Understanding Nominal and Design Mixes

Posted in Mix Design | Email This Post

By
Kaushal Kishore
Materials Engineer, Roorkee

Cement concrete in India on large scale is being used since the last about 70 years. In the early
days the following nominal ratio by volume for concrete were specified.

Cement : Sand : Aggregate

1 : 2 : 4 Correspond to M-15 Grade
1 : 1.5 : 3 Correspond to M-20 Grade
1 : 1 : 2 Correspond to M-25 Grade

IS : 456-2000 has recommended that minimum grade of concrete shall be not less than M-20 in
reinforced concrete work. Design mix concrete is preferred to nominal mix. If design mix
concrete cannot be used for any reason on the work for grades of M-20 or lower, nominal mixes
may be used with the permission of engineer-in-charge, which however is likely to involve a
higher cement content.

Accordingly all concrete of above M-20 Grade for RCC work must be of design mixes. The code
allows nominal mix for RCC work of M-20 Grade, but what shall be the nominal mix, the reader
will find from the following table that it is better to adopt design mix, rather than to go for M20
nominal mix which is too cumbersome to determine a fixed nominal mix value.

Nominal mixes as per IS : 456-2000 if fine aggregate is of Zone II as per IS : 383-1970.

As per IS:383- Mix Ratio by Weight

Max
1970
cement:
Grade of Maximum size Max W/C
Fine Coarse Aggregate
Concrete of graded Cement Ratio
Aggregate Aggregate ratio by
coarse
mass
aggregate
 M-20 10 1 : 1.8 : 2.7 0.60 1.5
M-20 20 1 : 1.5 : 3.0 0.60 1.5
M-20 40 1 : 1.3 : 3.2 0.60 1.5

Proportions by weight can be converted to proportions by volume, by dividing with the bulk
density of the materials available for use at site. The bulk density of cement may be taken 1.44
kg/lit.

The above nominal mixes are worked out for Zone II fine aggregate. As per IS: 383-1970 there
are three more zone of sands. Therefore, the total nominal mixes shall be 12 for 10, 20 & 40 mm
maximum size of coarse aggregate.

Thus, it could be seen that nominal mixes cannot have a fix conventional proportions such as
1:2:4 or 1:1.5:3, but may vary according to maximum size of coarse aggregate and grading of
fine aggregate. Hence nominal mixes are also needed to be designed according to the sizes of
aggregates available at site. However, the ultimate aim must be to get the specified properties of
concrete.

As per IS: 456-2000, volume batching may be allowed only where weight batching is not
practical and provided accurate bulk densities of materials to be actually used in concrete have
earlier been established. Allowance for bulking shall be made in accordance with IS: 2386(Part
3). The mass volume relationship should be checked as frequently as necessary.

The exposures of Indian Construction sites at most places are Moderate for which IS: 456-2000
specified that minimum grade of concrete for reinforced concrete should be M25. Accordingly
for durability consideration the structural concrete must not be below M-25 grade. The high
strength benefits obtained should be taken into account in the design consideration of the
concrete structure.

If for practical purpose, we go deeper than we will find that for all reinforced concrete structures
we must have concrete from design mixes.

In the IS: 456-2000 there is nothing mentioned of 1:1:2 ration for M-25 grade of concrete.
Concrete of above M-20 must be design mixes. If one takes 1:1:2 ratio then the cement content
comes to 528 kg/m3. Where as IS: 456-2000 on page 19 clause 8.2.4.2 mentioned that OPC in
excess of 450 kg/m3 should not be used.

The concrete surfaces of the structure exposed to severe rain, alternate wetting and drying such
as RCC OH water tank comes to severe exposure environment for which the minimum grade of
concrete shall be M-30, minimum cement content 320 kg/m3 and maximum free W/C ration
0.45. The following table will show the compression of nominal and design mixes for RCC
work.

Materials : OPC 43-grade, River sand of Zone II and 20 mm graded crushed stone aggregate.
Specific gravity of sand and aggregate 2.65. Workability of design mixes 50±10mm slump.
 Min.
Grade of Mix. Free Cement Nominal mixes by Design mixes by Saving in
Concrete W/C ratio content weight C:S:A weight C:S:A cement
kg/m3
1:1.5:3
1:2.22:3.48
M-20 0.55 300 65 kg/m3
Cement= 327kg/m3
Cement= 392kg/m3
1:1:2 1:1.93:3.17
M-25 0.50 300 168 kg/m3
3 3
Cement= 528kg/m Cement= 360kg/m
1:1.67:2.84
M-30 0.45 320 — —
Cement= 400kg/m3

Note: For high strength concrete plasticizer/superplasticizer should be used which will reduce
water and with the same W/C ratio reduction in cement content.

From the above table it can be calculated in nominal mixes of M-20 and M-25 how much extra
cement is used in the construction, its total cost and how much CO2 is emitted in the production
of this extra cement.
When a mix is referred for designing, it is design for target strength. For example M-30 (by Vol.
ratio) is design for:

30 + 1.65 x 6 = 39.9 N/mm2 at 28 days age

The above is design target strength of the consultant Laboratory. When this mix is used at
construction site, its concrete shall have strength as per table 11 of IS : 456-2000.

30 + 4 = 34 N/mm2 at 28 days age

For starting the work a construction site cannot weight for 28 days. Therefore according to
various literatures, if at 7 days its strength is about 65% (22 N/mm2 ) the work may be started.
However in all the cases 28 days cube compressive strength shall alone be the criterion for
acceptance and rejection of the concrete.

We have received many emails and comments seeking clarification on this topic and we
requested Sir Kaushal Kishore to write on this topic. We at engineeringcivil.com are thankful to
Sir Kaushal Kishore for accepting our request and helping civil engineers understand Nominal
and Design mixes.

More Entries :

 Mix Design M-50 Grade

 Mix Design M-40 Grade
 Mix Design For M35 Grade Of Concrete
 M-20 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
  M 15 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-25 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-30 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-35 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009

Comments

 chimenume April 20, 2012 at 7:36 am

This is a very good idea.This is a place where people can share ideas and learn at the
same time.

Reply Link Quote

 sanjay kumar sinha April 21, 2012 at 12:30 am

It is very usefull to all technical persion who is involving in the fields of construction. Let
me know that what will be the effect on strength if we are not using the plasticizer for
M:25 (using 404 75 kg of cement PPC.)

Reply Link Quote

o Ab May 9, 2012 at 8:01 am

consistency of concrete may be decreased..i.e placing and compacting may

become difficult which results in decrease in strength..

Reply Link Quote

 pradeep kuamr June 3, 2012 at 10:17 pm

the concrete mix design is conducted as per IS ………code ?

Reply Link Quote

o Kaushal Kishore June 8, 2012 at 2:55 am

Please read research papers by visiting this

http://www.engineeringcivil.com/tag/er-kaushal-kishore

Reply Link Quote

 sakshi pandya August 25, 2012 at 9:08 am

If u have to construct quickly, you cam go for high grade of concrete.ans go for steam or
hot water curing.shuttering cAn be opened at 4 5 days
 Reply Link Quote

 william peter September 25, 2012 at 8:17 am

i want to know about construction codes.

Reply Link Quote

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  Given a 1m high staircase resting on solid concrete, would it be adequate to design
nominal reinforcement for the staircase?
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construction method to ensure close contact between the screw pumps and the pump
trough?
 In the design of corbel beams in a pumping station, why are shear links designed in the
top 2/3 of the section? What is the general advice on the design?
 What is the difference among cement plaster, cement render and cement screed? Under
what situations should each of the above be used?
 In pumping stations one of the choices for the material of water tanks is fibre-reinforced
plastic (FRP). What are the advantages associated with this kind of material?
 What are the components of a waterproofing system in the roof of a typical pumping
station?
 In selecting screw pumps in polder scheme projects, what are the factors that affect the
design capacity of screw pumps?
 What is the minimum volume of sump volume for pumps?
 What is the difference between best efficiency point and operating point for pumps?
 What is the difference in function between backward curved vanes and forward curved
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pumps and axial flow pumps?

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Mix Design M-50 Grade

Posted in Mix Design | Email This Post

The mix design M-50 grade (Using Admixture –Sikament) provided here is for reference
purpose only. Actual site conditions vary and thus this should be adjusted as per the location and
other factors.

Parameters for mix design M50

Grade Designation = M-50

Type of cement = O.P.C-43 grade
Brand of cement = Vikram ( Grasim )
Admixture = Sika [Sikament 170 ( H ) ]
Fine Aggregate = Zone-II

Sp. Gravity
Cement = 3.15
Fine Aggregate = 2.61
Coarse Aggregate (20mm) = 2.65
Coarse Aggregate (10mm) = 2.66

Minimum Cement (As per contract) =400 kg / m3

Maximum water cement ratio (As per contract) = 0.45

Mix Calculation: -

1. Target Mean Strength = 50 + ( 5 X 1.65 ) = 58.25 Mpa

2. Selection of water cement ratio:-
Assume water cement ratio = 0.35

3. Calculation of water: -
Approximate water content for 20mm max. Size of aggregate = 180 kg /m3 (As per Table No. 5 ,
IS : 10262 ). As plasticizer is proposed we can reduce water content by 20%.

Now water content = 180 X 0.8 = 144 kg /m3

4. Calculation of cement content:-

Water cement ratio = 0.35
Water content per cum of concrete = 144 kg
Cement content = 144/0.35 = 411.4 kg / m3
Say cement content = 412 kg / m3 (As per contract Minimum cement content 400 kg / m3 )
Hence O.K.

5. Calculation for C.A. & F.A.: [ Formula's can be seen in earlier posts]-

Volume of concrete = 1 m3
Volume of cement = 412 / ( 3.15 X 1000 ) = 0.1308 m3
Volume of water = 144 / ( 1 X 1000 ) = 0.1440 m3
Volume of Admixture = 4.994 / (1.145 X 1000 ) = 0.0043 m3
Total weight of other materials except coarse aggregate = 0.1308 + 0.1440 +0.0043 = 0.2791 m3

Volume of coarse and fine aggregate = 1 – 0.2791 = 0.7209 m3

Volume of F.A. = 0.7209 X 0.33 = 0.2379 m3 (Assuming 33% by volume of total aggregate )

Volume of C.A. = 0.7209 – 0.2379 = 0.4830 m3

Therefore weight of F.A. = 0.2379 X 2.61 X 1000 = 620.919 kg/ m3

Say weight of F.A. = 621 kg/ m3

Therefore weight of C.A. = 0.4830 X 2.655 X 1000 = 1282.365 kg/ m3

Say weight of C.A. = 1284 kg/ m3

Considering 20 mm: 10mm = 0.55: 0.45

20mm = 706 kg .
10mm = 578 kg .
Hence Mix details per m3
Increasing cement, water, admixture by 2.5% for this trial

Cement = 412 X 1.025 = 422 kg

Water = 144 X 1.025 = 147.6 kg
Fine aggregate = 621 kg
Coarse aggregate 20 mm = 706 kg
Coarse aggregate 10 mm = 578 kg
Admixture = 1.2 % by weight of cement = 5.064 kg.

Water: cement: F.A.: C.A. = 0.35: 1: 1.472: 3.043

Observation: -
A. Mix was cohesive and homogeneous.
B. Slump = 120 mm
C. No. of cube casted = 9 Nos.
7 days average compressive strength = 52.07 MPa.
28 days average compressive strength = 62.52 MPa which is greater than 58.25MPa
Hence the mix accepted.

We are thankful to Er Gurjeet Singh for this valuable information.

More Entries :

 Mix Design M-40 Grade

 Concrete Mix Design M-60
 Mix Design For M35 Grade Of Concrete
 M-20 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-25 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-30 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M-35 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009
 M 15 Mix Designs as per IS-10262-2009

Comments

 R.KARANTAHAMALAI July 28, 2011 at 10:19 am

Dear sir,
Please i want correct technical reason for we are following the height restriction at brick
masonry i.e (MAXIMUM 1 M HEIGHT SHOULD BE IN A DAY)

Reply Link Quote

 Rupesh August 9, 2011 at 1:28 am

Thanks for your information sir , Sir Please i want Details of M-10,M-7.5 Details

Reply Link Quote

 madan s ambulgekar September 22, 2011 at 3:55 am

 thanks for this M50 mix design, but i dont know why you have taken 2.5 times more
mterial than your previus calculations. ….madan ambulgekar.

Reply Link Quote

 sudhanshu September 26, 2011 at 2:00 pm

thanks sir……….. for share ur knwldg wth us , by ths we get a proper inf. abt mix design
of concrete for various grade

Reply Link Quote

 shahid Iqbal November 15, 2011 at 8:25 am

dear

wt is C10, C15, C30, C35

can u please help me
provide me with ratio like (1:2:4) thnx

Reply Link Quote

o subburaj.T March 30, 2012 at 9:28 am

normaly C means grade of concrete(class) so in GCC country and american

system only called Class only.
Here we are using targermean strength.for Ex: they told C-20 concrete,this
concrete fck=20 * 1.25=25kn/mm2.so,this concrete grade M-25.

Reply Link Quote

 mukesh December 1, 2011 at 5:55 am

thanks sir……….. for share ur knwldg wth us

Reply Link Quote

 alex chua December 2, 2011 at 12:01 pm

Sir, i want Details of M-60 mix design Details.i was produce R.C. pile for piling work
use.Thanks for your information

Reply Link Quote

 deepthi yr January 5, 2012 at 8:16 am

 Sir, i want details of M50 mix design as per 10262:2009.
plz help

Reply Link Quote

 manoj rahate January 13, 2012 at 2:43 am

sir, In M5o grade mix design, instead of 20 mm aggregate,Can we used 10 mm agg.only

in structural member? what is the effect as per load distribution? ( Concrete used for
Column)

Reply Link Quote

 vilas deshmukh January 20, 2012 at 10:55 am

Thanks a lot for valuable information . Dear sir,in two way slab can we put main bar at
either side if spacing and dia of bar is same ?

Reply Link Quote

 milan biswas January 21, 2012 at 4:12 pm

sir , plz detail m-50 grade mix designe use opc53 grade cement

Reply Link Quote

 Ramesh January 22, 2012 at 8:37 am

We are the lead manufacturers of reinforced concrete pipe in Oman,with 0 mm slump(

we call it as dry cast),we are observing the more pin holes,air bubbles on concrete
surface> we are removing the pipe from core and mould with in 5 min.Our proportions
are 20mm:10mm:C.sand:Dune Sand -25:20:35:10 ratio.What is the reason? How we will
mininize? we are suffering a lot with this problem

Reply Link Quote

 sudhakar January 23, 2012 at 11:18 am

how to do durability test for m60 in scc?

Reply Link Quote

 Mrinal Banerjee July 5, 2012 at 1:23 pm

What is the curing procedure of M50 Concrete

 Reply Link Quote

 mahantesh July 6, 2012 at 8:32 am

sir please mail me correct method for calculating requriement of diffrent construction
material..like sand metal stone etc..

Reply Link Quote

 GSM July 7, 2012 at 7:27 am

Any mixing time is there (Pan mixer) for mixing of M50 grade concrete with glenium
B233 admixture??

Reply Link Quote

 Milan sapakota July 23, 2012 at 10:11 am

Please sir,how to find W/C ratio ?

Reply Link Quote

 bharathkumar September 25, 2012 at 3:31 am

Maximum cement content present in concrete per m3 ???

Reply Link Quote

 Post a comment

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 The Best Creator Next To God Is A Civil Engineer.

Top Contributors
 You can list yourself here by submitting civil engineering related topics to us.
 Er. Harpal Aujla
 Er. Raj M. Khan
 Er. Vikrant
 Ramasesh Iyer
  Er. Kaushal Kishore
 Vincent T. H. CHU

Yahoo Group - Civil Engineering Portal

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Subscribe to EngineeringCivil.com

Powered by groups.yahoo.com

Recently Added
 List of Projects Related to Soil Engineering
 List of Projects Related to Transportation Highway and Bridges
 List of Projects Related to Environmental Engineering
 List of Projects Related to Hydraulics
 Given a 1m high staircase resting on solid concrete, would it be adequate to design
nominal reinforcement for the staircase?
 In the construction of pump troughs for accommodation of screw pumps, what is the
construction method to ensure close contact between the screw pumps and the pump
trough?
 In the design of corbel beams in a pumping station, why are shear links designed in the
top 2/3 of the section? What is the general advice on the design?
 What is the difference among cement plaster, cement render and cement screed? Under
what situations should each of the above be used?
 In pumping stations one of the choices for the material of water tanks is fibre-reinforced
plastic (FRP). What are the advantages associated with this kind of material?
 What are the components of a waterproofing system in the roof of a typical pumping
station?
 In selecting screw pumps in polder scheme projects, what are the factors that affect the
design capacity of screw pumps?
 What is the minimum volume of sump volume for pumps?
 What is the difference between best efficiency point and operating point for pumps?
 What is the difference in function between backward curved vanes and forward curved
vanes in pumps?
 In terms of pumping performance, how should engineers determine the use of radial flow
pumps and axial flow pumps?

Civil Engineering Links

 Gemini Geek
 The Bigger
 Civil Engr. Software Database
  Impressive Buildings
 Civil Engineering Links

Spread the Word

 delicious
 digg
 technorati
 reddit
 magnolia
 stumbleupon
 yahoo
 google

About Us | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Testimonials

All Rights Reserved:2007-2012 |