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(Source: General Specification for Civil Engineering Works)
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2. Designed Mix
2
In the figure above, the mean strength of the mix is 40 N/mm . That is, we can
expect half of the test results will be higher than 40 N/mm2 and half will be
lower.
In practice, we specify the quality of concrete not as a minimum strength, and
not as a mean strength, but as a characteristic strength below which a specified
percentage of the test results, often called defectives, may be expected to fall.
Characteristic strength may be defined as to have any proportion of defectives.
(BS 5328 Guide to Specifying Concrete, and BS8110 Structural Use of
Concrete adopt the 5% defective level.)
Example 1
To design a concrete mix with characteristic strength of 30 MPa, what should the
target mean strength be?
Given that : defective level 5%, standard deviation 5 MPa.
Solution
fk = 30 MPa k = 1.64 s = 5 MPa
fm = fk + k s
= 30 + 1.64 x 5 MPa
= 38.2 MPa
The target mean strength should be 38.2 MPa
2.3 BRE Mix Design Method (Formerly DoE Method)
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Equations for mix design
C1 M=kxs
where M = the margin
k = a value appropriate to the percentage defectives permitted below the
characteristic strength
s = the standard deviation
C2 fm = fc + M
where fm = the target mean strength
fc = the specified characteristic strength
M = the margin
C3
Cement content = free - water content
free - water / cement ratio
C6
Portland cement content = (100 p) W
(100 0.7 p) [W / (C 0.3 F)]
3
where W = the free water content (kg/m )
3
C = the cement content (kg/m )
3
F = pfa content (of the mix) (kg/m )
p = proportion of pfa specified as percentage of the combined weight of cement and
pfa
the ratio of W/(C+0.3F) is derived from Table 10 and Figure 4
C7
pfa content = pC
100 - p
3
where C = the cement content (kg/m )
p = proportion of pfa specified as percentage of the combined weight of cement and
pfa
CF
3
where W = the free water content (kg/m )
3
C = the cement content (kg/m )
3
F = pfa content (kg/m )
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3
C = the cement content (kg/m )
3
F = pfa content (of the mix) (kg/m )
3
D = the wet density of concrete (kg/m )
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Figure 3
Relationship between standard deviation
and characteristic strength
Figure 4
Relationship between
compressive strength and
free-water/cement ratio
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Figure 5 Estimated wet density of fully compacted concrete
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Figure 6 Recommended proportions of fine aggregate according to percentage passing 600 m sieve
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Example 2 unrestricted design
The batch quantities determined in the mix design are based on saturated
surface-dry (SSD) aggregates.
Very often, aggregates are in other conditions, adjustment of actual weights of
aggregates and water have to be made.
3.3 Determination of mass of aggregate for trial mix
( 1 M.C. )
3.3.1 M T = MD
1A
where
MT = the mass of aggregate to be weighed for trial mix
MD = mass of aggregate designed, which the aggregate is assumed in SSD
condition.
M.C. = insitu moisture content of the aggregate (mass of water/mass of dry
aggregate) presented in decimal.
A = water absorption of the aggregate (mass of absorbed water/mass of dry
aggregate) presented in decimal.
MT = MD (1 + M.C. A)
This formula gives an approximate result only but is accurate enough for most
practical purpose.
MD = MT
or MTw + MTf + MT10 + MT20 + MT40 = MDw + MDf + MD10 + MD20 + MD40
MTw = MDw + MDf + MD10 + MD20 + MD40 - (MTf + MT10 + MT20 + MT40)
Example 6
3
Quantities of the constituent materials for 0.05 m of a designed mix are:
If oven-dried aggregates are use, determine the mass of each constituent for trial mix.
Solution
1
M.C. ) Using MT = MD (1 + M.C. A)
Using MT = MD (
1A
Coarse agg: MTc = 69.2 10 MTc = 69.2 (1 + 0 0.01)
1 0.01
= 68.5 kg = 68.5 kg
10
MTs = 25.7 (1 + 0 0.02)
Sand: MTs = 25.7 1 0.02
= 25.2 kg = 25.2 kg
Water: Using MD = MT
69.2 + 25.7 + 8 = 68.5 + 25.2 + MTw
MTw = 9.2 kg
Cement: unchanged
Example 7
If moisture content of aggregates in example 6 are:
Coarse aggregate: 1.4 %
Sand 2.8%
determine the mass of each constituent for trial mix.
3.5 Workability of trial mix
During the mixing of the trial mix, an experienced technician is able to adjust
the water content by eye inspection if the workability of the mix is much outside
the target range.
It is thus useful, initially, to withhold a small proportion, say 10% of the mixing
water until assessment of workability has been made to determine whether
deduction or addition of water is necessary.
Any adjustment of water ( MAw) must be recorded for later use.
The design tables and charts in the BRE method are based on the statistical data
in England.
Due to different sources of cement and aggregates, there may be deviation of
actual cube strength of trial mix from target strength. It is thus necessary to
undergo the re-design procedure.
The re-design procedure is same as the original design procedure excepted that
data obtained from tables and charts shall be replaced with actual measured data
in the first trial.
In Item 2.3 of the design table, use actual free-water content in the first trial
instead of obtaining from table 3.
3
Actual free water content (per m ) = (MDw MAw) volume of first trial mix
Please note that any addition or deduction of water to bring the aggregate back
to SSD condition shall not be involved in the above calculation.
b. When the actual cube strength of the first trial is available, plot this result
together with the result in (a) on figure 4 to obtain a re-design water/cement ratio.
(Two examples are given as below.)
Example 8
First trial
Free-water/cement ratio 0.37
No addition or deduction of water during first trial
Actual cube strength 70 MPa
Re-design
Plot point C1: W/C = 0.37, and
fc = 70 MPa
Get point D1: target = 60 MPa, and
W/C = 0.44
Example 9
First trial
Free-water/cement ratio 0.62
Some water is added such that the actual free-water/cement ratio became 0.69
Actual cube strength 14 MPa
Re-design
Plot point C2: W/C = 0.69, and
fc = 14 MPa
Get point D2: target = 22 MPa, and
W/C = 0.54
(Source: Building Research Establishment)