TABLES FOR ACI CONCRETE MIX DESIN
Table 1. Estimated Average Strength for Concrete
Compressive strength Water / cement ratio (by mass)
28 days (M pa) Non-air entrained Air entrained
45 0.38 -
40 0.42 -
35 0.47 0.39
30 0.54 0.45
25 0.61 0.52
20 0.69 0.60
15 0.79 0.71
*Values are estimated average strength for concrete containing not more than percentage of air shown in
table 4. For constant water/cement ratio, the strength of concrete is reduced as the air content is measured.
Strength is based on 15x30cm cylinders moist-cured 28 days at 25+ 1.7 oC in accordance with section 9(b)
of ASTM C31 for making and curing concrete compressive and flexure test specimen in the field. Cube
strength will be higher by approximately 20oC.
Relationship assume size of aggregate about 20 to 30mm, for a given source, strength produced by a given
water/cement ratio will increase as maximum size decrease.
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Table 2. Fine aggregate as a percentage of total aggregate
Max. agg. size Fineness modulus
W/c (mm) 2.5 2.7 2.9
10 50% 52% 54%
0.4 20 35 37 39
40 29 31 33
10 53 55 57
0.5 20 38 40 42
40 32 34 36
10 54 56 58
0.6 20 40 42 44
40 33 35 37
10 55 57 59
0.7 20 41 43 45
40 34 36 38
2
Table 3. Recommended slumps for various types of constructions
Slump (cm)
Types of construction *Max. Min.
Reinforced foundations, walls and footings 8 2
Plain footings, cassoins and substructure walls 8 2
Beams and reinforced walls 10 2
Building columns 10 2
Pavements and slabs 8 2
Heavy mass concrete 8 2
* may be increased by 2cm for methods of consolidation other than vibration
3
Table 4. Approximate mixing water requirements for different slumps and maximum sizes of aggregates.
Slump (cm) Water kg/m3 of concrete for indicated max. sizes of agg. in mm *
10 12.5 20 25 40 50+ 70+ 150+
Non –Air entrained concrete
3- 10 205 200 185 180 160 155 145 125
8- 10 225 215 200 195 175 170 160 140
15-18 240 230 210 205 185 180 170 --
Approx. amount of
entrapped air in non
entrained conc(%) 3 25 2 15 1 0.5 0.3 0.2
Air entrained concrete
3 to 5 180 175 165 160 145 140 135 120
8 to 10 215 205 190 185 170 165 160 --
Recommended
average total air
content (%) 8 7 6 5 4.5 4 3.5 3
* These quantities of mixing water for use in computing cement factors for trial batches. They are maxima
for reasonably well shaped angular course agg graded with in limit of accepted specifications.
+
The slump values for concrete containing agg larger than 40mm are based on slump tests after removal of
larger than 40mm by wet screening.
4
Table 5. Maximum permissible water cement ratios for concrete in severe Exposure
Structure wet continuously or frequently and Structure exposed to
exposed to freezing and thawing sea water or surfaces
Type of structure
Thin sections (railing curbs,
sills, ledges, ornamental
work) and sections with 0.45 0.40
less than 3cm cover over
steel
0.50 0.45
All other structures
* Based on the report on ACI committee 201 “Durability of concrete in severe previously cited concrete
should also be air entrained”
If sulphate-resisting cement (type II or Type V of ASTMC 150) is used permissibly water-cement ratio may
be increased by 0.50.
Table 6. Volume of coarse Aggregate per unit Volume of concrete
Volume of dry rodded coarse aggregate per unit volume of concrete fo
different fineness modulus
Maximum size of
aggregate 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0
10 0.50 0.46 0.44
12.5 0.59 0.55 0.53
20 0.66 0.62 0.60
25 0.71 0.67 0.65
40 0.76 0.72 0.70
50 0.78 0.74 0.72
70 0.81 0.77 0.75
150 0.87 0.83 0.81
5
Volumes are based on aggregate in dry rodded condition as described in ASTEC29 for unit weight of
aggregate.
These volumes are selected empirical relationship to produce concrete with a degree of workability suitable
for usual reinforced construction. For less workable concrete such as required for pavement construction
they may be increased about 10%. For more workable concrete, such as required may be required when
placement is to be by pumping, they may be reduced up to10%.
Table 7. First Estimate of Weight of Fresh Concrete.
Maximum size of aggregate, First estimate of concrete weight, Kg/m3
mm
Non-air entrained concrete Air- entrained concrete
10 2285 2190
12.5 2315 2235
20 2355 2280
25 2375 2315
40 2420 2355
50 2445 2375
70 2465 2400
150 2505 2435
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Table 8. Requirement for Concrete cast under different control condition
Class of Control Good Fair Poor
1) Requirements for material
Cement Weight Volume
Batching 1% accuracy 2% accuracy Leveled boxes
Water Measuring tank or 1% Flow type meter Estimated visually
accuracy
Batching 3 % accuracy
Standard at least 2 fractions
Aggregate Weight 3% accuracy or volume Volume, gauge boxes,
gauge boxes boxes, wheel barrows
Quality and batching Washed and screed at least 3
fractions weight
2. Control of mixes, placing, Under full supervision of an By an experienced foremen No special
compaction inspector experienced in with knowledge in good supervision. Amount
concrete technology. concrete. Adjustment of mixes of mixing water
Continuous of adjustment of when visible changes in size adjusted visually by
mixes by a field laboratory. and moisture content of mix man when
aggregate occur, when consistency of
consistency of concrete concrete changes.
changes.
3. Method of compaction By vibration By hand or vibration By hand
4. Requirement for average
strength at 28 days expressed
in % of nominal strength. 120% 135% 150%
Mix design 115% 125% 140%
Field acceptance
5. Minimum cement* content
for reinforced concrete Kg/m3.
Unexposed to weather 240 260 280
260 280 300
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Exposed
This standard includes a separate minimum limit on cement in addition on cement in addition to
requirements for strength and durability the mixture must be based on whichever criterion leads to
a larger amount of cement.
Table 9. Approximate requirements of mixing water (W0) for different types of
structures and maximum sizes of aggregates.
Types of Methods of Max. Slump Water (lit/m3 concrete) for indicated maximum
cements compaction consistency size of angular course aggregate and natural.
15 20 25 30 40 50
Un reinforced or lightly By hand Plastic, 10mm 215 200 195 190 180 17
reinforced foundations 0
or slabs
Vibrator Stiff, 5mm 195 180 175 170 160 15
0
Reinforced foundations By hand Plastic flowing, 225 210 205 200 190 -
or slabs, un reinforced 12.5mm
or slightly reinforced
walls or columns Vibrator Plastic stiff, 75mm 205 190 185 180 170 -
Reinforced columns, By hand Flowing, 18mm 235 220 215 210 200 -
beams, walls, hollow
block slabs Vibrator Plastic, 10mm 225 200 195 190 180 -
Note: 1) For rounded aggregate like pebble etc. reduce 10%
2) For reinforced concrete with water reducing admixtures or entrained concrete reduce 5 to 10%
3) For manufactured sand (sharp angular) add 5 to 10 %
4) For type V cement reduce 5%
Approximate amount of entrapped air (Ao) in normal 20 15 10 10 9 -
concrete (liter)
Recommended max. entrained air (Ao) (liter) 45 40 35 30 30 -
8
Table 10. Maximum size of aggregate recommended for various types of constructions
Type of element Dimensions of sections (cm)
10-15 15-20 20-35 35-75
Un reinforced or slightly Maximum size of aggregate (mm)
reinforced foundations
or slabs 25-40 40 40-50 50
Reinforced foundations 20-25 25 25-40 40
or slabs, un reinforced or
lightly reinforced walls or
columns
Reinforced beams, 15-20 20-25 25-30 30
columns, walls, hollow
block slabs
N.B. Maximum size should not be greater than 1/5 of minimum dimensions of sections or larger than ¾ of
minimum clear spacing between reinforcing bars.
