Design Mix of High Strength Concrete

1.
Design Mix of High Strength Concrete low w/cm ratios are generally only attainable
with high-range water-reducing admixtures
High strength concrete is the concrete that has (HRWRA). PCE type (Poly carboxylate ether
characteristic compressive strength of 65 N/mm2 based) super plasticisers which reduce water
or more. Usually, for high strength concrete content by 30 percent or above at appropriate
mixes specially selected cementitious materials dosages, maybe used
and chemical admixtures, that is, super
plasticizers are used, and achieving a low water– 1.2 Concrete Mix Proportioning
cementitious materials ratio (w/ cm) is considered
essential. Proportioning high strength concrete Target Strength for Mix Proportioning
provide a mixture meeting workability, strength
In order that not more than the specified proportion
and durability requirements based on the of test results is likely to fall below the
combined properties of the individually selected characteristic strength, the concrete mix has to be
and proportioned ingredients. proportioned for higher target mean compressive
strength f’ck
1.1 Materials The margin over characteristic strength is given by
the following relation:
To achieve high strength concrete optimum
proportions shall be selected, considering the f’ck = fck + 1.65 S
cement and other cementitious materials or
properties, aggregate quality, aggregate gradation, f’ck = fck + X
paste volume, admixture type and dosage and f’ck = target mean compressive strength at
mixing. 28 days, in N/mm2;
fck = characteristic compressive strength
Cementitious Materials at 28 days, in N/mm2;
S = s t a n d a r d deviation, in N/mm2; and
X = factor based on the grade of concrete,
Proper selection of type of cement is very
important step for the production of high strength
concrete. Fly ash, silica fume, ground granulated Selection of Maximum Size of Aggregate
blast furnace slag (GGBS) or metakaoline are Based on the strength requirement, the maximum
widely used as cementitious and pozzolanic size of aggregates is generally restricted to 20 mm;
however, for grades M80 and above, aggregates
ingredients in high strength concrete. of maximum size 10.0 mm to 12.5 mm may be
preferable
Coarse Aggregate
Estimation of Air Content
The coarse aggregate shall be strong, sufficiently Approximate amount of entrapped air to be
sound, free of fissures or weak planes, clean and expected in normal (non-air-entrained) concrete
free of surface coating and shall meet the is given in Table 6 of IS 10262 2019. The actual
requirement of IS 383. Generally crushed stone values of air content can also be adopted
aggregates with impact/crushing value not greater during mix proportioning if, the site data (at
than 22 percent and combined flakiness and least 5 results) for similar mix is available.
elongation index not more than 30 percent have Selection of Water Content and Admixture
been found suitable for high strength concrete. Content
Fine Aggregate The quantity of water required to produce a

given workability is influenced by many factors,
The fine aggregate shall meet the requirements including the maximum size, particle shape and
of IS 383. Generally, for high strength, a fine grading of the aggregate. The demand of water
aggregate of coarser size is preferred (Zone I or content is also influenced by the quantity of
cement, pozzolanic material and the type of
Zone II), due to availability of high fines content
chemical admixture used. PCE type
from the cementitious materials.
(Polycarboxylate ether based) super plasticisers
Chemical Admixtures which reduce water content by 30 percent or
above at appropriate dosages, maybe used.
High strength concrete mixes usually have a low
water- cementitious materials ratio (w/cm). These
Selection of Water-Cementitious Materials pump or when the concrete is required to be
Ratio(w/cm) worked around congested reinforcing steel, it
The recommended values for w/cm for high may be desirable to reduce the estimated coarse
strength concrete made with silica fume and aggregate content determined using Table10 up
HRWRA as a function of maximum size to 5 percent. However, caution shall be
aggregates to achieve different target exercised to assure that the resulting slump,
compressive strength at 28 days, is given in Table water- cement ratio and strength properties of
8. In case, other cementitious materials such as concrete are consistent with the
fly ash are also used, the cementitious material recommendations of IS 456 and meet project
content shall be suitably increased and the specification requirements as applicable
water- cementitious material ratio shall be
recalculated Estimation of Fine and Coarse Aggregate
Content
based on the total cementitious material used.
Calculation of Cementitious Material These quantities are determined by finding out
Content the absolute volume of cementitious material,
The cement and supplementary cementitious water and the chemical admixture; by dividing
material content per unit volume of concrete their mass by their respective specific gravity,
may be calculated from the quantity of water and multiplying by 1/1 000 and subtracting the result
the free water- cementitious materials ratio per of their summation from unit volume excluding
unit volume of concrete. the volume of entrapped air. The values so
obtained are divided into coarse and fine
However, this must satisfy the specification of
aggregate fractions by volume in accordance
maximum or minimum limit on the amount of with coarse aggregate proportion already
cementitious material as per IS 456. determined. The coarse and fine aggregate
I f c e me nt co n te nt ( no t in c lu d in g a n contents are then determined by multiplying their
y mine r a l admixtures) more than the volume with their respective specific gravities
maximum cement content as given in IS 456 is and multiplying by 1 000.
to be used, it shall be ensured that the special
Trial Mixes
consideration has been given in design to the
increased risk of cracking due to drying The calculated mix proportions shall be checked
shrinkage, or to early thermal cracking and to by means of trial batches.
the increased risk of damage due to alkali silica
Workability of the trial mix No. 1 shall be
reaction.
measured. The mix shall be carefully observed for
Estimation of Coarse Aggregate freedom from segregation and bleeding and its
Proportion finishing properties. If the measured workability
The optimum content of the coarse aggregate of Trial Mix No. 1 is different from the stipulated
depends on its strength and maximum nominal value, the water and/or admixture content shall be
size of coarse aggregate. High strength grades adjusted suitably. In addition two more Trial
of concrete are not dependent on the fine Mixes No. 3 and 4 shall be made with the water
aggregate to provide fines for lubrication and content same as Trial mix No. 2 and varying the
consolidation of the fresh concrete as the mixes free water-cement/cementitious materials ratio
have high content of cementitious material. The by ±10 percent of the preselected value, while
recommended coarse aggregate volume per unit satisfying the workability requirements as well.
volume of total aggregate for different zones of Mix No. 2 to 4 normally provides sufficient
fine aggregate is given in Table 10. information, including the relationship between
For more workable concrete mixes which is compressive strength and water-cementitious
sometimes required when placement is by materials ratio, from which the mix proportions
can be finalized.

Design Mix of High Strength Concrete

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Design Mix of High Strength Concrete

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Design Mix of High Strength Concrete

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.

Fine Aggregate The quantity of water required to produce a

You might also like