Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
(https://theconstructor.org/)
Concrete Mix Design Calculation for M20, M25, M30 Concrete with
Procedure & Example
Concrete mix design is the process of finding right proportions of cement, sand and aggregates for concrete to
achieve target strength in structures. So, concrete mix design can be stated as Concrete Mix =
Cement:Sand:Aggregates.
The concrete mix design involves various steps, calculations and laboratory testing to find right mix proportions.
This process is usually adopted for structures which requires higher grades of concrete such as M25 and above and
large construction projects where quantity of concrete consumption is huge..
Benefits of concrete mix design is that it provides the right proportions of materials, thus making the concrete
construction economical in achieving required strength of structural members. As, the quantity of concrete
required for large constructions are huge, economy in quantity of materials such as cement makes the project
construction economical.
Concrete Mix design of M20, M25, M30 and higher grade of concrete can be calculated from example below.
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 1/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
(a) Characteristic compressive strength required in the field at 28 days grade designation — M 25
(f) Type of exposure the structure will be subjected to (as defined in IS: 456) — Mild
Himsworth constant for 5% risk factor is 1.65. In this case standard deviation is taken from IS:456 against M 20 is
4.0.
Where,
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 2/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
Maximum water content = 186 Kg (for Nominal maximum size of aggregate — 20 mm)
Total +3
Cement content =
In the present example against mild exposure and for the case of reinforced concrete the minimum cement
content is 300 kg/m3 which is less than 383.2 kg/m3. Hence cement content adopted = 383.2 kg/m3.
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 3/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
Total -10%
Note 1: For every ±0.05 change in w/c, the coarse aggregate proportion is to be changed by 0.01. If the w/c is
less than 0.5 (standard value), volume of coarse aggregate is required to be increased to reduce the fine
aggregate content. If the w/c is more than 0.5, volume of coarse aggregate is to be reduced to increase the fine
aggregate content. If coarse aggregate is not angular, volume of coarse aggregate may be required to be
increased suitably, based on experience.
Note 2: For pump able concrete or congested reinforcement the coarse aggregate proportion may be reduced up
to 10%.
Hence,
Volume of coarse aggregate per unit volume of total aggregate = 0.62 x 90% = 0.558
a) Volume of concrete = 1 m3
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 4/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
W/c = 0.5
For casting trial -1, mass of ingredients required will be calculated for 4 no’s cube assuming 25% wastage.
Since the aggregate is saturated surface dry condition hence no correction is required.
The mix proportion as calculated in Step 6 forms trial mix1. With this proportion, concrete is manufactured and
tested for fresh concrete properties requirement i.e. workability, bleeding and finishing qualities.
In this case,
Slump value = 25 mm
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 5/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
Mix is cohesive, workable and had a true slump of about 25 mm and it is free from segregation and bleeding.
To increase the workability from 25 mm to 50-75 mm an increase in water content by +3% is to be made.
As mentioned earlier to adjust fresh concrete properties the water cement ratio will not be changed. Hence
For casting trial -2, mass of ingredients required will be calculated for 4 no’s cube assuming 25% wastage.
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 6/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
In this case,
Slump value = 60 mm
Mix is very cohesive, workable and had a true slump of about 60 mm.
It virtually flowed during vibration but did not exhibit any segregation and bleeding.
So , it has achieved desired workability by satisfying the requirement of 50-75 mm slump value .
In case of trial mix 3 water cement ratio is varied by +10% keeping water content constant. In the present
example water cement ratio is raised to 0.55 from 0.5.
An increase of 0.05 in the w/c will entail a reduction in the coarse aggregate fraction by 0.01.
Hence the coarse aggregate as percentage of total aggregate = 0.558 – 0.01 = 0.548
W/c = 0.55
FA = 821 kg/m3
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 7/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
CA = 1070.75 kg/m3
For casting trial -3, mass of ingredients required will be calculated for 4 no’s cube assuming 25% wastage.
In this case,
Slump value = 75 mm
Mix is stable, cohesive, and workable and had a true slump of about 75 mm.
So , it has achieved desired workability by satisfying the requirement of 50-75 mm slump value .
In this case water / cement ratio is decreased by 10% keeping water content constant.
W/c = 0.45
A reduction of 0.05 in w/c will entail and increase of coarse aggregate fraction by 0.01.
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 8/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
FA = 757.28 kg/m3
CA = 1071.11 kg/m3
For casting trial -4, mass of ingredients required will be calculated for 4 no’s cube assuming 25% wastage.
A local correction due to moisture condition of aggregate is again applied on this proportions. With corrected
proportions three concrete cubes are cast and tested for 28 days compressive strength.
W/c = 0.44
A reduction of 0.05 in w/c will entail and increase of coarse aggregate fraction by 0.01.
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 9/10
2/27/2018 Concrete Mix Design Calculation - M20, M25, M30 - Procedure & Example
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/concrete-mix-design-calculation-procedure-example-m20-m25-m30/13020/ 10/10