Concrete Mix Design

as per
IS 10262: 2009

DMRC PRESENTATION
June 3-4, 2011

Requirements of Good
Concrete

Meet specified strength

Should be durable in the
environment in which it is
expected to serve
Workable to be placed in the
structure

Durability
Durability - the service life of a
material under given environmental
conditions
Durability of concrete can be
ensured by maintaining
certain minimum binder content,
maximum limit on w/ b ratio and
minimum
cover
to
the
reinforcement

Durability Criteria as per IS 456:

2000.table 5.2
Exposu
re

Plain Concrete

Reinforced
Concrete
Min
Max
Min
Min
Max
Min
Ceme w/c Grade Ceme
w/c
Grade
nt kg/
nt kg/
m3
m3
Mild
220 0.60
300
0.55
M20
Modera 240 0.60 M15
300
0.50
M25
te
Severe
250 0.50 M20
320
0.45
M30
V.
260 0.45 M20
340
0.45
M35
NOTES
Severe
1 Cement
content prescribed in this table is irrespective of the grades of cement and it is
inclusive of add-ons mentioned in 5.2. The additions such as fly ash or ground granulated
blast
furnace slag may
be taken
into account
in the concrete
composition
with respect
to
Extrem
280
0.40
M25
360
0.40
M40
the cement content and water-cement ratio if the suitability is established and as long as
e
the maximum
amounts taken into account do not exceed the limit of pozzolana and slag
specified in IS 1489 (Part I) and IS 455 respectively.

DATA FOR MIX PROPORTIONING

Type of cement
Grade designation (compressive / flexural strength)
Maximum nominal size of aggregate
Minimum and maximum cement contents
Maximum water-cement ratio
Workability and Workability retention
Exposure Conditions as per IS 456
Method of transporting and placement of concrete
Temperature of concrete at the time of placement, if
required.
Characteristics of aggregates.. Sp. Gr., WA, grading etc.

Chemical and mineral admixture

Early age strength requirements, if any

S1. Target Mean Strength

ft = fck + K * s
where,
ft = Target mean compressive
strength at
28 days,
fck = Target mean compressive
strength
of concrete at 28 days
k = usually 1.65 for acceptable
failure rate
of 1 in 20
s = standard deviation

Assumed Std. Dev.

Grade of
Concrete
M10
M15
M20
M25
M30
M35
M40
M45
M50

Assumed
Standard
Deviation
3.5 Mpa
4 Mpa
5 Mpa

If sufficient
data
is
available for
the
grade,
use the s
value
If sufficient
data is not
available,
value can be
assumed
from
the
table

S2 Selection of Water Cement

Ratio
If past data on relationship between
Strength and free water-cement ratio
are available, it may be used
Else, water-cement ratio given in Table
5 of IS 456 for the respective exposure
condition may be used as starting point.
The free water-cement ratio selected
should be checked against the limiting
water-cement ratio for the durability
.choose the lower of the two values.

W/c ratio vs Strength

Source: IS 10262:
1982 re-affirmed 1989

S3 Water Content

Water Content of Concrete

depends on:
AggregatesShape/ Size/
Texture
Workability
W/c ratio
Cement/ Cementitious Content

Water Content
Table 2 Maximum Water Content per
cubic meter of Concrete for Nominal
Maximum Size of Aggregate

S.
Nominal
No. Maximum Size
of Aggregate
mm
i)
10
ii)
20
iii)
40

Maximum
Water
Content (1)
Kg
208
186
165

Note These quantities of mixing water are for use in computing cementitious
material content for trial batches.
(1) Water content corresponding to Saturated Surface Dry Aggregate.

Selection of Water Content (Table 2)

Description
Angular C.Agg. 20 50 mm
slump

Adjustment
0

Sub-angular Aggregate

- 10 kg/ m3

Gravel with some crushed

particles

- 20 kg/ m3

Rounded Gravels

- 25 kg/ m3

Plasticizers

- (5% 10%)

Super Plasticizers

- (20% - 30%)

Increase in slump by 25 mm

+ 3% and/ or establish
by trial

S4 Calculation of Cementitious
Material
Calculate the Cementitious
Content from w/c ratio and the
final water content worked out
after adjustments.
Adopt
the
Higher
of
the
Cementitious content as calculated
above and that recommended
from the durability re quirement.

Durability

..contd.

Adjustments to Minimum Cement Contents for

Aggregates Other Than 20 mm Nominal
Maximum Size Aggregates as per IS 456:2000

MSA

Adjustment

10 mm

+ 40 Kg/ m3

20 mm

40 mm

- 30 kg/ m3

S5 Estimation of Coarse
Aggregate Proportion

Correction in C. Agg. values

Description
W/c ratio of 0.5
Every + 0.05 change in
w/c ratio
Every - 0.05 change in
w/c ratio
For Pumpable Mix

Adjustment
0
- 0.01
+ 0.01
- 10%

S6 Estimation of Fine Aggregate Proportion

A) Volume of Cement = (Mass of Cement/ S.G. of

cement)*1/1000
B) Volume of Water= (Mass of Water/ S.G. of
water)*1/1000
C) Volume of Admixture = (Mass of Admixture/ S.G. of
admixture)*1/1000
D) Volume of Aggregates= 1 (A+B+C)
E) Volume of Coarse Aggregate = (D) * Vol. % of C.A.
(as per S4) * S.G. of C.A. *1000

IILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF
MIX PROPORTIONING OF M20
GRADE OF CONCRETE
AS PER IS 10262-2009

1STIPULATIONS FOR PROPORTIONING

a) Grade of designation
: M 20
b) Type of cement
: OPC 43 grade
conforming to
IS 8112-1989
(Reaff. 2005)
c) Maximum nominal size of aggregate : 20 mm
d) Minimum cement content
: 300 kg/m3
e) Maximum water-cement ratio
: 0.55
f) Workability in terms of Slump
: 100 mm

STIPULATIONS FOR PROPORTIONING

g) Exposure condition
: Mild (for
reinforced concrete)
h) Method of concrete
: Pumping
placing
i) Degree of supervision
: Good
j) Type of aggregate
: Crushed angular
aggregate
k) Maximum cement content : 450 kg/m3
l) Chemical admixture type :
Superplasticiser

2. TEST DATA OF MATERIALS

a)

Cement
: OPC 43 grade
conforming to IS 8112
b) Specific gravity of cement: 3.15
c) Chemical admixture :
Superplasticizer
conforming to IS 9103-1999
d) Specific gravity of:
1) Coarse aggregate: 2.67
2) Fine aggregate : 2.60
e)Water absorption:
1) Coarse aggregate: 0.5 percent
2) Fine aggregate : 2.0 percent

TEST DATA OF MATERIALS

(cont..)

f) Free (surface) moisture:

1) Coarse aggregate
(absorbed moisture also nil)
2) Fine aggregate
g) Sieve analysis

Nil

COMBINED SIEVE ANALYSIS OF 20mm AND 12.5mm COARSE AGGREGATE

Cumulative

Cumulative %

Cumulative %

Sieve Size

passing

passing

(mm)

20mm

12.5mm

40.0
20.0
12.5
10.0
4.75

100

100

92.6

100

7.8

99.0

0.4

77.6

2.6

Cumulative % passing

Requirements of Cumulative %

when 20mm and 12.5mm

passing for 20mm graded

are mixed in

aggregates as per

60:40 ratio

IS:383-1970(RA 2007)

100

100

95.6

95 100

44.3

--

31.3

25 55

1.0

0 10

2) Fine aggregate
:
Zone I of Table 4 of
IS 383-1970 (Reaff.2007)

Conforming to grading

3 TARGET STRENGTH FOR MIX PROPORTIONING

fck = fck + 1.65 s

where
fck = target average compressive strength at 28
days
fck = characteristic compressive strength at 28
days, and
s = standard deviation
From Table 1, standard deviation, s = 4 N/mm2
Therefore, target strength = 20 + 1.65 x 4 = 26.6

4 SELECTION OF WATER CEMENT RATIO

From Table 5 of IS 456, maximum water cement ratio
= 0.55 for Mild exposure.
Let us adopt water cement ratio as 0.55 only

5 SELECTION OF WATER CONTENT

From Table 2, maximum water content = 186 litre (for
25 to 50 mm slump range)
for 20 mm aggregate
Estimated water content for 100mm slump = 186 +
6 x 186
100
= 197 litre
As superplasticizer is used, the water content can be
reduced up 20 percent and above
Based on trials with superplasticizer, water content
reduction of 20 percent has been achieved. Hence,

6 CALCULATION OF CEMENT CONTENT

Water-cement ratio
Cement content
0.55
=

= 0.55
= 157.6
286.5 kg/m3

From Table 5 of IS 456, minimum cement content for

mild exposure condition = 300 kg/m3
286.5 kg/m3 <300 kg/m3, hence, adopt Minimum
Cement content = 300 kg/m3
For this cement content total water content (for SSD
condition) becomes 165 kg/cu.m of concrete.

7 PROPORTION OF VOLUME OF COARSE

AGGREGATE AND FINE AGGREGATE
CONTENT
From Table 3, volume of coarse aggregate
corresponding to 20 mm size aggregate and
fine aggregate (Zone I) for water-cement ratio
of 0.50 = 0.60.
In the present case water-cement ratio is 0.55.
Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate is
required to be decreased to increase the fine
aggregate content. As the water-cement ratio is
higher by 0.05, the proportion of volume of
coarse aggregate is decreased by 0.01 (at the

Note In case the coarse aggregate is not

angular one, then also volume of coarse
aggregate may be required to be increased
suitably, based on experience
For pumpable concrete it is desirable to
reduce these values up to 10 percent
Considering a reduction of 5% in the volume
of coarse aggregate, we have
volume of coarse aggregate = 0.59 x 0.95 =
0.56
Volume of fine aggregate content = 1 0.56 =
0.44

8 MIX CALCULATIONS

a)Volume of concrete = 1 m3
b)Volume of cement = Mass of cement
x
_1__
Sp. Gr. of cement
1000
= 300 x ___1____
3.15
1000

= 0.0952 m3

c) Volume of water =
Mass of water
x _1__
Specific gravity of water
1000
= 165 x ___1____
1
1000

= 0.165 m3

Volume of chemical admixture

(superplasticizer)(@ 1.0percent by mass of
cementitious material)
= Mass of chemical admixture x 1_
Sp. gravity of admixture
1000
= __3___x ___1____
1.145
1000

= 0.00262 m3
e) Volume of all in aggregate = [a-(b+c+d)]
= 1-(0.0952+0.165+0.00262)
= 0.737 m3

e) Volume of all in aggregate = 0.737 m3

Volume of Coarse aggregate = 0.56*0.737
= 0.413 m3
Volume of Fine aggregate = 0.737 0.413
= 0.324 m3
Mass of Coarse aggregate = 0.413 * 2.67
*1000
= 1102 kg
=
1100 Kg (say)
Since 20mm : 12.5 mm = 60: 40
Therefore 20 mm
= 1100 *60%
=660 kg
10 mm
= 1100 *40% = 440

Trial Proportions
Initial Proportions
Cement

: 300 kg

Fine aggregate

: 845 kg

20mm aggregate : 660 kg

10 mm aggregate: 440 kg
Water
Admixture

: 165 kg
: 1% (3 kg)

Sampling
!!! This is a very important issue !!!

Sampling and testing of concrete is an

engineering art.
Poor sampling and handling procedures
lead to inconsistent and false results
Sampling to be done on truly random
basis
Instead of sampling concrete
microscopically it is important to ensure
representative-ness
Remix the parts of sample thoroughly

STANDARD METHOD IS 4926

SAMPLE THROUGH THE LOAD

AT LEAST 3 INCREMENTS
REMIX
2 TESTS
AVERAGE

FOR SLUMP AND CUBES

Definition of Sample
(Clause 6.3.2 of IS 4926-2003)

Is one cube a sample? NO!

Should we find an average of strengths
from cubes of different samples?
NO!
Should we take samples from every TM?
NO! (1 every 50 Cum)
For reduced errors, cast more cubes from
lesser samples

SAMPLING AND TESTING OF

RMC

A POINT AND TIME OF SAMPLING

The point and time of sampling shall be at

discharge
from the producers delivery
vehicle or from the mixer
to
the site or
when delivered into the purchasers vehicle.

B SAMPLING OF CONCRETE

After the truck-mixer has remixed its

delivery on site allow at least the first onethird of a m3 of concrete to be discharged
prior to taking any samples.

Take at least 4 incremental samples from

the remainder of the load avoiding sampling
the last cubic meter of concrete.

SAMPLING AND TESTING OF RMC contd.

Thoroughly re-mix this composite
sample and proceed with the required
testing
The sampling may be carried out jointly
by the purchaser and the supplier with its
frequency mutually agreed upon.
C WORKABILITY

The test of acceptance is to be

performed upon the producers delivery
vehicle
discharge on site or upon
discharge into the purchasers vehicle.

SAMPLING AND TESTING OF RMC contd.

If discharge from the producers vehicle is
delayed on site due to lack of
preparedness on behalf of the purchaser
then the responsibility passes to the
purchaser after a delay of more than 30
min.

The workability shall be within the

following limits on specified value as
appropriate:
Slump

: 25 mm or 1/ 3 of the
specified value, whichever is
less.

SAMPLING AND TESTING OF RMC contd.

D SPECIFIED STRENGTH
Compliance shall be assessed against the
requirements of IS 456 or other agreed Indian
Standards.
The testing frequency to be applied by the
producer should be one sample for every 50
m3 of
production or every 50 batches,
whichever is the greater frequency.
Three test specimens shall be made up for
each sample for testing at 28 days.

Effect of Redosing

(Source : Superplasticizers: Properties & Applications in Concrete..V.S. Ramchandran et.al.)

Some Apprehensions - Redosing

Some apprehensions against Admixture redosing
are
Concrete Setting Delays
Air Entrainment
Strength (early age and ultimate) loss
The right method of redosing after laboratory
simulations can be fool-proof and very useful.
The following factors shall be chosen correctly to
ensure a perfect redosed system,
Right time to redose
Right type of admixture for redose
Right method of redose

Admixture Redosing TRIALS @

UltraTech
M 25 mix with 2.5 hr retention (1% dosage) was chosen.
2 m3 of Concrete was batched and kept agitated in a TM.
There was a sample taken immediately after concrete was
batched.
Concrete slump was measured every half an hour
Every time the concrete slump was found to be below
100mm, 0.1% of admixture was redosed by the standard
redosing method.
One Concrete sample was withdrawn from the TM, every
subsequent time when there was a redosing of admixture.

M 25 Redosing TRIALS
Time vs Slump
200
150
100
50
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

8.5

7.5

8.5

Time vs Compressive Strength

40
35
30
25
20
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

M 25 - Time vs Concrete Temperature

40
35
30
25
20
0

2
3
Ambient Temp

6
7
Concrete Temp

Redosing Recommended
Check the slump
before deciding whether redosing is
Method

required
Estimate the concrete quantity in the TM.
Calculate the dosage requirement to increase slump
from present state, usually 0.1% (around 10% of initial
dosage) of redosing should be adequate.
Calculate admixture quantity required for the quantity of
concrete in the TM.
Dilute the admixture of calculated quantity at 1:2 to 1:3
by water
Dispense the diluted admixture as evenly as possible
into the TM
Rotate the mixer drum at mixing speed (at-least 10rpm)
for at-least 3 minutes (min. 30 revolutions)
The concrete should be completely mixed and uniform
throughout.
Check the slump before start of consumption.
No water addition is recommended. A 10 litre addition of

What do the Standards say?

11. Mixing and
Delivery :

ASTM C94

ReMixing:

BSEN 206.1:2000
7.5 Consistency at Delivery :

9.8 Mixing of Concrete:

What does ACI MCP say?

ACI 309.1 R-93 - 1998

Behavior of Fresh
Concrete during
vibration

ACI 305R-99
Hot Weather
Concreting

THANK YOU

IILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF
MIX PROPORTIONING OF
CONCRETE AS PER IS 102622009 USING FLYASH AS PARTIAL
REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT

STIPULATIONS FOR PROPORTIONING

a) Grade of designation : M 40
b) Type of cement
: OPC 43 grade
conforming to IS 8112
c) Type of Mineral
: Flyash conforming
to Admixture
IS 3812 Part 1
d) Maximum nominal : 20 mm
size of aggregate
e) Minimum cement : 320 kg/m3
content
f) Maximum water-cement: 0.45
ratio
g) Workability
: 100 mm (Slump)

STIPULATIONS FOR PROPORTIONING

(cont..)
h)Exposure condition
: Severe (for
reinforced concrete) i)
Method of concrete placing: Pumping
j) Degree of supervision : Good
k) Type of aggregate
: Crushed
angular
aggregate
l)
Maximum cement content : 450
kg/m3
m) Chemical admixture type :


TEST DATA OF MATERIALS

a) Cement used

: OPC 43 grade
conforming to IS 8112
b) Specific gravity of cement: 3.15
c) Flyash
:
conforming to
IS 3812 Part1
d) Specific gravity of flyash : 2.2
e) Chemical admixture : Superplasticizer
conforming to IS 9103

TEST DATA OF MATERIALS (cont..)

f) Specific gravity of:

1) Coarse aggregate : 2.74
2) Fine aggregate : 2.74
g) Water absorption:
1) Coarse aggregate: 0.5 %
2) Fine aggregat
: 1.0 %
h) Free (surface) moisture:
1) Coarse aggregate : Nil (absorbed
moisture also nil)
2) Fine aggregate : Nil

Sieve analysis Coarse

aggregate:
Individual sieve analysis of 20
mm and 12.5 mm shall be
carried out and they are
blended to suit graded
requirements of IS 383

COMBINED SIEVE ANALYSIS OF 20mm AND 12.5mm COARSE

AGGREGATE
Cumulative %
Cumulativ
e Sieve Size
(mm)

Cumulativ Cumulativ

passing when

e%

e%

20mm and

passing

passing

12.5mm are

20mm

12.5mm

mixed in
60:40 ratio

20.0
10.0
4.75

100

100

71.2

9.4

Requirements of
Cumulative % passing
for 20mm graded
aggregates as per
IS:383-1970(RA 2007)

100

95 100

28.5

25 55

3.7

0 10

Fine aggregate
Conforming to grading Zone I of
Table 4 of IS 383-1970
(Reaff..2007)

TARGET STRENGTH FOR MIX

PROPORTIONING
ft = fck + 1.65 s
where
ft = target average compressive strength
at 28 days
fck = characteristic compressive strength at
28 days, and
s = standard deviation
From Table 8 of IS 456, standard deviation,
s = 5 N/mm2

SELECTION OF WATER CEMENT RATIO

From Table 5 of IS 456, maximum water cement

ratio = 0.45

Based on experience, adopt water cement ratio

as 0.40
0.40 < 0.45, hence O.K.

SELECTION OF WATER CONTENT

From Table 2, maximum water content = 186 litre

(for 25 to 50 mm slump range)
for 20 mm aggregate

Estimated water content for 100mm slump = 186

+ 6 x 186
(pumpable slump)
100
= 197 litre

As superplasticizer is used, the water content can be

reduced up to 20 percent and above

Based on trials with superplasticizer, water content

reduction of 29 percent has been achieved. Hence,
the arrived water content = 197 x 0.71 = 140 litre

CALCULATION OF CEMENT CONTENT

Water-cement ratio
Cement content

= 0.40
= 140

0.40

350 kg/m3

From Table 5 of IS 456, minimum cement

content for severe exposure condition = 320
kg/m3
350 kg/m3 > 320 kg/m3, hence, OK

Now, to proportion a mix

containing flyash following steps
are suggested.
a) Decide percentage of flyash to be used based

on project requirement and quality of materials.

b)In certain situations increase in cementitious
material content may be warranted.
The decision on increase in cementitious material
content and its percentage may be based on
experience and trial (see note)
Note: This illustrative example is with increase of
10% in cementitious material content.
Cementitious material content
= 350 x 1.1
= 385 kg/m3

So, water-cement ratio

= 0.364

= 140/385

Flyash @ 30% of total cementitious material content=

385 x 30%
= 115 kg/m3
Cement OPC

= 385 -115
= 270 kg/m3

Saving of cement while using flyash

270
= 80 kg/m3 ,
Flyash being utilized

= 350

= 115 kg/m3

PROPORTION OF VOLUME OF COARSE AGGREGATE AND FINE AGGREGATE CONTENT

From Table 3, volume of coarse aggregate

corresponding to 20 mm size aggregate and
fine aggregate (Zone I) for water-cement ratio
of 0.50 = 0.60.
In the present case water-cement ratio is 0.40.
Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate is
required to be increased to decrease the fine
aggregate content. As the water-cement ratio
is lower by 0.10, the proportion of volume of
coarse aggregate is increased by 0.02 (at the
rate of -/+ 0.01 for every + 0.05 change in
water-cement ratio). Therefore, corrected

Note In case the coarse aggregate is

not angular one, then also volume of
coarse aggregate may be required to be
increased suitably, based on experience

For pumpable concrete these values

should be reduced by 10 percent
Therefore, volume of coarse aggregate =
0.62 x 0.9 = 0.56
Volume of fine aggregate content = 1
0.56 = 0.44

MIX CALCULATIONS

The mix calculations per unit volume of concrete

shall be as follows:
a)Volume of concrete = 1 m3
b)Volume of cement =
Mass of cement
x
_1__
Specific gravity of cement
1000

= 270 x ___1____
3.15
1000

= 0.086 m3

c)Volume of Flyash =
Mass of Flyash
_1__
Specific gravity of Flyash 1000

= 115 x ___1____
2.2
1000

= 0.052 m3

d) Volume of water =
Mass of water
_1__
Specific gravity of water
1000

= 140 x ___1____
1
1000

e) Volume of chemical admixture

(superplasticizer)(@ 2.0percent by mass of
cementitious material)
= Mass of chemical admixture x
1_
Specific gravity of admixture 1000

= __7___x ___1____
1.145
1000

= 0.007 m3
f) Volume of all in aggregate =[a(b+c+d+e)]
= 1-(0.086+0.052+0.140+0.007)

g) Mass of coarse aggregate

=
f x vol.of fine aggregate x Sp. Gr. of
fine aggregate x 1000
= 0.715 x 0.56 x 2.74 x 1000
= 1097 kg
h) Mass of coarse aggregate
= f x vol. of fine aggregate x Sp.Gr. of
coarse aggregate x 1000
= 0.715 x 0.44 x 2.74 x 1000
= 862 kg

MIX PROPORTIONS FOR TRIAL NUMBER 1

Cement
= 270 kg/m3
Flyash
= 115 kg/m3
Water
= 140 kg/m3
Fine aggregate
= 862 kg/m3
Coarse aggregate
= 1097 kg/m3
Chemical admixture
= 7 kg/m3
Water Cement ratio
= 0.364

Note : Aggregates should be used in

saturated surface dry condition. If otherwise,
when computing the requirement of mixing
water, allowance shall be made for the free
(surface) moisture contributed by the fine and
coarse aggregates. On the other hand, if the
aggregates are dry, the amount of mixing
water should be increased by an amount
equal to the moisture likely to be absorbed by
the aggregates. Necessary adjustments are
also required to be made in mass of
aggregates. The surface water and percent
water absorption of aggregates shall be

The slump shall be measured and the water

content and dosage of admixture shall be
adjusted for achieving the required slump
based on trial, if required. The mix proportion
shall be reworked for the actual water content
and checked for durability requirements

Two more trials having variation of + 10

percent of water-cement ratio in B-10 shall be
carried out and a graph between three watercement ratios and their corresponding
strengths shall be plotted to work out the mix
proportions for the given target strength for
field trials. However, durability requirement

SUGGESTED MIX (BY WEIGHT) FOR CONCRETE

Suggested
Mix
Proportions
C:PFA:FA:CA
**

0.7:0.3 :
2.24 :
2.85

+
**

Water
Cementiti
ous ratio
(max)

Dosag
e of
admixt
ure+
Per
bag of
cemen
t (ml)

0.364

400

Slump
Obtain
ed
(mm)

Initial
150
After 1
Hr.
90 mm

Cemen
titious
Conten
t
(Kg/cu.
m)

Admixture used is a superplasticiser

Cement : Fine Aggregate : Coarse Aggregate

385

Compressive
strength
(N/sq.mm)
7 days
28 days

33.0

49.5