IS-10262-2009-CONCRETE MIX DESIGN – INDIAN STANDARD METHOD

The following points should be remembered before proportioning a concrete mix a per IS-10262-2009.

  • This method of concrete mix proportioning is applicable only for ordinary and standard concrete grades.
  • The air content in concrete is considered as nil.
  • The proportioning is carried out to achieve specified characteristic compressive strength at specified age, workability of fresh concrete and durability requirements.
Concrete Mix Design
Concrete Mix Design

This method of concrete mix design consist of following 11 steps

  1. Design specification
  2. Testing of materials
  3. Calculating target strength for mix proportioning
  4. Selecting water/cement ratio
  5. Calculating water content
  6. Calculating cement content
  7. Finding out volume proportions for Coarse aggregate & fine aggregate
  8. Mix calculations
  9. Trial mixing and

10. Workability measurement (using slump cone method)

11. Repeating step 9 & 10 until all requirements is fulfilled.

Let us discuss all of the above steps in detail

Step-1. Design Specifications

This is the step where we gather all the required information for designing a concrete mix from the client. The data required for mix proportioning is as follows.

  • Grade designation (whether M10, M15, M20 etc)
  • Type of cement to be used
  • Maximum nominal size of aggregates
  • Minimum & maximum cement content
  • Maximum water-cement ratio
  • Workability
  • Exposure conditions (As per IS-456-Table-4)
  • Maximum temperature of concrete at the time of placing
  • Method of transporting & placing
  • Early age strength requirement (if any)
  • Type of aggregate (angular, sub angular, rounded etc)
  • Type of admixture to be used (if any)

Step-2. Testing of Materials

The table given below shows the list of most necessary tests to be done on cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate and admixture. After doing the test, store the test data for further calculation.

Concrete Ingredients

Tests to be done

Cement

Specific gravity

Coarse aggregate

Specific gravity

Water absorption

Free surface moisture

Sieve analysis

Fine aggregate

Specific gravity

Water absorption

Free surface moisture

Sieve analysis

Admixture

(if any)

Specific gravity

Step-3. Target Strength Calculation

Calculate the target compressive strength of concrete using the formula given below.

fck’ = fck + 1.65s

Where,

fck’ = Target compressive strength at 28 days in N/mm2.

fck = Characteristic compressive strength at 28 days in N/mm2. (same as grade of concrete, see table below)

s = Standard deviation

The value of standard deviation, given in the table below, can be taken for initial calculation.

Sl.No

Grade of Concrete

Characteristic compressive strength (N/mm2)

Assumed standard deviation (N/mm2)

1.

M10

10

3.5

2.

M15

15

3.

M20

20

4.0

4.

M25

25

5.

M30

30

5.0

6.

M35

35

7.

M40

40

8.

M45

45

9.

M50

50

10.

M55

55

Step-4. Selection of Water-Cement Ratio

For preliminary calculation, water cement ratio as given is IS-456-Table 5 (also given below) for different environmental exposure condition, may be used.

Note: Use Table-1 for finding out water-cement ratio of Plain Concrete and use Table-2 for finding out water-cement ratio of Reinforced Concrete.

Table -1

Sl.No. Environmental Exposure Condition

Plain Concrete

Minimum Cement Content (kg/m3) Maximum Free Water-Cement Ratio Minimum Grade of Concrete
1 Mild 220 0.60
2 Moderate 240 0.60 M15
3 Severe 250 0.50 M20
4 Very Severe 260 0.45 M20
5 Extreme 280 0.40 M25

 

Table -2

Sl.No. Environmental Exposure Condition

Reinforced Concrete

Minimum Cement Content (kg/m3) Maximum Free Water-Cement Ratio Minimum Grade of Concrete
1 Mild 300 0.55 M20
2 Moderate 300 0.50 M25
3 Severe 320 0.45 M30
4 Very Severe 340 0.45 M35
5 Extreme 360 0.40 M40

Refer the table given below (As per IS-456) to choose right type of environment depending upon different exposure conditions to concrete.

Sl.No Environment Exposure condition
1 Mild Concrete surfaces protected against weather or aggressive conditions, except those situated in coastal areas.
2 Moderate Concrete surfaces sheltered from severe rain or freezing whilst wetConcrete exposed to condensation and rain

Concrete continuously under water

Concrete in contact or buried under non aggressive soil/ground water

Concrete surfaces sheltered from saturated salt air in coastal area

3 Severe Concrete surfaces exposed to severe rain, alternate wetting and drying or occasional freezing whilst wet or severe condensationConcrete completely immersed in sea water

Concrete exposed to coastal environment

4 Very severe Concrete surfaces exposed to sea water spray, corrosive fumes or severe freezing condition whilst wetConcrete in contact with or buried under aggressive sub-soil/ground water
5 Extreme Surface members in tidal zoneMembers in direct contact with liquid/solid aggressive chemicals

 Step-5. Selection of Water Content

Selection of water content depends upon a number of factors such as

  • Aggregate size, shape & texture
  • Workability
  • Water cement ratio
  • Type of cement and its amount
  • Type of admixture and environmental conditions.

Factors that can reduce water demand are as follows

  • Using increased aggregate size
  • Reducing water cement ratio
  • Reducing the slump requirement
  • Using rounded aggregate
  • Using water reducing admixture

Factors that can increase water demand are as follows

  • Increased temp. at site
  • Increased cement content
  • Increased slump
  • Increased water cement ratio
  • Increased aggregate angularity
  • Decrease in proportion of the coarse aggregate to fine aggregate

The quantity of maximum mixing water per unit volume of concrete may be selected from the table given below.

Maximum water content per cubic meter of concrete for nominal maximum size of aggregate

Sl.No.

Nominal maximum size of aggregate

Maximum water content

1

10

208

2

20

186

3

40

165

The values given in the table shown above is applicable only for angular coarse aggregate and for a slump value in between 25 to 50mm.

Do the following adjustments if the material used differs from the specified condition.

Type of material/condition Adjustment required
For sub angular aggregate Reduce the selected value by 10kg
For gravel with crushed stone Reduce the selected value by 20kg
For rounded gravel Reduce the selected value by 25kg
For every addition of 25mm slump Increase the selected value by 3%
If using plasticizer Decrease the selected value by 5-10%
If using super plasticizer Decrease the selected value by 20-30%

Note: Aggregates should be used in saturated surface dry condition. While 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 aggregate are completely dry, the amount of mixing water should be increased by an amount equal to moisture likely to be absorbed by the aggregate

Step-6. Calculating Cementious Material Content

From the water cement ratio and the quantity of water per unit volume of cement, calculate the amount of cementious material. After calculating the quantity of cementious material, compare it with the values given in the table shown in Step-4. The greater of the two values is then adopted.

If any mineral admixture (such as fly ash) is to be used, then decide the percentage of mineral admixture to be used based on project requirement and quality of material.

Step-7. Finding out Volume Proportions for Coarse Aggregate & Fine Aggregate

Volume of coarse aggregate corresponding to unit volume of total aggregate for different zones of fine aggregate is given in the following table.

Sl.No.

Nominal

Maximum

Size of

Aggregate

(mm)

Volume of coarse aggregate per unit volume of total aggregate for different zones of fine aggregate

Zone IV

Zone III

Zone II

Zone I

1

10

0.50

0.48

0.46

0.44

2

20

0.66

0.64

0.62

0.60

3

40

0.75

0.73

0.71

0.69

The values given in the table shown above is applicable only for a water-cement ratio of 0.5 and based on aggregates in saturated surface dry condition.

If water-cement ratio other than 0.5 is to be used then apply correction using the rule given below.

Rule: For every increase or decrease by 0.05 in water-cement ratio, the above values will be decreased or increased by 0.01, respectively.

If the placement of concrete is done by a pump or where is required to be worked around congested reinforcing steel, it may be desirable to reduce the estimated coarse aggregate content determined as above, upto 10 percent.

After calculating volume of coarse aggregate, subtract it from 1, to find out the volume of fine aggregate.

Step-8. Mix Calculations

The mix calculations per unit volume of concrete shall be done as follows.

a Volume of concrete= 1m3
b Volume of cement= (Mass of cement/specific gravity of cement)*(1/1000)
c Volume of water= (Mass of water/specific gravity of water)*(1/1000)
d Volume of admixture= (Mass of admixture/specific gravity of admixture)*(1/1000)
e Volume of total aggregate (C.A+F.A)= [a-(b+c+d)]
f Mass of coarse aggregate= e*Volume of coarse aggregate*specific gravity of coarse aggregate*1000
g Mass of fine aggregate= e*Volume of fine aggregate*specific gravity of fine aggregate*1000

Step-9. Trial Mix

Conduct a trial mix as per the amount of material calculated above.

Step-10. Measurement of Workability (by slump cone method)

The workability of  the trial mix no.1 shall be measured. The mix shall be carefully observed for freedom from segregation and bleeding and its finishing properties.

Step-11. Repeating Trial Mixes

If the measured workability of trial mix no.1 is different from stipulated value, the water and/or admixture content shall be adjusted suitably. With this adjustment, the mix proportion shall be recalculated keeping the free water-cement ratio at pre-selected value.

Trial-2 – increase water or admixture, keeping water-cement ratio constant

Trial-3 – Keep water content same as trial-2, but increase water-cement ratio by 10%.

Trial-4 – Keep water content same as trial-2, but decrease water-cement ratio by 10%

Trial mix no 2 to 4 normally provides sufficient information, including the relationship between compressive strength and water-cement ratio.

31 thoughts on “IS-10262-2009-CONCRETE MIX DESIGN – INDIAN STANDARD METHOD”

  1. Let the characteristic strength be defined as t
    hat value, below which not more than 50% of the
    results are expected to fall. Assuming a standard d
    eviation of 4 MPa, the target mean strength
    (in MPa) to be considered in the mix design of a M2
    5 concrete would be tell me answer of this question

    Reply
  2. Let the characteristic strength be defined as t
    hat value, below which not more than 50% of the
    results are expected to fall. Assuming a standard d
    eviation of 4 MPa, the target mean strength
    (in MPa) to be considered in the mix design of a M2
    5 concrete would be

    Reply
    • 1) First of all, Characteristic strength is the value below which not a single result should be fall. Suppose for M-25 characteristic strength specimen’s strength 24.5 or less than 25 is not acceptable. it must be 25 or more than that.
      2) Second Target strength for M25 is 25+1.64*4=31.6 Mpa
      3) Reason for Target mean Strength.
      Target mean strength is the strength for which samples are casted & maintained in standard conditions, which are not possible on site like temperature & humidity control. More over there may be little variation in natural ingredients also. To counter act all such uncontrollable things & situations, sample concrete in laboratory is prepared & tested for higher strength, which is known as targeted strength.

      Reply
  3. under step:3,u have mentioned in the table that the standard deviation for design mix of the grades of concrete from M30 to M55 as 6,whereas the IS-456:2000 has specified the standard deviation 5 only for the above grades of concrete.please verify and correct the same.

    Reply
  4. Pl. Give always me detail information @ civil engineering materials testing, mix design of concrete, bitumen all test including design of Bm, sdbc.

    Reply
  5. Hi sir, very good and useful article.
    sir, i have one doubt. if i using over dry aggregates(or fully dried aggregates) what is the correction for water content and aggregate weights correction? kindly clarify my doubt.

    thanks in advance,
    Best wishes.

    Reply
  6. Dear Suryakanta,

    Could you please let me know in normal two-storeyed building, roof is casted with which grade of concrete(M15 or M20 etc.)?

    Reply
  7. Great Thanks for the valuable method of mix design
    could you please send me the required degree of workability and/or slump and the entrapped air

    Reply
  8. why water absorption and surface moisture is not included in is 10262-2009(new code) ?
    for M 30, M40 based on which code need to be design new code or old code ?

    Reply

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