Flakiness Index and Elongation Index of Coarse Aggregate

1. Introduction:
1.1 Flakiness Index of Coarse Aggregate
Flaky is the term applied to aggregate or chippings that are flat and thin with respect to their
length or width. Aggregate particles are said to be flaky when their thickness is less than 0.6 of
their mean size. The flakiness index is found by expressing the weight of the flaky aggregate as a
percentage of the aggregate tested.
This method is based on the classification of aggregate particles as flaky when they have a
thickness (smallest dimension) of less than 0.6 of their mean sieve size, this size being taken as
the mean of the limiting sieve apertures used for determining the size fraction in which the
particle occurs. The flakiness index of an aggregate sample is found by separating the flaky
particles and expressing their mass as a percentage of the mass of the sample tested. The test is
not applicable to material passing a 6.30 mm BS test sieve or retained on a 63.0 mm BS test
sieve.
Flaky aggregate has less strength than cubical aggregate. There are a number of material and
aggregate specifications that have a maximum amount of flaky material allowed, such as surface
dressing chippings.
1.2 Elongation Index of Coarse Aggregate
This method is based on the classification of aggregate particles as elongated when they have a
length (greatest dimension) of more than 1.8 of their nominal size, this size being taken as the
mean of the limiting sieve apertures used for determining the size-fraction in which the particle
occurs.
The Elongation Index of an aggregate sample is found by separating the elongated particles and
expressing their mass as a percentage of the mass of the sample tested. The test is not applicable
to material passing a 6.30 mm BS test sieve or retained on a 50.0 mm BS test sieve.
2. Objectives:

Objectives of this tests are to determine the Flakiness Index and Elongation Index of
Coarse Aggregate.

3. Apparatus:
The following apparatus are required.
3.1 Apparatus for Flakiness Index
1) A sample divider, of size appropriate to the maximum particle size to be handled or
alternatively a flat shovel and a clean, flat, hard horizontal surface, e.g. a metal tray for use in
quartering.
2) A ventilated oven, thermostatically controlled to maintain a temperature of 1100 to 1050C.
3) A balance, or balances, of suitable capacity accurate to 0.1% of the mass of the test
portion.
Note: In general two balances, one of approximately 5 kg capacity accurate to 1 g and
the other of approximately 500 g capacity accurate to 0.1 g, will suffice. If aggregate
of larger than 28 mm nominal size is to be tested a balance of 50 kg capacity accurate
to 10 g will also be required.
4) Test sieves, of the sizes and apertures appropriate to the specification of the material

being tested, complying with BS 410 and with the appropriate sizes of lids and receivers.
Note: A set of sieves of the sizes and apertures given in Table 1 will cover most
applications of the method.
Table 1 Particulars of sieves
Nominal
aperture
sizes
(Square
hole
perforated
plate 450
mm or
300 mm
diameter)
mm

63.0

50.0

37.5

28.0

5) A mechanical sieve shaker (optional).

6) Trays, of suitable size, which can be heated in the ventilated oven without damage or
change in mass.
7) A metal thickness gauge, of the pattern shown in Figure 1 or similar, or special sieves
having elongated apertures. Special sieves for each aggregate size fraction shall have
elongated apertures of the dimensions shown in Figure 1 for the relevant size fraction.
The width and length of the apertures in the thickness gauge and in the sieves shall be
within the tolerances given in Table 2. The gauge shall be made from 1.5 mm thickness
sheet steel.

Figure 1 - Thickness gauge

Table 2 Data for determination of flakiness index
Aggregate size-fraction
BS test sieve nominal aperture size

Width of slot in
thickness gauge or
special sieve

Minimum mass for

subdivision

100 % passing

100 % retained

mm

mm

mm

kg

63.0

50.0

33.9 0.3

50

50.0

37.5

26.3 0.3

35

37.5

28.0

19.7 0.3

15

28.0

20.0

14.4 0.15

20.0

14.0

10.2 0.15

14.0

10.0

7.2 0.1

10.0

6.3

4.9 0.1

0.5

3.2 Apparatus for Elongation Index

1. A sample divider, of size appropriate to the maximum particle size to be handled or
alternatively a flat shovel and a clean, flat, hard horizontal surface, e.g. a metal tray for use in
quartering.

2. A ventilated oven, thermostatically controlled to maintain a temperature of 1100 to 1050C.

3. A balance, or balances, of suitable capacity accurate to 0.1% of the mass of the test
portion.
Note: In general two balances, one of approximately 5 kg capacity accurate to 1 g and
the other of approximately 500 g capacity accurate to 0.1 g, will suffice. If aggregate
of larger than 28 mm nominal size is to be tested a balance of 50 kg capacity accurate
to 10 g will also be required.
4. Test sieves, of the sizes and apertures appropriate to the specification of the material being
tested, complying with BS 410 for square hole perforated plate and with the appropriate sizes
of lids and receivers.
Note: A set of sieves of the sizes and apertures given in Table 1 will cover most
applications of the method.
5. A mechanical sieve shaker (optional).
6. Trays, of suitable size, which can be heated in the ventilated oven without damage or
change in mass.
7. Metal length gauge, of pattern shown in Figure 2.
Note: The incorporation of a hardwood base is not mandatory; other durable
materials may be used to form a stable base for the metal length gauge.

4. Procedure:

Figure 2 Metal length gauge

4.1 Procedure for determination of Flakiness Index

1. The sample was reduced by the procedures described in clause 6 of BS 812-102:1989 to

produce a test portion that complies with Table 3 with due allowance for the later rejection of
particles retained on a 63.0 mm test sieve and passing a 6.30 mm test sieve.
2. The test portion was dried by heating at a temperature of 105 50 C to achieve a dry mass
which was constant to within 0.1 %. It was allowed to cool and weighed.
Table 3 Minimum mass of test portion
Nominal
size of
material

Minimum
mass of test
portion after
rejection of
oversize and
under size
particles

mm

kg

50

35

40

15

28

20

14

10

0.5

3. A sieve analysis was carried out accordance with clause 7.3 of BS 812-103.1:1985 using the
sieves given in Table 1 of that standard. All the aggregates retained on the 63.0 mm test sieve
and all aggregate passing the 6.30 mm test sieve were discarded.
4. Each of the individual size fractions retained on the test sieves, other than the 63.0 mm
were weighed and stored them in separate buckets with their size marked on the buckets.
Note: where the mass of any size-fraction is considered to be excessive, the fraction may be
subdivided by the methods described in clause 6 of BS 812-102:1989 provided that the mass
of the subdivided fraction is not less than half the appropriate mass given in Table 2. Under
such circumstances the rest of the procedure should be suitably modified and the appropriate
correction factor applied to determine the mass of flaky particles that would have been
obtained had the whole of the original size-fraction been gauged.
5. From the sums of masses of the fractions in the buckets (M1), the individual percentage
retained on each of the various test sieves was calculated. Any fraction whose mass was 5 %
or less of mass M1 was discarded and the remaining mass was recorded (M2).
6. Using the special sieve, the special sieve was selected appropriate to the size-fraction under
test. The whole of the size-fraction was placed into the sieve and shake the sieve until the
majority of the flaky particles have passed through the slots. Then the particles retained were
gauged by hand.
7. Using the gauge, the thickness gauge appropriate to the size fraction under test was selected
and each particle of that size-fraction was gauged separately by hand.
8. All the particles passing each of the gauges were combined and weighed(M3).
Note : If required, a flakiness index may be determined separately for individual size-fractions
by recording separately the masses of the individual size-fractions and the masses of each
size-fraction passing the appropriate gauges.
4.2 Procedure for determination of Elongation Index

1. The sample was reduced by the procedures described in clause 6 of BS 812-102:1989 to

produce a test portion that complies with Table 4 with due allowance for the later rejection of
particles retained on a 50.0 mm test sieve and passing a 6.30 mm test sieve.
2. The test portion was dried by heating at a temperature of 105 50 C to achieve a dry mass
which was constant to within 0.1 %. It was allowed to cool and weighed.
Table 4 Minimum mass of test portion
Nominal size
of material

Minimum
mass of test
portion after
rejection of
oversize and
under size
particles

mm

kg

40

15

28

20

14

10

0.5

3. A sieve analysis was carried out accordance with clause 7.3 of BS 812-103.1:1985 using
the sieves given in Table 5 of that standard. All the aggregates retained on the 50.0 mm test
sieve and all aggregate passing the 6.30 mm test sieve were discarded.
4. Each of the individual size fractions retained on the test sieves, other than the 50.0 mm
were weighed and stored them in separate buckets with their size marked on the buckets.
Note: where the mass of any size-fraction is considered to be excessive, the fraction may be
subdivided by the methods described in clause 6 of BS 812-102:1989 provided that the mass
of the subdivided fraction is not less than half the appropriate mass given in Table 2. Under
such circumstances the rest of the procedure should be suitably modified and the appropriate
correction factor applied to determine the mass of flaky particles that would have been
obtained had the whole of the original size-fraction been gauged.
5. From the sums of masses of the fractions in the buckets (M1), the individual percentage
retained on each of the various test sieves was calculated. Any fraction whose mass was 5 %
or less of mass M1 was discarded and the remaining mass was recorded (M2).
6. Each fraction was gauged as follows. The length of the gauge appropriate to the size
fraction under test (see Table 5) was selected and each particle was gauged separately by hand.
Elongated particles were those whose greatest dimension prevents them from passing through
the gauge, and those were placed to one side.
7. All the elongated particles were combined and weighed (M3).
Table 5 Data for determination of elongation index
Aggregate size-fraction
BS test sieve nominal aperture size
100 % passing

100 % retained

mm

mm

Gap between pins

of length gauge*

Minimum mass for

subdivision

mm

kg

50.0

37.5

78.7 0.3

35

37.5

28.0

59.0 0.3

15

28.0

20.0

43.2 0.3

20.0

14.0

30.6 0.3

14.0

10.0

21.6 0.2

10.0

6.3

14.7 0.2

0.5

* This dimension is equal to 1.8 times the mean test sieve size.

5. Calculations and result:

5.1 Flakiness Index of Coarse Aggregate

The value of the flakiness index is calculated from the expression:

Flakiness Index = M3 x 100
M2

The elongation index is expressed to the nearest whole number.

5.2 Elongation Index of Coarse Aggregate

The value of the elongation index is calculated from the expression:

Where;

Elongation Index = M3 x 100

M2

M2 is the sum of the masses of fractions that have a mass greater than 5 % of the total
mass.
M3 is the mass of all the elongated particles.

The elongation index is expressed to the nearest whole number.

6. Specimen Calculation:
6.1 Flakiness Index of Coarse Aggregate
Sieve size

Weights of samples (g)

Passing weight (g)

20 - 14

713.6

150.2

14 - 10

784.4

166.4

10 6.3

142.6

35.8

Total weight of samples

1640.6 (M2)

352.4 (M3)

Flakiness Index =

6.2 Elongation Index of Coarse Aggregate

Sieve size

Weights of samples (g)

Retained weight (g)

20 - 14

713.6

126.4

14 - 10

784.4

294.4

10 6.3

142.6

68.4

Total weight of samples

1640.6 (M2)

489.2 (M3)

Flakiness Index =