OPTIMIZATION OF CONCRETE MIX USING A SPREADSHEET PACKAGE

Using a PC and a spreadsheet, it is possible to apply analytical methods of concrete mit design to search for an optimal composition, i.e., a mix of lowest cost of the components. The paper is aimed at American concrete design specialists who are little accustomed to the methods encountered in Europe. Presented are the analytical design formulas, which are first transformed into a form appropriate for application of the linear programming and that are next introduced into a spreadsheet. If the input data correspond to a feasible optimization problem, the price of the optimum mix and the optimal proportions of the components for the concrete of assumed strength and workability is immediately obtained. A numerical example is presented.