THE IMPORTANCE OF CONCRETE MIX DESIGN (QUALITY CONTROL MEASURE)
Salihu Andaa Yunusa
Department of Civil Engineering
Kaduna polytechnic, Kuduna
ABSTRACT
This paper covered major aspect of concrete mix design as the quality control measure of concrete production, using American method of concrete mix design procedure. It is aimed at highlighting the important of designed concrete as compared to an ordinary ratio analyzed concrete in concrete production for any civil/structural concrete work. This is to analyze the merit and demerit of designed and control of concrete production as required by BS 8110 in structural requirement. It equally include the whole laboratory test analysis, to determine the physical and geotechnical properties of the materials needed for the mix design in order to attain the required data for the design procedure, in accordance to the parent material types and location, and the specific density of the designed concrete, that will be suitable, adoptable, durable, economical, workable and generally safe for the structural design objective of the weather condition in any specified locality. This is equally aimed at controlling the rate of structural failure in Nigeria as a nation an this regard all factors that may lead to failure of concrete structure were generally treated. The design covered concrete grade 25N/mm2, 30N/mm2 and these were designed to attain the required strength grade after 28 days of curing specially with water as the minimum strength. Basically the designs were done with Burham cement as one of the Brand of ordinary Portland cement. It was equally considered as a factor that all the grade of concrete designed for, should achieve 65% strength after been cured for seven days in water. The individual result of the design mix were adequately presented and have shown that generally mix design of concrete before production as measure of quality control of concrete work is very important in any civil project either for Government and individual. Quality control should be applicable, to control structural failure.