Experiment No.
DIVES INTO THE CONCEPT OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF
AGGREGATES
Basically, specific gravity compares the weight of a certain amount
of material to the weight of the same amount of water. However, this
definition can change depending on what we're looking at and why. In
concrete work, the term "specific gravity" usually refers to the
density of the individual aggregate particles, not the whole batch.
The most common definition used for concrete aggregate considers the
bulk volume of the individual aggregate in a saturated surface dry
(SSD) condition. We also talk about bulk (oven-dry) specific gravity
and apparent specific gravity, which are used less often. The solid
unit weight of an aggregate, typically in pounds per cubic foot (pcf),
is usually calculated by multiplying the specific gravity by 62.4 pcf
(the density of water).
Absorption capacity is how much water an aggregate can soak up. We
figure this out by comparing the weight of the aggregate when it's
saturated surface dry (SSD) and when it's completely oven-dried. The
difference in these weights, expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry
weight, is the absorption capacity. For coarse aggregates, we consider
them SSD when they've been soaked in water for a good amount of time
(over 24 hours) and then wiped clean of any visible water films with a
cloth. For fine aggregates, the SSD condition is usually when a
previously wet sample just starts to flow freely.
Objective:
This test method is all about finding the specific gravity and
absorption of coarse and fine aggregates.
Referenced Documents:
* ASTM C 127, C 136, C 70, C 702
* AASHTO T 85
Here's a breakdown of the equipment and sample preparation for
determining the specific gravity and absorption of aggregates:
Apparatus:
For Coarse Aggregate, you'll need:
* A balance that can accurately measure to 0.01 lb or gram
* A wire mesh basket
* A drying oven
* A 3/8" sieve
* A water tank
For Fine Aggregate, you'll need:
* A balance that can accurately measure to 0.01 lb or gram.
* A 500 ml Chapman Flask.
* A dryer.
* A drying oven.
Preparation of Sample (for Coarse Aggregate):
1. Make sure the aggregate sample is well mixed. Then, reduce it to
the required test size using a method like quartering or a
mechanical shaker.
2. Get rid of any material that passes through a 4.75 mm (No. 4)
sieve. Also, wash the remaining aggregate thoroughly to remove
any dust or other coatings from its surface.
3. The table below shows the minimum weight of the test sample
you'll need, depending on the nominal maximum size of the
aggregate:
Nominal Maximum Size Maximum Weight of Test
Mm (in) Sample kg (lb)
12.5 (1/2) or less 2 (4.4)
19.0 (3/4) 3 (6.6)
25.0 (1) 4 (8.8)
37.5 (1½) 5 (11)
50 (2) 8 (18)
63 (2½) 12 (26)
75 (3) 18 (40)
90 (3½) 25 (55)
100 (4) 40 (88)
112 (4½) 50 (110)
125 (5) 75 (165)
150 (6) 125 (276)
Procedure: For Coarse Aggregate
1. Dry the test sample in an oven at a temperature of 110 ± 5°C
(230 ± 9°F) until it reaches a constant weight. This means that
further drying doesn't change its weight anymore.
2. Let the dried aggregate cool down in air at room temperature for
1 to 3 hours, or until it's cool enough to handle (around 50°C or
less). Then, weigh the cooled, dry aggregate.
3. Soak the aggregate in water for a period of 24 ± 4 hours.
4. Take out approximately 5 kg of the saturated coarse aggregate
that was retained on a 3/8" sieve (this is the preferred size).
5. Remove any excess water from the surface of the aggregate to get
it to a saturated surface-dry (SSD) condition. You can use a
towel for this. Be careful not to let water evaporate from the
pores within the aggregate during this process. Gentle blowing
with air might help.
6. Immediately weigh the SSD aggregate in air to the nearest 1 gram.
Do this quickly to prevent water from evaporating. Let's call
this weight 'B'.
7. To find the sample's weight in water (value C), first put it in
the wire mesh basket. Submerge the basket and sample in water
that is 23.7°C (73.43°F). Vigorously shake the container
underwater to eliminate any air pockets before weighing. For an
accurate result, subtract the weight of the submerged empty
basket from the total weight you measure.
8. Take the wet aggregate sample and dry it completely in an oven
set at 110 ± 5°C (230 ± 9°F). Leave it in the oven overnight.
After drying, let the aggregate cool down in the open air at room
temperature for 1 to 3 hours, or until it's cool enough to handle
comfortably (around 50°C). Once cooled, weigh the dry aggregate
and record this weight as (A).
9. Using the data you've collected (A, B, and C), calculate the
following three types of specific gravity and the absorption, as
defined by the formulas below:
(1) Bulk Specific Gravity (Dry) = A divided by (B minus C)
(2) Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) = B divided by (B minus C)
(3) Apparent Specific Gravity = A divided by (A minus C)
(a) Absorption (%) = (B minus A) divided by A, then multiplied by 100
What the letters mean:
A = the weight of your sample after being completely dried in the
oven (in grams)
B = the weight of your sample that is saturated surface-dry (meaning
it's wet on the inside but dry on the surface) weighed in air (in
grams)
C = the weight of your sample when it's underwater (in grams)
Procedure: For Fine Aggregate
1. Get about 4 kilograms of fine aggregate that has been dried in
air. (All lab groups will work together on this step).
2. Prepare the fine aggregate so it's in a Saturated Surface-Dry
(SSD) condition, following your instructor's directions.
3. Each lab group will take approximately 500 grams of the SSD
aggregate. Weigh this precisely and record the exact weight as
(D).
4. Fill a Chapman Flask up to the 450 ml mark with water and weigh
it. Record this weight in grams as (B). The water temperature
should be around 23 ± 1.5°C (73 ± 3°F).
5. Empty the water from the flask down to about the 200 ml mark.
Then, add your SSD aggregate to the flask. Fill the flask with
more water up to almost the 450 ml mark.
6. Gently roll the flask on a flat surface to remove any air
bubbles. Then, carefully add more water until the flask is
exactly at the 450 ml mark. Weigh the flask with the SSD
aggregate and the water. Record this total weight in grams as
(C).
7. Pour all the contents of the flask (water and aggregate) into a
pan and place it in an oven to dry. You can use additional tap
water to rinse out any remaining aggregate from the flask into
the pan. Let the aggregate dry in the oven for 24 hours or as
long as it takes to become completely dry. Once dry, weigh the
oven-dry aggregate and record this weight as (A).
8. Using the data you've collected (A, B, C, and D), calculate the
specific gravities and absorption using the formulas defined
below:
(1) Apparent Specific Gravity = A divided by (B plus D minus C)
(2) Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) = D divided by (B plus D minus C)
(3) Bulk Specific Gravity (Oven-Dry) = A divided by (B plus D minus
C)
(4) Absorption (%) = (D minus A) divided by A, then multiplied by
100
Procedure:
The picture illustrates the step of weighing 1000 grams of both fine
and coarse aggregate.
Dry the test sample to a constant weight at a temperature of 110 ± 5°C
(230 ± 9°F) for Fine and Coarse Aggregate.
Cool in air at room temperature 15 mins, or until the aggregate has
cooled to a temperature that is comfortable to handle (approximately
50°C) and weigh.
Soak aggregate under water for 15 mins.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION DATA SHEET
Fine Aggregate:
ITEM WEIGHT
Oven Dry Weight 910g
SSD Weight in Air 1000g
Weight of Pyc. Water 1097g
Coarse Aggregate:
ITEM WEIGHT
Oven Dry Weight 1082g
SSD Weight in Air 1000g
Weight of Pyc. Water 1147g
RESULTS
This table shows the calculated results for both the coarse and fine
aggregate samples:
COURSE FINE
Apparent Specific 16.646g 4.866g
Gravity
Bulk Specific Gravity 7.361g 9.3814g
(Dry)
Bulk Specific Gravity 6.8027g 10.309g
(SSD)
Absorption 0.07579g 0.0989g
DOCUMENTATION
Conclusion:
Specific Gravity:
* Apparent Specific Gravity: The apparent specific gravity, which
considers only the solid volume of the aggregate particles (excluding
any permeable voids), was found to be 16.646 for the coarse aggregate
and 4.866 for the fine aggregate.
* Bulk Specific Gravity (Dry): The bulk specific gravity based on the
oven-dry weight and the bulk volume (including permeable voids) was
7.361 for the coarse aggregate and 9.3814 for the fine aggregate.
* Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD): The bulk specific gravity based on the
saturated surface-dry weight and the bulk volume was 6.8027 for the
coarse aggregate and 10.309 for the fine aggregate.
Absorption:
* The absorption capacity, which indicates the amount of water the
aggregate can absorb, was 0.07579 for the coarse aggregate and 0.0989
for the fine aggregate. If these values are intended to be
percentages, then the coarse aggregate absorbed approximately 7.58% of
its dry weight in water, and the fine aggregate absorbed approximately
9.89%.
Observations and Considerations:
* Higher Specific Gravity for Coarse Aggregate (Apparent): The
significantly higher apparent specific gravity for the coarse
aggregate compared to the fine aggregate might suggest differences in
the mineral composition or density of the solid particles themselves.
* Higher Bulk Specific Gravity for Fine Aggregate: The fine aggregate
exhibited higher bulk specific gravity values (both dry and SSD)
compared to the coarse aggregate. This could be due to a higher
proportion of solid material within the bulk volume of the fine
aggregate, potentially related to particle shape and packing.
* Higher Absorption for Fine Aggregate: The fine aggregate showed a
higher absorption capacity than the coarse aggregate. This is a common
observation as fine aggregates generally have a larger surface area to
volume ratio, leading to greater water retention within their pores.
Important Note on Units:
As mentioned previously, the results table provides specific gravity
and absorption values with the unit "g" (grams), which is not standard
for these properties. Specific gravity is a dimensionless ratio, and
absorption is typically expressed as a percentage. It's crucial to
verify if there was a mistake in recording the units or if these
values represent something else. If the absorption values were meant
to be percentages, they would be 7.579% and 9.89% for coarse and fine
aggregates, respectively. The specific gravity values should ideally
be unitless.
In conclusion, this experiment allowed for the determination of key
physical properties of the coarse and fine aggregates, which are
crucial for assessing their suitability in concrete mixtures. The
differences observed in specific gravity and absorption highlight the
distinct characteristics of the two aggregate types. However, the
unusual units in the results warrant further clarification.
