CONCRETE MIX DESIGNCONCRETE MIX DESIGN10 Essential Things to Remember10 Essential Things to Remember

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10 Things to remember during 10 Things to remember during Concrete Mix DesignConcrete Mix Design

Good quality concrete starts with the Good quality concrete starts with the quality of materials, cost effective designs quality of materials, cost effective designs is actually a by-product of selecting the is actually a by-product of selecting the best quality material and good best quality material and good construction practices. construction practices.

10 Things to remember during 10 Things to remember during Concrete Mix DesignConcrete Mix Design

Following are 10 Things to remember Following are 10 Things to remember during Concrete Mix Design and Concrete during Concrete Mix Design and Concrete Trials.Trials.

1. Standards for Mix design1. Standards for Mix design

ACI and other standards only serves as a ACI and other standards only serves as a guide, initial designs must be confirmed by guide, initial designs must be confirmed by laboratory trial and plant trial, adjustments laboratory trial and plant trial, adjustments on the design shall be done during trial on the design shall be done during trial mixes.mixes.

Initial design “on paper” is never the final Initial design “on paper” is never the final design.design.

2. Trial Mixes2. Trial Mixes

Always carry out trial mixes using the Always carry out trial mixes using the materials for actual use.materials for actual use.

3. Design Variation Tests3. Design Variation Tests

Carry out 2 or 3 design variations for every Carry out 2 or 3 design variations for every design target.design target.

4. Safety Factors4. Safety Factors

Consider always the factor of safety, Consider always the factor of safety, (1.125, 1.2, 1.25, 1.3 X target strength)(1.125, 1.2, 1.25, 1.3 X target strength)

5. Material Sources5. Material Sources

Before proceeding to plant trials, always Before proceeding to plant trials, always confirm the source of materials to be the confirm the source of materials to be the same as the one used in the laboratory same as the one used in the laboratory trials.trials.

6. Batching Plant Calibration6. Batching Plant Calibration

Check calibration of batching plant before Check calibration of batching plant before trialstrials

7. Tests at Batching Plant7. Tests at Batching Plant

Carry out full tests of fresh concrete at the Carry out full tests of fresh concrete at the batching plant, specially the air content batching plant, specially the air content and yield which is very important in and yield which is very important in commercial batching plantscommercial batching plants

8. Quality Control8. Quality Control

Correct quality control procedures at the Correct quality control procedures at the plant will prevent future concrete problemsplant will prevent future concrete problems

9. Admixture 9. Admixture

Follow admixture recommendations from Follow admixture recommendations from your supplier your supplier

10. Strength Development 10. Strength Development CheckCheck

Check and verify strength development, Check and verify strength development, most critical stage is the 3 and 7 days most critical stage is the 3 and 7 days strengthstrength

Important note:Important note:

Technical knowledge is an advantage for Technical knowledge is an advantage for batching plant staff, even if you have good batching plant staff, even if you have good concrete design but uncommon or wrong concrete design but uncommon or wrong procedures are practiced it will eventually procedures are practiced it will eventually result to failuresresult to failures

Further ResourcesFurther Resources for Concrete Industry for Concrete Industry

Check out these websites:Check out these websites:

http://CivilEngineerLink.com/http://CivilEngineerLink.com/http://CivilEngineerSite.com/http://CivilEngineerSite.com/http://http://CivilEngineerBlog.comCivilEngineerBlog.com//

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