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MIX
PROPORTIONING

Prepared by Marcia C. Belcher

Construction Engineering Technology

Design Consideration: Obtaining

Good Workability

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Design Consideration: Obtaining

Good Workability

Obtaining Good Workability

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Obtaining Good Workability

Design Consideration: Prevent

Segregation & Bleeding

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Well Graded Aggregates Will Reduce

Segregation & Bleeding

Well Graded Poorly Graded

Measuring Workability: Slump

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The Slump Cone

Approximate Required Slump

Values (PCA)
Concrete Slump (Max.) Slump
Construction (Min.)
Reinforced foundation 3 in 1 in
walls/footings
Plain footings and 3 in 1 in
substructure walls
Beams & reinforced walls 4 in 1 in

Building columns 4 in 1 in

Pavement & slabs 3 in 1 in

Mass concrete 2 in 1 in

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Economics of Mix Design

Goals:
Maximize strength
= minimize water
= control bleeding & segregation
Reduce Cost
= use largest gravel possible for the job
= minimize paste requirement

Provide good durability

= use well graded aggregates
= maximize void packing
= reduced segregation

Cost Comparison of Constituents

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Guidelines We Use For Mix Design

PCA Manual
• Tables for w/c ratio based on compressive strength
requirement & slump (workability)

• Volume of stone required based on max. agg. size and

sand fineness.

• Water required based on max. agg. size, slump & w/c

ratio (compressive strength)

Design Method We Will Use:

Absolute Volume Method
Assumes no air voids in concrete
Amount of concrete is sum of solid volumes:

1 CUBIC YARD
• Cement
• Sand
• Coarse aggregate
• Water
• Air

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WATER CORRECTION
Any water content in aggregates above SSD
water content must be subtracted from the
water requirements

Any water requirement of aggregates

(below the SSD water content) must be
added to the water requirements

Material Values & Constants

Needed For Design:

SSD (Absorption) of Sand

Unit Weight & SG of Sand
SSD (Absorption) of Stone
Unit Weight & SG of Stone
Density of Cement = 195 pcf
SG Cement = 3.15
Density of Water = 62.4 pcf
1 Cubic Foot Water = 7.48 gal
1 Gal. Water = 8.34 lbs

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ACI Standard Mix Design

Method
The standard ACI mix design procedure can
be divided up into 8 basic steps:
1. Choice of slump
2. Maximum aggregate size selection
3. Mixing water and air content selection
4. Water-cement ratio
5. Cement content
6. Coarse aggregate content
7. Fine aggregate content
8. Adjustments for aggregate moisture

Step #1: Select Slump

Table 9.6

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Step #2: Determine Mixing Water and Air Content

Table 9.5

Step #3: Max. Agg. Size Check

DEFINITION: Nominal maximum aggregate size is the largest sieve that retains
some of the aggregate particles.

ACI Limits:
1/3 of the slab depth
3/4 of the minimum clear space between
bars/form
1/5 minimum dimension of non-reinforced
member

Aggregate larger than these dimensions may be difficult to consolidate

and compact resulting in a honeycombed structure or large air pockets.

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Step #4: Select W/C Ratio

Table 9.3

Step #5: Cement Content

The calculated cement amount is based on
the selected mixing water content and
water-cement ratio.

W/C= Wt. of Water

Wt. of Cement

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Step #6: Coarse Agg. Content

Table 9.4

Step #7: Fine Agg. Content

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Step #8: Batch Weight & Water Adjustment

Aggregate weights.
Aggregate volumes are calculated based on oven dry unit weights, but aggregate is
batched in the field by actual weight.
Any moisture in the stockpiled aggregate will increase its weight.
Without correcting for this, the batched aggregate volumes will be incorrect.

Amount of mixing water.

If the batched aggregate is anything but saturated surface dry it will absorb water
(if dry) or give up water (if wet) to the cement paste.
This causes a net change in the amount of water available in the mix and must be
compensated for by adjusting the amount of mixing water added.

Mix Design Example:

10” Thick Unreinforced Pavement Slab

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Properties of Concrete
Specified By Engineer:

Slump =1.0 inch

28-day strength of 5000 psi
Air content: 4.5 - 6.5 percent

Information About Materials:

Coarse aggregate we are using (ODOT #467):
• nominal maximum size = 1.5 inch (see Agg. Size Table)
• dry-rodded weight = 100 lb/ft3
• specific gravity = 2.68
• moisture content = 1.0 percent
• absorption = 0.5 percent
Fine aggregate:
• fineness modulus = 2.80
• specific gravity = 2.64
• moisture content = 5 percent
• absorption = 0.7 percent

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Step #1: Select Slump

Engineer Specified 1” (correlates w/table)

Table 9.6

Step #2: Determine Mixing Water and Air Content

1.5” Stone
Table 9.5

1” Slump

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Step #2: Determine Mixing Water and Air Content

Weight of Water = 250 lbs/yd3

Volume of Water = 250 lbs/yd3 = 4 ft3

62.4 lbs/ft3

Volume of Water = 4 ft3 per cubic yard of concrete

Step #3: Max. Agg. Size Check

ACI Limits:
1/3 of the slab depth

10”/3 = 3.33 inches > 1.5” OK

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Step #4: Select W/C Ratio

Table 9.3

Step #5: Cement Content

W/C= Wt. of Water
Wt. of Cement
Wt. of Cement = 250 lbs/yd3
.40
=625 lbs/yd3

Volume of Cement = 625 lbs/yd3 (Concrete)

3.15 x 62.4 lbs/ft3
SG Cement

Volume of Cement = 3.18 ft3 per cubic yard of concrete

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Step #6: Coarse Agg. Content

Table 9.4

Step #6: Coarse Agg. Content

Weight (Dry) =.71 x 27 ft3/yd3 x 100 lb/ft3 = 1,917 lbs

Dry Rodded Unit Wt of Stone

Volume = 1,917 lbs = 11.46 ft3

2.68 x 62.4 lbs/ft3
SG Stone

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Step #7: Fine Agg. Content

27 ft3 Cubic Yard of Concrete

4 ft3 Water
1.49 ft3 Air (.055 x 27 ft3)
3.18 ft3 Cement
11.46 ft3 Stone
6.87 ft3 Sand

Wt of Sand(Dry) = 6.87 ft3 x 2.64 x 62.4 lbs/ft3 = 1,131.7 lbs.

SG Sand

Step #8: Aggregate Batch Weights & Water Adjustment

Wt of Stone(Wet) = 1,917 lbs x 1.01= 1,936.2 lbs

1% Moisture

Wt of Sand(Wet) =1,131.7 lbs x 1.05= 1,188.3 lbs

5% Moisture

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Step #8: Aggregate Batch Weights & Water Adjustment

Mixing water needs to be adjusted. Both the coarse and fine aggregate are
wet of SSD and will contribute water to the cement paste.

Water from Stone = 1,917 lbs. x (.01-.005) = 9.59 lbs

Dry Wt. Moisture Absorption

Water from Sand= 1,131.7 lbs x (.05-.007) = 48.66 lbs

Dry Wt. Moisture Absorption

Water = 250 lbs – 9.59 lbs – 48.66 lbs = 191.75 lbs

Final Batch Wts. (1 Cubic Yard)

Water 191.75 lbs = 23 gallons

Cement 625 lbs

Stone 1,936.2 lbs

Sand 1,188.3 lbs

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