the four variable factors
to be considered in connection with specifying a concrete mix are:
(a) Water-Cement ratio

(b) Cement content or cement-aggregate ratio

et
(c ) Gradation of the aggregates

(d) Consistency.

In general all four of these inter-related variables cannot be chosen or

manipulated arbitrarily. Usually two or three factors are specified, and the others
are adjusted to give minimum workability and economy.
Water/cement ratio expresses the dilution of the paste-cement content varies directly
with the amount of paste. Gradation of aggregate is controlled by varying the amount
of given fine and coarse aggregate. Consistency is established by practical

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requirements of placing. In brief, the effort in proportioning is to use a minimum

amount of paste (and therefore cement) that will lubricate the mass while fresh and
after hardening will bind the aggregate particles together and fill the space between
them.
Any excess of paste involves greater cost, greater drying shrinkage, greater
susceptibilit y to percolation of water and therefore attack by aggressive waters and
weathering action. This is achieved by minimizing the voids by good gradation.
Various Methods of Proportioning

(a) Arbitrary proportion

ww(b) Fineness modulus method

(c) Maximum density method

w.E
(d) Surface area method

asy
(e) Indian Road Congress, IRC 44 method

En
(f ) High strength concrete mix design

gin
(g) Mix design based on flexural strength

(h) Road note No. 4 (Grading Curve method)

(i ) ACI Committee 211 method ee rin

( j) DOE method
(k) Mix design for pumpable concrete
g.n
(l) Indian standard Recommended method IS 10262-82
et
Out of the above methods, some of them are not very widely used these days
because of some difficulties or drawbacks in the procedures for arriving at the satisfactory
proportions. The ACI Committee 211 method, the DOE method and Indian
standard recommended methods are commonly used.
4. Explain the design procedure of ACI method of mix design?

The ACI Committee mix design method assume certain basic facts
which have been substantiated by field experiments or large works. They are:
(a) The method makes use of the established fact, that over a
considerable range of practical proportions, fresh concrete of given slump and
containing a reasonably well graded aggregate of given maximum size will have

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practically a constant total water content regardless of variations in water/cement ratio

and cement content, which are necessarily interrelated.
(b) It makes use of the relation that the optimum dry rodded volume of coarse
aggregate per unit volume of concrete depends on its maximum size and the
fineness modulus of the fine aggregate as indicated in Table 11.4 regardless of
shape of particles. The effect of angularity is reflected in the void content, thus
angular coarse aggregates require more mortar than rounded coarse aggregate.
(c) Irrespective of the methods of compaction, even after complete
compaction is done, a definite percentage of air remains which is inversely
proportional to the maximum size of the aggregate.

ww
The following is the procedure of mix design in this method:
(a) Data to be collected :

w.E (i ) Fineness modulus of selected F.A.

asy
(ii ) Unit weight of dry rodded coarse aggregate.

(iii ) Sp. gravity of coarse and fine aggregates in SSD condition

En
(iv) Absorption characteristics of both coarse and fine aggregates.

gin
(v ) Specific gravity of cement.

ee
(b) From the minimum strength specified, estimate the average design strength

rin
either by using standard deviation or by using coefficient of variation.
(c) Find the water/cement ratio from the strength point of view. Find also the

g.n
water/cement ratio from durability p oint of view. Adopt lower value out of
strength consideration and durability consideration.
(d) Decide maximum size of aggregate to be used. Generally for RCC
work 20 mm and prestressed concrete 10 mm size are used.
et
(e) Decide workability in terms of slump for the type of job in hand.

(f ) The total water in kg/m3 of concrete is read from table 11.8 entering the
table with the selected slump and selected maximum size of aggregate. Table 11.8
also gives the approximate amount of accidentally entrapped air in non-air-entrained
concrete.
(g) Cement content is computed by dividing the total water content by the
water/cement ratio.

(h) The bulk volume of dry rodded coarse aggregate per unit volume of concrete is

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selected, for the particular maximum size of coarse aggregate and fineness modulus of
fine aggregate.
(j) The weight of C.A. per cubic meter of concrete is calculated by multiplying the
bulk volume with bulk density.
(k) The solid volume of coarse aggregate in one cubic meter of concrete is
calculated by knowing the specific gravity of C.A.
(l ) Similarly the solid volume of cement, water and volume of air is calculated
in one cubic meter of concrete.
(m) The solid volume of sand is computed by subtracting from the total
volume of concrete the solid volume of cement, coarse aggregate, water and

ww
entrapped air.

w.E
(n) W ight of fine aggregate is calculated by multiplying the solid volume of fine
aggregate by specific gravity of F.A.
5. Explain in detail about the method of concrete mix design.
asy
Indian Standard Recommended Method of Concrete Mix Design (IS 10262 – 1982)
The Bureau of Indian Standards, recommended a set of procedure for design of
En
concrete mix mainly based on the work done in national laboratories. The mix

gin
design procedures are covered in IS 10262–82. The methods given can be applied
for both medium strength and high strength concrete.Before we proceed with

ee
describing this method step by step, the following short comings in this method are
pointed out. Some of them have arisen in view of the revision of IS 456– 2000. The

rin
procedures of concrete mix design needs revision and at this point of time (2000 AD) a
committee has been formed to look into the matter of Mix Design.
g.n
(i ) The strength of cement as available in the country today has greatly
improved since 1982. The 28-day
to be reviewed. et
strength of A, B, C, D, E, F, category of cement is

(ii ) The graph connecting, different strength of cements and W /C is to be re-

established.
(iii ) The graph connecting 28-day compressive strength of concrete and W/C
ratio is to be extended up to 80 MPa, if this graph is to cater for high strength concrete.
(iv ) As per the revision of IS 456–2000, the degree of workability is expressed
in terms of slump instead of compacting factor. This results in change of
values in estimating approximate sand and water contents for normal concrete up
to 35 MPa and high strength concrete above 35 MPa.
(v ) In view of the above and other changes made in the revision of IS 456–
2000, the mix design procedure as recommended in IS 10262–82 is required to be

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modified to the extent considered necessary and examples of mix design is worked
out However, in the absence of revision of Indian Standard on method of Mix Design,
the existing method i.e., IS 10262 of 1982 is described below step by step. W herever it
is possible, the new information given in IS 456 of 2000 have been incorporated and
the procedure is modified to that extent.
(a) Target mean strength for mix design: The target mean compressive ( fck )
strength at 28
days is given by

where fck = characteristic compressive strength at 28 days.

ww S is the standard deviation. The value of the standard deviation has to be worked
out from the trials conducted in the laboratory or field. As soon as enough test results

w.E
become available, standard deviation should be worked out and the mix design is
modified accordingly.

factor). asy
t = a statistical value depending on expected proportion of low results (risk

En
According to IS: 456–2000 and IS: 1343–‘80, the characteristic strength is defined as
that value below which not more than 5 per cent results are expected to fall, in

gin
which case the aboveequation reduces to

ee rin
(b) Selection of Water/Cement ratio g.n
et
Various parameters like types of cement, aggregate, maximum size of
aggregate, surface texture of aggregate etc. are influencing the strength of concrete,
when water/cement ratio remain constant, hence it is desirable to establish a relation
between concrete strength and free water cement ratio with materials and condition to
be used actually at site.
(c ) Estimation of Entrapped Air.
The air content is estimated from Table for the normal maximum size of
aggregate used.

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(d ) Selection of Water Content and Fine to Total Aggregate ratio

(a) Crushed (Angular) coarse aggregate, conforming to IS: 383—‘70.
(b) Fine aggregate consisting of natural sand conforming to grading zone II of
Table of IS: 383—‘70.

ww (c) W orkability corresponds to compacting factor of 0.80 (Slump 30 mm

approximately)

w.E
(e ) Calculation of Cement Content. The cement content per unit volume of concrete
may be calculated from free water-cement ratio and the quantity of water per unit

asy
volume of concrete (cement by mass = W ater content/W ater cement ratio).
(f ) Calculation of aggregate content. Aggregate content can be determined from the
following equations:
En
gin
ee rin
Where g.n
avolume of entrapped air,
W = Mass of water (kg) per m3 of concrete
et
V = absolute volume of fresh concrete, which is equal to gross volume (m3) minus the

C = Mass of cement (kg) per m3 of concrete

Sc = Specific gravity of cement
P = Ratio of FA to total aggregate by absolute volume
fa, Ca = Total masses of FA and CA (kg) per m3 of concrete respectively and
Sfa, Sca = Specific gravities of saturated, surface dry fine aggregate and coarse
aggregate respectively.
(g) Actual quantities required for mix. It may be mentioned that above mix proportion
has been arrived at on the assumption that aggregates are saturated and surface dry.

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For any deviation from this condition i.e., when aggregate are moist or air dry or bone
dry, correction has to be applied on quantity of mixing water as well to the aggregate.
(h) The calculated mix proportions shall be checked by means of trial batches.
Quantities of material for each trial shall be enough for at least three 150 mm size
cubes and concrete required to carry out workability test according to IS: 1199–‘59.
6. What are the Factors affecting the proportioning of concrete mix?
The various factors affecting the mix design are:
1. Compressive strength
It is one of the most important properties of concrete and influences many other
describable properties of the hardened concrete. The mean compressive strength
required at a specific age, usually 28 days, determines the nominal water-cement ratio
ww
of the mix. The other factor affecting the strength of concrete at a given age and cured
at a prescribed temperature is the degree of compaction. According to Abraham’s law

w.E
the strength of fully compacted concrete is inversely proportional to the water-cement
ratio.
2. Workability
asy
The degree of workability required depends on three factors. These are the size of the

En
section to be concreted, the amount of reinforcement, and the method of compaction to
be used. For the narrow and complicated section with numerous corners or inaccessible

gin
parts, the concrete must have a high workability so that full compaction can be achieved
with a reasonable amount of effort. This also applies to the embedded steel sections.

3. Durability ee
The desired workability depends on the compacting equipment available at the site.

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The durability of concrete is its resistance to the aggressive environmental conditions.

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High strength concrete is generally more durable than low strength concrete. In the
situations when the high strength is not necessary but the conditions of exposure are

cement ratio to be used.

4. Maximum nominal size of aggregate
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such that high durability is vital, the durability requirement will determine the water-

In general, larger the maximum size of aggregate, smaller is the cement requirement for
a particular water-cement ratio, because the workability of concrete increases with
increase in maximum size of the aggregate. However, the compressive strength tends
to increase with the decrease in size of aggregate.
IS 456:2000 and IS 1343:1980 recommend that the nominal size of the aggregate
should be as large as possible.
5. Grading and type of aggregate
The grading of aggregate influences the mix proportions for a specified workability and
water-cement ratio. Coarser the grading leaner will be mix which can be used. Very
lean mix is not desirable since it does not contain enough finer material to make the
concrete cohesive.

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The type of aggregate influences strongly the aggregate-cement ratio for the desired
workability and stipulated water cement ratio. An important feature of a satisfactory
aggregate is the uniformity of the grading which can be achieved by mixing different
size fractions.
6. Quality Control
The degree of control can be estimated statistically by the variations in test results. The
variation in strength results from the variations in the properties of the mix ingredients
and lack of control of accuracy in batching, mixing, placing, curing and testing. The
lower the difference between the mean and minimum strengths of the mix lower will be
the cement-content required. The factor controlling this difference is termed as quality
control.

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