M35 ACI CONCRETE MIX DESIGN EXAMPLE

A-1) Design stipulations

Characteristics compressive strength 28 days              : 35N/mm²

maximum size of aggregates                                            : 20 mm

workability, slump                                                              :50 to 75mm

Type of exposure                                                                : moderate

Aggregates surface condition                                           : aggregates are in surface dry condition

A-2) Test data for materials

Type of cement                                                                  :ACC 43 grade (OPC)

Specific gravity of cement                                                  :3.15

Specific gravity of admixture                                             :1.07

Specific gravity of coarse aggregates                             :2.54

Specific gravity of fine aggregates                                    :2.47

Dry rodded density of coarse aggregates                       :1464 kg/m³

Fineness modulus of fine aggregates                            :3.10

Table for densities of materials used

materials	Specific gravity	X 1000	Specific weight(kg/m3)
Water	1	1000	1000
Cement	3.155	1000	3155
Ssd fine aggregates	2.47	1000	2470
Ssd course aggregates	2.54	1000	2540
Dry rodded course aggregates			1464
admixture	1.07	1000	1070

A-3) Selection of water/cement ratio

 water cement ratio for M35 mix = 0.47 ( From ACI 211.1-91 table A1.5.3.4)

Hence selected W/C ratio is = 0.42< 0.47 (based on trials)

A-4)Estimation of mixing water and air content

a)      Weight of water for 20 mm aggregates and slump 60-70 mm = 198 litre (From ACI 211.1_91 TABLE A 1.5.3.3)

Note: on adding   super plasticizer @ 0.7 %, water content reduces by 18%

Net water volume(A) =198X0.82=162.36 litre (0.162 m³)

a)      Volume of air in 1 m³ of mix is 2.00% of 1 m³ ((From ACI 211.1_91 TABLE A 1.5.3.3)

for non-air-entrained, Nominal Maximum size = 20mm)

 Air volume(B)= 0.020 m³

A-6) estimation of weight of cement

Weight of cement=weight of water/water cement ratio

Weight of cement=162.36/0.42 =386.57 kg/m³

volume of cement used (C)=weight of cement/specific weight of cement

(C)=386.57 /3155 =0.1225 m³

A-7) calculating volume of dry rodded aggregates used

Volume of dry rodded aggregates used =0.6

(From table 6.3.6 of ACI 211.1-91 for fineness modulus 3.00 and 20mm maximum aggregates size)

Dry rodded weight of aggregates used =0.6m³ x 1464 kg/m³ = 878.4 kg  

 SSD volume of coarse aggregates (D)= 878.4/2540 = 0.3458 m³

A-8) estimation of weight of admixture

weight of admixture @0.7% of weight of cement = 0.7 x 386.57/100 = 2.70kg

volume of admixture(E)=weight of admixture/specific weight

                                     =2.70/1070 = 0.002528 m³

A-9) estimation of weight of fine aggregates

Sum of all known volumes =(A+B+C+D+E)

                         =0.162+0.020+0.1225 +0.3458+0.002528 =0.6528 m³

SSD volume of fine aggregate = 1 –0.6528 =0.3471 m³

SSD mass of fine aggregate = 0.3365x2470 =857.51 kg

A-10) proportion ratio

Cement : fine aggregates : coarse aggregates           1 :2.22 : 2.27

A-11) Table of ingredients

Ingredients	Surface dried weights
Cement	386.57
coarse aggregates	878.4kg
Fine aggregates	857.51
water	162.36 litre
admixture	2.70 kg
W/C ratio	0.42