Specific gravity

: Introduction
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a
substance to the density ( mass of the same unit volume
) of water . As it is a ratio of densities, is a dimensionless
quantity. Specific gravity varies with temperature and
pressure .

Relative density ( Specific Gravity ) is the characteristic

generally used for calculation of the volume occupied by
the aggregate in various mixtures containing aggregate ,
including Portland cement concrete , bituminous concrete
and other mixture that are proportioned or analyzed on an
absolute volume basis .
Its important as it is used to determine the volume or the
mass of aggregate , also it important factor in concrete
mix design procedure .

There are many type of specific gravity :

Specific gravity(S): defined as the ratio between the
specific weights of a sample to the specific weights of
water
Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) : the ratio of the weight in
air of a unit volume of aggregate, including the weight of

water within the voids filled to the weight in air of an equal

volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.
Bulk specific gravity : the ratio of the weight in air of a
unit volume of aggregate (including the permeable and
impermeable voids in the particles, but not including the
voids between particles) at a stated temperature to the
weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water
at a stated temperature.
Apparent specific gravity : the ratio of the weight in air
of a unit volume of the impermeable portion of aggregate
at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal
volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.
Absorption :the increase in the weight of aggregate due
to water in the pores of the material, but not including
water adhering to the outside surface of the particles . the
aggregate is considered "dry" when it has been
maintained at a temperature of 110 5 C for sufficient
time to remove all uncombined water .
SSD : saturated , surface dry . the condition in which the
aggregate has been soaked in water and has absorbed
water into its pore spaces . The excess , free surface
moisture has been removed so that the particles are still
saturated , but the surface of the particle is essentially dry
.

Objective :
1- Determining bulk specific gravity , bulk SSD specific
gravity , apparent specific gravity and absorption of
coarse aggregate sample .
2- Determining bulk specific gravity , bulk SSD specific
gravity , apparent specific gravity and absorption of fine
aggregate sample .

3- Determining bulk specific gravity , bulk SSD specific

gravity , apparent specific gravity and absorption of any
compination aggregate sample .

Data , Calculation and Result :

Coarse aggregate :
A: weight of sample in air at dry condition = 2673.8 g .
B: weight of sample in air at SSD condition = 2730.9 g .
C: weight of sample in water at saturate condition =
1742.21 g.
Calculation :
bulk SG = A/( B C ) = 2673.8/( 2730.9 1742.21 ) =
2.704
bulk SG (SSD) = B / ( B C ) = 2730.9/( 2730.9 1742.21 )
= 2.762
Apparent SG = A / ( A C ) = 2673.8/( 2673.8 1742.21 )
= 2.870
Absorption % = (( B A )/A)100% = ( 2730.9
2673.8 )/2673.8 = 2.14%

Fine aggregate :
A : weight of sample in air at dry condition = 271.1 g .
B : weight of pycnometer filled with water to mark =
1059.1 g .
S : weight of SSD sample in air = 285.5 g .
C : weight of pycnometer with sample and water to mark
= 1212.6 g .
scCalculation :
bulk SG =
2.053

A
B+S-C

bulk SG (SSD) =

271.1
1059.1 285.5 1212.6

S
B S C

285.5
1059.1 285.5 1212.6

= 2.163

Apparent SG =

Absorption % =

A
B Ac

271.1
1059.1 271.1 1212.6

SA
* 100%
A

= 2.305

285.5 271.1
* 100%
271.1

= 5.311%

To calculate combined Specific Gravity G =

100
P1 P 2 P3

...
G1 G 2 G3

where : P1,P2,P3 : percentage by weight of aggregate

No. 1,2,3 etc .
G1,G2,G3 : specific gravity of aggregate No.
1,2,3 etc .

Discussion and Conclusion :

Specific gravity one of most important physical property of

aggregates , and as aggregates are used in construction
material , its very important to determine it .
Aggregate specific gravity is needed to determine weightto-volume relationships and to calculate various volumerelated quantities such as voids in mineral aggregate
(VMA), and voids filled by asphalt (VFA). Absorption can be
used as an indicator of aggregate durability as well as the
volume of asphalt binder it is likely to absorb .
Several different types of specific gravity are commonly
used depending upon how the volume of water permeable
voids (or pores) within the aggregate are addressed .
It is naturally to have different value of specific gravity to
one sample , because various water content of sample ,
and while water content increase weight will increase ,
then specific gravity increase , ( Bulk Specific gravity
Gravity Bulk Specific gravity (SSD) Apparent
Specific Gravity ) .
Test calculations of coarse aggregates gave results that
agrees this relation where bulk SG ( 2.07 ) was the
smallest value , and the mean value was bulk SG (SSD)
( 2.762 ) , Also apparent value was the largest value ( 2.87
).
Also, calculations of fine aggregates gave results that
agrees this relation where bulk SG ( 2.053 ) was the
smallest value , and the mean value was bulk SG (SSD)
( 2.163 ) , Also apparent value was the largest value
( 2.305 ) .
Absorption percentage of coarse aggregate equal
( 2.14% ) , while it equal ( 5.311% ) for fine aggregate ,

this shows that the fines aggregate ability to absorb water

larger than coarse aggregates .

Certainly, the accuracy of all measurements is important.

The determination of SSD conditions can be difficult. If the
sample is actually still wet on the surface then the mass of
the SSD sample will be higher than it ought to be , which
will a larger bulk specific gravity than true value .
Conversely, if the sample is beyond SSD and some of the
pore water has evaporated, the mass of the SSD sample
will be lower than it ought to be, which will give a smaller
bulk specific gravity than true value .
Error causes :
1- Saturated degree one of main condition that effect on
specific gravity, it effect on all type of SG .
2- Sample losses during experiment surely effect on
calculations , and make high error .
3- Water cleanliness , impurities increases aggregate
weight .