Basic Aggregates Study Guide
General Conversions
1) There are _______________ pounds in one ton.
2) There are _______________ grams in one pound.
3) One kilogram consists of _______________ grams.
4) The linear distance that one station covers is ____________ feet.
Terminology
5) The temperature used to oven dry aggregates is __________ ± ______ ° F or
___________ ± _______° C.
6) When a material has been “air dried”, the material has been partially dried at a
temperature of no more than __________ ° F or __________ °C.
7) Constant mass is defined as the mass at which additional drying would result in
less than __________ % additional loss in mass.
8) The % passing plus the % retained for any individual sieve must equal _________ %.
9) The maximum aggregate size (MAS) is the _____________________ sieve that 100% of
the material is ________________________ to pass.
10) The nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) is the ___________________ sieve which
100% of the material is ______________________ to pass.
11) A coarse aggregate will typically have most of the particles _____________________ on
the # _______ sieve while a fine aggregate will usually have most of the particles
__________________________ the # ________ sieve.
Sampling
12) Unlined open weave mesh bags should be used for sampling aggregates.
True False
13) The most important thing to remember when sampling is to obtain a
____________________________________ sample.
14) ______________________________ is the separation of materials into an unblended state.
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15) When sampling from a stockpile, you must obtain your composite sample from at
least __________ elevations / locations of the stockpile.
16) When using a sampling tube on fine aggregates, you must obtain portions from
__________ different locations.
17) You must sample from a minimum of __________ locations when sampling from a
conveyor belt.
18) When collecting samples from a flowing stream of material, it is not permissible
to collect the sample from only a portion of the stream width or to allow the
sampling container to overflow with aggregate. True False
19) After sampling at all locations, you must ____________________ all samples prior to
reduction.
Reducing Samples
20) A mechanical splitter should have at least __________ openings for coarse
aggregates and __________ openings for fine aggregates and have an
__________________ number of openings on each side.
21) The opening size for a mechanical splitter must be at least __________ % larger than
the largest particle size.
22) When quartering, you must turn over the pile a minimum of __________ times to
thoroughly mix the pile and then flatten the pile so that the diameter of the pile is
_________ to __________ times the thickness of the pile.
23) When quartering, you must retain __________________________opposite quarters for
your reduced sample.
24) You must obtain samples from at least __________ locations when using the
miniature stockpile method of reduction.
% Passing # 200 by Washing
25) AASHTO T11 is used to determine the amount of material finer than the
_______________ sieve by washing.
26) Another term used to describe the % loss due to washing is _________________ loss.
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27) The wash screen must be protected by a __________ to a __________cover sieve.
28) The sieve and cover sieve should be inspected for cleanliness and serviceability
prior to the washing process. True False
29) Prior to starting the washing of the sample, the sample must have been
_____________ to a constant mass, cooled and ________________________.
30) When agitating the sample covered in water, you may remove any tools used in
the agitation process without rinsing them over the wash pan.
True False
31) While pouring the wash water over the nested sieves, it is permissible to transfer
all the aggregate to the cover sieve. True False
32) You must continue the washing process until the wash water is ____________________.
33) When finished with the washing process, it is allowable to leave materials in the
wash sieves. True False
34) After transferring all materials to the wash pan, if there is an excess of water in
the pan, it is permissible to pour the water directly down the sink. True False
Sieve Analysis
35) Prior to beginning a sieve analysis, the field sample must be reduced, ______________
to a constant mass, cooled, and ________________________.
36) Overloading of sieves may cause inaccurate results. True False
37) An overloaded sieve will typically have more than __________ layer of aggregate on
the sieving surface after sieving.
38) You can prevent the overloading of sieves by inserting __________________________
sieves, using _______________________ (frame) sieves, or by ___________________________
the sample into smaller portions before sieving.
39) When stacking a set of sieves, the ____________________ sized openings go on top and
progressively get ____________________ as the bottom of the stack is approached.
40) The sieving process may be accomplished by ______________ sieving or by the use of
a __________________________ shaker.
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41) Sieving should continue until less than _________ % by mass of the total sample
passes any sieve during __________ minute(s) of continuous hand sieving.
42) It is permissible to force materials through a sieve by hand. True False
43) In checking the accuracy of the sieving process, the weight before sieving, and the
cumulative weight after sieving should not differ by more than __________ % if the
results are to be used for _____________________________ purposes.
44) For all sieves except the # 200 sieve, report the % passing to the nearest
__________________ number.
45) For the # 200 sieve, report the % passing to the nearest _________ % if the value is
10 or more and to the nearest _________ % if the value is less than 10.
46) The values for fineness modulus and dust ratio are reported to the nearest
__________.
Organic Impurities
47) This test is used to determine the presence of ____________________ organic
compounds.
48) When a sample subjected to this test produces a color ____________________ than the
standard color, it is advisable to perform the test for the _______________ of organic
impurities on the ____________________ of mortar.
49) Bottles are permitted to be light in color. True False
50) The Organic Color Plate # ___________ corresponds to the Gardner Color Standard
# 11 which is used as the color standard for this test.
51) The field sample should be reduced to approximately a _________ pound test
sample.
52) The test sample may be oven dried at 230°F prior to testing. True False
53) After placing the fine aggregate in the bottle to the __________ mL or __________ oz.
mark, a _________ % sodium hydroxide solution is added to fill the bottle to the
___________ mL or __________ oz. mark.
54) After filling the bottle with sodium hydroxide solution, the bottle is sealed,
____________________ and allowed to stand undisturbed for __________ hours.
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55) After the required standing time, the solution in the test bottle is compared to
either a standard color __________________________ or ____________________________.
56) If a standard color chart is used for comparison, the plate _____________________ of
the color ____________________ to the liquid color is recorded.
Moisture Content
57) Moisture content is the percentage of __________________________ moisture in
aggregates based on the dry weight of aggregate.
58) When drying a moisture sample, the depth of the sample in the container shall
not be greater than __________ of the smallest lateral dimension.
59) Alternate sources of heat are permissible as long as caution is exercised to
prevent degradation or loss due to exploding aggregates. True False
60) Stirring of aggregates while drying using a heat source other than an oven,
____________________________ drying and prevents ___________________________ heating.
61) After obtaining the ____________ weight of the sample, you must dry the sample to a
_____________________ mass at a temperature of ______________° F, cool the sample, and
record the _____________ weight.
62) Report moisture content to the nearest _____________ %.
Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity
63) Absorption is the increase in the ________________ of the rock due to the
___________________________ water in the _________________ of the rock.
64) The wire mesh basket used for weighing below water should have # __________ size
or smaller openings to prevent loss of aggregate.
65) The water bath should be maintained at __________ ± __________° F and be equipped
with an _______________________ to maintain a constant water level.
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66) When preparing a field sample for coarse aggregate SpG, the field sample must be
mixed and _______________________, oven _____________ to a constant mass,
_________________ and sieved over a # __________ screen. The sample is then washed
to remove _____________ coatings, covered with water and allowed to soak for
__________ to __________ hours.
67) Values for absorption and bulk specific gravity (SSD) may be significantly higher
for aggregate not dried before soaking. True False
68) After reaching SSD condition, it is permissible to wait for a while before obtaining
the SSD weight of the aggregate in air. True False
69) Prior to submerging a sample in the water bath, the water level should be filled to
overflowing and allowed to stabilize before zeroing out the basket in the water
bath. True False
70) When submerging a sample in the water bath, you should ___________________ the
basket to help prevent trapped air from causing an error in the test.
71) After obtaining the submerged weight of the aggregate, the aggregate must be
dried at ____________ ° F to a ____________________ mass, cooled, and then weighed.
72) The three weights needed to compute a coarse aggregate bulk specific gravity are
the _______________ weight, the _________________________ weight, and the
_______________weight.
Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity
73) Scales which read to the nearest __________ gram must be used in this test.
74) In preparation of the aggregate for a fine aggregate specific gravity test, the field
sample must be mixed and reduced to test size, _______________ dried to a constant
mass, sieved over a # __________ sieve, and soaked for __________ to __________ hours.
75) The fine aggregate sample must be washed prior to soaking. True False
76) A fine aggregate sample may be totally ________________________ in water or have a
minimum of __________ % water added to the sample to saturate the aggregate.
77) The approximate test sample size to obtain when running a fine aggregate
specific gravity test is _______________ grams.
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78) In the calibration of the pycnometer, the pycnometer must be filled with water at
__________ ± __________° F, by bringing the _________________ of the ______________________
to the calibration mark.
79) The _______________ test is typically used to determine when the aggregate reaches
the SSD condition during a fine aggregate specific gravity test.
80) The first trial of the cone test must indicate that there is _____________________
present on the surface of the fine aggregate; if not, you must add water to the
sample and permit the sample to stand covered in a container for __________
minutes.
81) To perform a cone test, you must fill the cone to ____________________________ with
aggregate, tamp the aggregate with __________ drops from a height of _________
inches above the aggregate surface, clear aggregate from around the
_______________, then vertically lift the cone and see what happens.
82) If the fine aggregate retains the molded shape after a cone test, then the sample’s
moisture status is ____________________ SSD condition.
83) If the fine aggregate flattens out of shape during a cone test, the aggregate is at
SSD condition. True False
84) When a material is at the SSD condition, the molded form should _______________
slightly when removing the cone.
85) After reaching SSD condition, the amount of SSD aggregate added to the
pycnometer should be ____________ ± _______ grams.
86) If using a companion sample to determine the dry weight of aggregate, it is
permissible to obtain the sample when finished with the test. True False
87) If using a companion sample, its’ weight must be within ± __________ grams of the
_____________ weight.
88) After the addition of the SSD aggregate to the pycnometer, you must fill the
pycnometer with water to approximately __________ % of its capacity.
89) Rolling, inverting, and agitation of the pycnometer __________________________ the
trapped ____________ in the pycnometer.
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90) After de-airing the sample, the pycnometer is brought to the proper temperature,
filled to the calibration mark with water and ________________________.
91) To determine the dry weight of the aggregate, you may use the sample from the
pycnometer, or use a companion sample. True False
92) The four weights needed for a fine aggregate specific gravity test are, the weight
of the pycnometer filled with _______________, the __________ weight of the aggregate,
the weight of the (_______________ + ________________ + _________________), and the
____________ weight of the aggregate.
93) Abbreviations are used as shorthand in specifying types of specific gravities.
________________ is used for bulk specific gravity, _______________ is used for apparent
specific gravity, and _________________ is used for bulk specific gravity (SSD).
94) In the formulas for computing specific gravity and absorption values for coarse
aggregates, __________ stands for the dry weight, __________ stands for the SSD
weight, and __________ stands for the submerged weight.
95) Specific gravity values are reported to the nearest ____________, and absorption
values are reported to the nearest _________ %.
96) The value obtained from the combining of multiple specific gravity values should
fall between the _________________ and the __________________ specific gravity values
used.
% Crushed Particles
97) The sample must be dried to a constant mass before testing. True False
98) The test for crushed particles is run on the _______________ fraction of the aggregate.
99) You must visually separate the particles into two piles of ____________________ and
______________________ pieces.
100) When determining the % of crushed particles, weigh the ___________________ pieces
and divide by the sample weight, then multiply by 100.
101) Report % crushed particles to the nearest _________ %
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% Deleterious Matter
102) Deleterious materials are anything which may be ____________________ to the
____________________ products.
103) Common deleterious materials include ______________ lumps, _______________ or
_______________, and ____________________ particles.
104) When separating out the coarse particles over the # 4 sieve, it is permissible to
break up any clay lumps found. True False
105) A non-glazed _________________ plate may be helpful in determining if there is shale
or slate present in the sample.
106) You must dry the sample to constant mass before testing. True False
107) The test is run by visually ___________________________ the particles into groups of
deleterious and non-deleterious particles.
108) Report the % deleterious materials to the nearest __________ %.
Specifications
109) To find all specifications and revisions for an ARDOT job, a quality control
technician should reference the ______________________ specifications,
______________________________ specifications, ____________________ provisions, and the
job __________________.
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