BRITISH METHOD OF MIX PROPORTIONING

Presented by Group 2
Yogesh Kumar Kumawat Suman Meena Shereena O A

Presented on 26th August 2011 Modified on 09th September 2011

Introduction
Current method is that revised by Dept. of environment (UK) in 1988 Recognizes the durability requirements of mix selection Applicable to normal weight concrete made with Portland Cement only or Blast furnace slag/fly ash

 The Method Consists of Five steps

Step 1 Determination of free w/c ratio in relation to

compressive strength

Target Mean Strength = Characteristic Strength + Margin Margin = k * s where k A value appropriate to the defect percentage permitted below the characteristic strength. [ k = 1.64 for 5 % defect ] s The standard deviation

 From table 1, find the appropriate value of strength say f1(at a water-cement ratio of 0.5) corresponding to a) type of cement b)type of aggregate c)age

Table 1 approx. comp. strengths at free w/c ratio =0.5

Fig.1 Relation between compressive strength and free water cement ratio
mark a point corresponding to strength f1, at water cement ratio 0.5. draw a curve parallel to the nearest curve, through this point Using the new curve, Read off ( abscissa) the water cement ratio corresponding to the target mean strength (ordinate)

Free water-cement ratio

Step 2
Determination of water content

Table 2. Approximate Free water contents required to give various levels of workability
Quantity of water content depends on workability Maximum size of aggregate Type of aggregate (crushed /Uncrushed)

Step 3
Determination of Cement content Cement content = Arrived water content(step 2) arrived free water cement ratio(step1)

Step 4
Determination of Total Aggregate content

Fig.2 Estimated wet density of fully compacted concrete

read off Fresh density from fig 2 Total Aggregate content = Fresh density water content cement content

Step 5
Fine and Coarse Aggregate Content

Proportion of Fine aggregate in total aggregate

Governing factors
Max. size of aggregate The level of workability The w/c ratio The percentage of fine aggregate passing 600micron sieve

Read off from fig. 3,

Corresponding to the above factors

FIG 3- Recommended proportion of fine aggregate as a function of free water cement ratio

 Fine aggregate content = total aggregate content x proportion of fine aggregate Coarse aggregate content = Total aggregate content fine aggregate content

 Based on the above calculations, trial mixes are made

Limitations
This method is based on the characteristics of the materials available in UK. Hence it may not be applicable to other parts of the world

Reference:
Properties of Concrete by A.M.Neville &J.J. Brooks
Concrete

Technology by A.M.Neville & J.J. Brooks Concrete Technology by M.S.Shetty

Graphs from web