Concrete Mix Design Based on Spherical Shape Concept

Abstract

The concepts of cement paste, mortar and concrete mix design have been important for products of concrete construction. Concrete mix designers almost always use the trial volume method which is based on absolute volume method or simple traditional mix design, to find the proportions of concrete components based on source of aggregates is different characteristics. The designer must use his experience to change the ratio of materials in concrete components and check concrete strength and workability of concrete to meet work requirements. The basic concepts of mix design, based on volume method, assume that the aggregate particle shape is spherical. The concept of mix design would be developed as an approximate method for civil engineers to modify the cement paste thickness or mortar thickness design to get the mix proportions of concrete to meet workability requirement while maintaining water cement ratio for any kind of characteristics of material, such as sizing and gradation. Using the spherical shape concept, civil engineers can apply these concrete mix design principles to durability-based or porous concrete mix designs.