Difference between Nominal Mix and Design Mix Concrete Mix
The difference between nominal mix and design mix concrete is given below :
| NOMINAL MIX CONCRETE | DESIGN MIX CONCRETE |
| Design: We are considering the ratio of ingredients like 1:2:4 here; no water-cement ratio, size of aggregate, strength, durability, or workability are considered | Design apart from ingredients of the factors like, Water cement ratio, size of aggregate, work ability etc kept in consideration while designing |
| Taking the same amount of ingredient for two Nominal Mix design may have different strengths. | In this mix design, it give the same strength. |
| Design is not economical | It is Economical |
Nominal Mix
The concrete is making or mixing by taking standard manually proportions of cement sand & aggregate i.e. concrete ingredients, it is known as nominal mix concrete.·
In this type of concrete mix, concrete mix considering all ratios in standard volume where the strength and cost of concrete are varies.·
In this type of concrete, strength is prescriptive. This type of concrete mixed is used in grade not higher than (1: 1.5: 3) M20 In this type of concrete there is difficult to maintain quality control.·
Water cement (WC) ratio is based on experience, durability criteria & practical trials. Water content can be modified by slump test or slump value best on the field
Design Mix:
In a design mix, concrete proportions of the ingredients are properly determined with their relative ratio to achieve the desired concrete strength. In this type of concrete mix, the process of selecting suitable ingredients of concrete and determining their relative proportions with the object of producing concrete, not only the desired strength but also the properties of fresh concrete like workability or performance of concrete with certain specifications, are taken into detailed consideration.·
In this type of design concrete mix is a mix considering all ratio of mix is by weight where strength of concrete is constant & the cost of concrete can be reduced.·
In this type of concrete strength is constant·
It is adopted when the concrete grade need higher than M20.·
Water-cement ratio based on concrete grade & 28 days compressive strength of concrete & durability of concrete. Water content can be modified taking into account the laboratory-based test.`