International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

A MIX DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE

Ashish Kumar1, Gaurav Kumar2
1M.Tech Student, Civil Engineering Department, SGI, Panipat, Haryana, India
2Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, SGI, Panipat, Haryana, India
---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
ABSTRACT – This paper proposes a mix design requirement of SP essential to obtain a comparable slump
procedure for self-compacting concrete (SCC) to achieve flow with the same concrete containing only cement.
target mean compressive strength, in which mixes are These supplementary materials also improved the
designed on the basis of Indian Standards and suitable rheological parameters and minimize the risk of the
adjustments are done as per the previous studies and cracking of concrete due to the heat of hydration, and
guidelines provided by various concern agencies. The therefore improved the durability [4].
amount of fine and coarse aggregates, cementing material However, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has not
and mixing water, as well as type and dosage of super brought out a standard mix procedure for SCC although
plasticizer (SP) to be used are the major factors influencing the number of agencies and researchers carried out
the properties of SCC in the plastic stage as well as in extensive investigations to establish rational mix design
hardened stage. So in plastic stage slump flow, V-funnel, L- procedures and self-compact ability testing methods.
flow, and in hardened stage compressive strength, splitting
tensile strength and flexural strength tests at the age of 28 In 1993, Okamura [5] proposed a mix design method for
days were carried out to observe the performance of SCC, SCC. His main idea was to carry out first the test on paste
and the results indicate that the proposed method could and mortar in order to observe the properties and
produce successfully SCC of high quality. For M30 grade compatibility of super plasticizer (SP), cement, fine
obtained mean compressive strength was 39.13 MPa. aggregates and pozzolanic materials, and then followed by
the trial mix of SCC. The major advantage of this method is
Key Words: Self Compacting Concrete, Mix Design, that it avoids having to repeat the same kind of quality
Plastic Stage, Compressive Strength, Rice Husk Ash control test on concrete, which consumes both time and
labor. However, the drawbacks of Okamura’s method are
1. INTRODUCTION that (1) it requires quality control of paste and mortar
former to SCC mixing, while many ready-mixed concrete
The development of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) by producers do not have the necessary facilities for
Professor Hajme Okamura and K. Ozawa in 1986 [1] has conducting such tests and (2) the mix design method and
made an amazing impression on the construction industry procedures are too complex for practical implementation.
by overcoming some of the complications associated with The ‘‘Standardized mix design method of SCC’’ proposed
concrete in plastic stage. The SCC in plastic stage by the JRMCA [6] is an easy version of Okamura’s method.
addresses many complications associated with the skill of This method can be employed to produce SCC with a large
workers, the complexity of reinforcement, type and shape amount of powder materials, and a water/binder ratio of <
of structural section, pumpability, segregation resistance 0.30.
and, more particularly, compaction. The Self Compacting
Concrete, which contains more fines content, is proved to Nan Su and et al. [7] proposed a simple mix design
be more durable. Started in Japan, numbers of procedure for SCC and their main focus was to fill voids of
investigations were reported worldwide on the mix design loosely filled aggregate with binder paste. They introduced
of SCC, its microstructure and durability aspects. The a factor called Packing Factor (PF) for aggregate. It is the
composition of Self Compacting Concrete is same of Ratio of mass of aggregates in tightly packed state to the
normal concrete, that is, cement, fine and coarse one in loosely packed state. The procedure totally depends
aggregates, water, mineral and chemical admixtures. The upon the Packing Factor (PF). A higher value of PF
notable difference of SCC from normal concrete is that the indicates the larger aggregate content, which requires less
SCC contained a high dosage of powder, as well as a high binder and will have less flow ability. It was concluded
dosage of high range water reducing agents (Super that the packing factor determines the aggregate content
Plasticizers (SP)) and Viscosity Modifying Agents (VHA) to and Influence the properties like flow ability, self-
ensure adequate filling ability, passing abilities and consolidating ability and strength. In his mix design, the
segregation resistance [2]. The increased cost related to the volume of FA to mortar was in the order of 54–60% and
use of more cement and SP, but the use of mineral found that PF value will be the controlling factor for the U–
admixtures, such as pulverized fuel ash (PFA), ground box test.
granulated blast slag (GGBS) or limestone powder (LSP),
and rice husk ash (RHA) could increase the fluidity of the EFNARC [8] provide information on standards relating
concrete, without any increase in the cost [3]. The properties of SCC in its plastic stage and hardened state
incorporation of PFA, or GGBS or LSP or RHA reduced the testing and to associated constituent materials used in the

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 65
 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

production of SCC. The guidelines are drafted with an (Requirements of IS269-1989)

emphasis on ready-mixed and site mixed concrete where At 7-days (N/mm2) : 38.5
there are requirements between supplier and user in At 28- days (N/mm2) : 54.62
relation to the specification of the concrete in both fresh
and Hardened states. In addition, the guidelines cover 2.2.2 Aggregate: The coarse aggregate used in this study
specific and important requirements for the user of SCC having maximum size of 12.5 mm. The physical properties
regarding the site preparation and methods of placing of coarse aggregate and fine aggregates are tested in
where these are different from traditional vibrated accordance with IS: 2386 given below.
concrete.
1. Water absorption of
The UPC method is based on simple tests that lead to an Coarse aggregate : 0.45%
SCC mix in four steps [9]. In the first step, the saturation
Fine aggregate : 1.0%
dosage of super plasticizer is determined, using the Marsh
cone test, for the paste system having a water/cement 2. Free surface moisture of
ratio of 0.33–0.40; the optimization is started with an Coarse aggregate : NIL
assumed value of w/c and this is reduced if the desired Fine aggregate : NIL
strength is not attained. Next, using the mini-slump test, 3. Specific gravity of
the filler dosage is fixed so that a paste with the saturation
Coarse aggregate(SCA) : 2.68
super plasticizer dosage has good fluidity and moderate
cohesion. In the third step, the aggregate skeleton Fine aggregate (SFA) : 2.61
proportions are fixed by choosing a combination that has 4. Fineness modulus of
the minimum voids in the dry, uncompacted state. With Coarse aggregate : 6.62
these relative aggregate proportions, concretes with : 2.72
various paste volumes are fabricated and tests in the Fine aggregate
fourth and final steps, using the paste composition fixed in
2.2.3 Admixture: Conplast SP430 complies with IS: 9103
the second step. The minimum paste volume that yields a
(1979) [11], BS: 5075 (Part 3) and ASTM-C-494 Type ‘F’ as a
self-compactable mix and satisfies the strength requisite is
high range water reducing admixture used as a chemical
chosen. In spite of an understanding of the concepts and
admixture. Conplast SP430 is based on Sulphonated
requirements of the mix design methodology, literature
Naphthalene Polymers and is supplied as brown liquid
available today do not suggest any specific procedure for
instantly dispersible in water and specially formulated to
obtaining SCCs of a definite strength as in normal
give high water reduction up to 25% without loss of
concretes.
workability, Specific gravity 1.22 to 1.225 at 30 °C. In
study RHA is used as a mineral admixture as replacement
2. MIX DESIGN: of cement.
2.1 Design specification
2.3.1 Steps in the Mix Proportion [12, 13]: Trail mix 1
1. Grade of concrete (Used for study) : M30 1. Targeted mean strength for M30 grade concrete
2. Characteristic Compressive strength : 30 MPa
fck * = fck + ks
3. Max. size of aggregate (angular) : 12.5 mm
4. Degree of workability (compaction : 0.9 fck* = 30 + 1.65 * 5.0 = 38.25N/mm2
factor) Where, Values for k = 1.65 and s = 5.0 (as per table -1 of
5. Degree of quality : Good IS 10262- 2009)
6. Type of exposure : Severe 2. Selecting water % for 12.5 mm max size aggregate and
the sand lap-up to ZONE -II.
2.2 Test data of materials 3. For W/C-0.45, C.F-0.9, angular, sand lap-up to ZONE-II.
(a) Water content per 1 m3(W) : 197 l/m3
2.2.1 Cement: Ordinary port land cement of 53 grade of (b) Sand % of total aggregate by : 38%
Ultra Tech brand was used in the present study. The absolute volume (P)
physical properties of OPC obtained from the 4. Required cement content for given : 437.78kg/m3
experimental investigation were confirmed to IS- W/C ratio (C)
12269:1987[10] given below: 5. Determination of both aggregate contents for the
1. Sp. gravity of cement (SC) : 3.15 maximum aggregate size of 12.5 mm, the amount of
2. Fineness of cement (IS sieve no.9) :7% trapped air in the wet concrete is 3%, taking this in to
3. Normal consistency : 32% concern and applying equations for the same.
4. Initial setting time : 38 min V= [W/SW+C/SC+ FA/ (P*SFA)]*1/1000;
5. Soundness (Le Chatelier’s ) : 4 mm 0.97 = [197+ (437.78/3.15) +FA/ (0.38*2.61)]*1/1000
6. Compressive strength of cement FA= 628.82 kg/m3

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 66
 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

V= [W/SW+C/SC+CA/ ((1-P)*SCA)]*1/1000; fine and coarse aggregate, water, SP are listed below.
0.97 = [197+ (437.78/3.15)+CA/ (0.62*2.68)]*1/1000 Cement = 392.73 kg/ m3
CA= 1053.49 kg/m3 RHA = 43.63 kg/ m3
The obtained contents of cement, sand, aggregate and Fine aggregate = 966.94kg/ m3
water is
Coarse aggregate = 729.45kg/ m3
Water = 192 lit/ m3
Cement kg/m3 FA kg/m3 CA kg/m3 Water l/m3
SP = 9.82 lit/ m3
437.78 628.82 1053.49 197 SP dosage 2.25% of cementation materials
=
1 1.44 2.41 0.45
1200

6. Conversion to SCC test specimens:

The normal concrete is modified as per EFNARC[8] 1000

specifications by considering the fresh properties and

Per cubic meter

hardened properties of the mixes finally conclude to the 800

SCC mix proportion:

Water = 197 l/m3 600

Cement = 437.78 kg/m3

400
Fine Aggregate (F.A.) = 628.82 kg/m3
Coarse Aggregate (C.A.) = 1053.49 kg/m3
200
Total Aggregate (T.A) = 1682.31 kg/m3
Let’s Take 56% of Total Aggregate as Fine Aggregate, so
0
Fine Aggregate (F.A.) = 942.09 kg/m3
Cement RHA FA CA Water SP
Coarse Aggregate (C.A.), = 740.22 kg/m3
Further in the trail mix-1 10 % (43.78 kg/ m3)
replacement of RHA as cementation material is given. The Figure 2 Mix Proportion for Trail Mix (TM)-2
contents of cement, RHA, fine and coarse aggregate, water,
SP are listed below. 2.3.3 Mix proportion [12, 13]: Trail mix 3
Cement = 394 kg/ m3
For W/C-0.43, C.F-0.9, angular, sand lap-up to ZONE-II
RHA = 43.78 kg/ m3
Taking 186 lit/m3 water content and 58 % of Total
Fine aggregate = 942.09kg/ m3
Aggregate as Fine Aggregate. The contents of cement, RHA,
Coarse aggregate = 740.22kg/ m3
fine and coarse aggregate, water, SP are listed below.
Water = 197 lit/ m3
Cement = 389.31 kg/ m3
SP = 9.84 lit/ m3
RHA = 43.25 kg/ m3
SP dosage = 2.25% of cementation materials
Fine aggregate = 995.21 kg/ m3
1000
Coarse aggregate = 720.68 kg/ m3
Water = 186 lit/ m3
900
SP = 10.81 lit/ m3
800
SP dosage = 2.5% of cementation materials
700
Per cubic meter

600
1200
500
400 1000
300
200 800
Per cubic meter

100
0 600
Cement RHA FA CA Water SP
400

Figure 1 Mix Proportion for Trail Mix (TM)-1

200

2.3.2 Mix proportion [12, 13]: Trail mix 2

0
Cement RHA FA CA Water SP
For W/C-0.44, C.F-0.9, angular, sand lap-up to ZONE-II
Taking 192 lit/m3 water content and 57% of Total
Figure 3 Mix Proportion for Trail Mix (TM)-3
Aggregate as Fine Aggregate. The contents of cement, RHA,

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 67
 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

2.3.3 Mix proportion [12, 13]: Final Mix 1200

TM-1
TM-2
For W/C-0.42, C.F-0.9, angular, sand lap-up to ZONE-II TM-3
1000
Taking 186 lit/m3 water content and 58 % of Total FM
Aggregate as Fine Aggregate. The contents of cement, RHA,
fine and coarse aggregate, water, SP are listed below. 800

Per cubic meter

Cement = 398.57 kg/ m3
RHA = 44.28 kg/ m3 600
Fine aggregate = 990.21kg/ m3
Coarse aggregate = 717.04kg/ m3
Water = 186 lit/ m3 400

SP = 11.07 lit/ m3
SP dosage = 2.5% of cementation materials 200

1000 0
Cement RHA FA CA Water SP
900

800
Figure 5 Mix Proportion for Trail Mixes and Final Mix
Per cubic meter

700
Table 2 Properties of Mixes in Plastic Stage
600

500 TEST MIX TM-1 TM-2 TM-3 FM

400
SLUMP SLUMP 715 705 720 710
300 TEST (mm)
200 T50 Sec 3.34 3.18 3.39 3.23
100 V- T0 Sec 6.22 6.08 6.24 6.12
FUNNEL
0 T5min Sec 8.20 8.14 8.27 7.18
Cement RHA FA CA Water SP
L-BOX T20 Sec 3.15 2.58 3.18 3.12

Figure 4 Mix Proportion for Final mix (FM) T40 sec 5.20 5.13 5.25 5.18
H2/H1 0.92 0.89 0.93 0.90
3. RESULT & DISCUSSION:
As Table 2 shows the test results of concrete in plastic
The contents of different ingredients of self compacting
stage the degree of workability of self compacting concrete
concrete for different trial mixes are shown in Figure 5
required depends on w/c ratio, content of cementing
and ratio of final mix proportion is given in Table 1.
material, super plasticizer and content of coarse
aggregates and fine aggregates.
Table 1 Ratio of Mix Proportion by Weight
Table 3 Properties of Mixes in Hardened Stage
Cement

Water
Grade

RHA
FA

CA

SP

TM-1 TM-2 TM-3 FM

Mix Compressive Strength, 28.37 28.51 28.84 29.27
7 days (MPa)
SSC M30 1 2.23 1.62 0.10 0.025 0.42
Compressive Strength, 37.92 38.37 38.64 39.13
28 days (MPa)
Splitting Tensile 3.15 3.32 3.41 3.58
Strength, 28 days (MPa)
Flexural Strength, 28 4.26 4.52 4.70 4.84
days (MPa)

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 68
 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

45 done as per the guidelines provided by different agencies

7 days 28 days and researcher.
40
2. Trail mixes have to be made for maintaining flow ability,
35
self-compatibility and obstruction clearance.
Compressive Strength, (Mpa)

30
3. For Final Mix:- Obtained Compressive strength, splitting
25 tensile strength and flexural strength after 28 days for M-
30 Grade was respectively 39.13 MPa, 3.58 MPa and 4.84
20
MPa.
15
REFERENCES
10

5 [1] K. Ozawa, K. Maekawa, M. Kunishima, H. Okamura,

Performance of concrete based on the durability
0 design of concrete structures, Proc. of the Second
TM-1 TM-2 TM-3 FM East Asia-Pacific Conference on Structural
Engineering and Construction, 1989.
Figure 6 Compressive Strengths of Mixes
[2] M. Sonebi, P.J.M. Bartos, W. Zhu, J. Gibbs, A. Tamimi,
As Table 3 and Figure 6 shows mean compressive Final Report Task 4, Hardened properties of SCC,
strengths of mixes required at a specific age, usually 7 Brite-EuRam Contract No. BRPRTC96-0366,
days and 28 days, depends on nominal water-cement ratio Hardened Properties of SCC, Brussels, (2000) 75 p.
of the mix and is inversely proportional to the water-
cement ratio. Obtain the water cement ratio for the [3] M. Sonebi, P.J.M. Bartos, Filling ability and plastic
desired mean target using the emperical relationship settlement of self compacting concrete, Mat. Struct.
between compressive strength and water cement ratio so 35 (252) (Sept– Oct, 2002) 462–469.
chosen is checked against the limiting water cement ratio.
The water cement ratio so chosen is checked against the [4] A. Yahia, M. Tanimura, A. Shimabukuro, Y.
limiting water cement ratio for the requirements of Shimoyama, T. Tochigi, Effect of mineral admixtures
durability given in table and adopts the lower of the two on rheological properties of equivalent self-
values. Figure 7 showing splitting tensile strength and compacting concrete mortar, in: H. Okamura, H.
flexural strength of mixes at 28 days. Shima (Eds.), Seventh East Asia-Pacific Conference on
Structural Engineering and Construction, vol. 21 (2),
6 Kochi University of Technology, Japan, 1999, pp. 559–
Splitting Tensile Strength
Flexural Strength
564.
5
[5] H. Okamura, K. Maekawa, K. Ozawa, High
Performance Concrete, Gihoudou Pub., Tokyo, 1993
4 (in Japanese).
Strength ( MPa)

3 [6] Japanese Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, Manual

of Producing High Fluidity (Self-Compacting)
Concrete, Japanese Ready-Mixed Concrete
2
Association, Tokyo, 1998 (in Japanese).

1 [7] Nan Su, Kung-Chung Hsu, His-Wen Chai “A Simple

Mix Design Method for Self-Compacting Concrete”
Journal of Cement and Concrete Research 31 (2001)
0
TM-1 TM-2 TM-3 FM pp 1799-1807.

[8] The European Guidelines for Self–Compacting

Figure 7 Splitting Tensile Strength and Flexural Strength of Concrete” (Specification, Production and Use) May
Mixes 2005.

3. CONCLUSIONS [9] Gomes PCC, Gettu R, Agulló L, Bernad C. Experimental

optimization of high strength self-compacting
1. As no definite mix design method for SCC are available, concrete. In: Ozawa K, Ouchi M, editos. Proc second
mix design can be done with conventional Bureau of int symp self-compacting concr. Kochi, Japan, COMS
Indian Standard method and suitable adjustments can be Eng Corp. 2001; p. 377–86.

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 69
 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 02 | Feb-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

[10] IS: 12269 (53 Grade Ordinary Portland cement

Specifications), Indian Standard Code, 1987.

[11] IS 9103:1999 – Indian Standard Concrete

Admixtures.

[12] Bureau of Indian Standards. “Plain and reinforced

concrete code for practice”, IS-456 (2000), New Delhi.

[13] IS: 10262 (Concrete Mix Proportioning- Guidelines),

Indian Standard Code, 2009.

© 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 6.171 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 70