M15 concrete mix has a mix proportion of 1:2:4 of cement, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate respectively. M15 – M represents Mix and 15 N/mm2 is the characteristic compressive strength of concrete cube at 28 days.

Required Data M15 Grade Concrete

Grade of concrete =M15

Characteristic compressive strength of concrete at 28days = 15N/mm2

Nominal maximum size of aggregate = 20mm

Specific Gravity of cement = 3.15

Specific gravity of fine aggregate = 2.6

Specific gravity of Coarse aggregate = 2.65

Step 1: Calculation of Target Strength

Target mean strength of concrete is derived from the below formula

Where S = standard deviation which is taken as per below table= 3.5

From table 5 of IS 456-2000, the maximum free water-cement ratio for moderate exposure is

W/C Ratio = 0.60

Selection of Water Cement Ration for Concrete


Selection of Water Cement Ration for Concrete

The final water-cement ration will be taken as the minimum of the above two values,

Therefore, W/C ratio = 0.57

Step 3: Air Content Calculation

Nominal maximum size of aggregate taken is = 20mm

Nominal maximum size of aggregate Air content (% of the volume of concrete)

10mm 5%

20mm 2%

40mm 1%

So, from the table entrapped air content in % of the volume of concrete = 2%

Step 4: Water Content Calculation

For nominal maximum size of aggregate of 20mm, the required water content is selected form the table-

Nominal maximum size of aggregate Maximum water content

10mm 208

20mm 186

40mm 165

The aggregate nominal maximum size is 20mm and they belong to zone 2. So, Adjustment for compacting factor is to be applied.

Therefore, water content = 186 + (186 x 3/100) = 191.6 lit / m3 of concrete.

Step 5: Cement Content Calculation

From step 2, Water cement ratio = W/C = 0.57

From step 4, Water content W = 191.6 liters = 191.6kg

191.6 / C = 0.57

Finally, C = 336.14 Kg / m3 of concrete

But from table 5 of IS456-2000, Minimum cement content required for moderate exposure condition for M15 grade concrete is = 240 Kg/m3 of concrete.

Greater of above two values will be the cement content.

Hence, C = 336.14Kg

Step 6: Aggregate Ratio for Concrete

From the table, ratio of volume of coarse aggregate to volume of total aggregate, for 20mm nominal maximum size aggregate and zone-2 fine aggregate is

Selection of Aggregate Ratio for Concrete

Therefore, P = 0.62

Step 7: Aggregate Content Calculation

Volume of concrete (with entrapped air) = 1 m3

From step 3, Entrapped air % = 2% = 0.02

Therefore, volume of concrete (without air content) = 1-0.02 = 0.98m3

Fine aggregate content F.A is determined from below formula,

V = [W + C/Gc + (1/ (1-P) X (F.A)/Gf)] x 1/1000

0.98 = [191.6 + 336.14/3.15 + (1/ (1-0.62) X (F.A)/2.6)] x 1/1000

Therefore, amount of fine aggregate F.A = 673.52kg

Similarly, Coarse aggregate content C.A is derived from

Aggregate Ratio Calculation for Concrete

Therefore, amount of coarse aggregate C.A = 1120kg

Step 8: Final Mix Proportions of Ingredients

W/C ratio = 0.57

Cement quantity = 336.14Kg = 337kg

Fine aggregate quantity = 673.52kg = 674kg

Coarse aggregate Quantity = 1120 kg

Mix proportion for M15 Concrete = Cement : F.A : C.A = 1 : 2 : 3.3