EXPERIMENT NO.

4
Specific Gravity and Absorption Determination- Fine Aggregates
Referenced Standard
AASHTO T85
Introduction
Specific gravity isformally defined as the ratio of the mass unit of a volume of
aggregate, including the water permeable voids, at a stated temperature to the mass of an
equal volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.

Objectives:
1. To perform and understand the procedure for determining the specific gravity of
fine aggregates.
2. To understand the importance of SSD in determining the absorption capacity of
the aggregate.
3. To determine the following properties of a fine aggregate sample:
a. Apparent specific gravity
b. Bulk specific gravity in the SSD condition
c. Bulk specific gravity in the oven dry condition
d. Absorption
Apparatus/Materials:
Balance Mold
Pycnometer Tamper
Procedure:
1. Obtain approximately one kilogram of the fine aggregate from the sample.
2. Dry it in a suitable pan or vessel to constant mass at a temperature of 110 ± 5ºC
(230 ± 9ºF). Allow it to cool to comfortable handling temperature, cover with water,
either by immersion or by the addition of at least 6-percent moisture to the fine
aggregate and permit to stand for 15 to 19 hours.
3. Decant excess water with care to avoid loss of fines, spread the sample on a flat
nonabsorbent surface exposed to a gently moving current of warm air, and stir
frequently to secure homogeneous drying.
 Cone Test for Surface Moisture—Hold the mold firmly on a smooth
nonabsorbent surface with the large diameter down. Place a portion
of the partially dried fine aggregate loosely in the mold by filling until
overflow occurs and heaping additional material above the top of the
mold by holding it with the cupped fingers of the hand holding the
mold. Lightly tamp the fine aggregate into the mold with 25 light
drops of the tamper. Each drop should start about 5 mm (0.2 in.)
above the top surface of the fine aggregate. Permit the tamper to fall
freely under gravitational attraction on each drop. Adjust the starting
height to the new surface elevation after each drop and distribute the
drops over the surface. Remove loose sand from the base and lift the
mold vertically. If surface moisture is still present, the fine aggregate
will retain the molded shape. When the fine aggregate slumps slightly,
it indicates that it has reached a surface-dry condition.
 Provisional Cone Test—Fill the cone mold same as the Cone
Test except only use 10 drops of the tamper. Add more fine
aggregate and use 10 drops of the tamper again. Then add
material two more times using three and two drops of the
tamper, respectively. Level off the material even with the top of
the mold; remove loose material from the base; and lift the
mold vertically.
 Provisional Surface Test—If airborne fines are noted when
the fine aggregate is such that it will not slump when it is at a
moisture condition, add more moisture to the sand, and at the
onset of the surface-dry condition, with the hand lightly pat
approximately 100 g of the material on a flat, dry, clean, dark,
or dull nonabsorbent surface such as a sheet of rubber, a worn
oxidized, galvanized, or steel surface, or a black-painted metal
surface. After one to three seconds, remove the fine aggregate.
If noticeable moisture shows on the test surface for more than
 one to two seconds, then surface moisture is considered to be
present on the fine aggregate.
4. Make and record all mass determinations to 0.1 g.
5. Partially fill the pycnometer with water. Immediately introduce into the pycnometer
500 ± 10 g of saturated surface-dry fine aggregate prepared and fill with additional
water to approximately 0.9 percent of capacity. Manually roll, invert, and agitate the
pycnometer to eliminate all air bubbles. Determine total mass of the pycnometer,
specimen, and water.
6. Remove the fine aggregate from the pycnometer, dry to constant mass at a
temperature of 110 ± 5ºC (230 ± 9ºF), cool in air at room temperature for 1.0 ± 0.5
hours and determine the mass.
7. Determine the mass of the pycnometer filled to its calibration capacity with water at
23.0 ± 1.7ºC (73.4 ± 3ºF).
8. Calculate the bulk specific gravities and absorption.
9. Report specific gravity results to the nearest 0.01.
Drawing:

Observations:
Quantity 1 2 3
Mass of pycnometer, g 60 60 65
 Mass of pycnometer with water, g 162.7 162.7 165.74
Mass of pycnometer with water and aggregates, g 178.62 178.62 180.10
Mass of cans, g 13.13 13.09 13.43
Mass of cans with oven-dried sample 26.42 26.66 25.44
Mass of oven-dried sample 13.29 13.57 12.01

Data Analysis:
1. Bulk specific gravity = A / (B + S –C)
2. Bulk specific gravity (saturated surface - dry basis) = S / (B + S − C)
3. Apparent specific gravity = A / (A-C)
4. Absorption = (B-A) / A (100)
Where:
A = mass of oven-dry specimen in air, g;
B = mass of pycnometer filled with water, g;
C = mass of pycnometer with specimen and water to calibration mark,
g; and
S = mass of saturated surface-dry specimen, g.
Results:
Aggregate _________________________________ Nominal Size _________________________________
Measure 1 2 3
Mass of oven-dry specimen in air, g 13.29 13.57 12.01
Mass of pycnometer filled with water, g 162.7 162.7 165.7
Mass of pycnometer with specimen and water to 178.62 178.62 180.10
calibration mark, g
Mass of saturated surface-dry specimen, g 9 9.67 8.12

Property Ave. Value

Discussion of Results:
 In this experiment, the amount of sample to be used was determined from the table.
The fine aggregates were soaked for twenty-four hours then it was tamped for us to
determine the SSD condition of the aggregate. The procedures of the determination of the
specific gravity and absorption of the fine and coarse aggregate are different.

Conclusion:
The knowledge of the specific gravity is important for the concrete technologist to
determine the properties of concrete made from such aggregates. It is used for the
calculation of the volume occupied by the aggregates in various mixes and generally it
ranges from 2.5 to 3. The pores at the surface of the particles affect the bond between the
aggregate and the cement paste thus influences the concrete strength. In Water absorption,
it is a measure of porosity of aggregates and its resistance to frost action. Higher water
absorption means more pores hence aggregate will be the considered as weak.
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