1.

TESTS ON AGGREGATES
AIM:
To find out the bulk density, particle size distribution (using sieve analysis) and specific gravity
of fine and coarse aggregates.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. Bulk Density (IS 2386 Part 3)
(i)

Weighing Balance

(ii)

Cylindrical Metal Measure - The measure shall be of 3, 15 or 30 liters capacity

and shall comply with the requirements given below.

(iii)

Size of largest particle

4.75mm and under
Over 4.75 mm to 40mm

Nominal capacity
3 liters
15 liters

Over 40mm

30 liters

Tamping Rod

2. Sieve Analysis (IS 2386 Part 1)

(i)

Weighing Balance

(ii)

Set of IS Sieves of sizes 80mm, 63mm, 50mm, 40mm, 31.5mm, 25mm, 20mm,
16mm, 12.5mm, 10mm, 6.3mm, 4.75mm, 3.35mm, 2.36mm, 1.18mm, 600m,
300m, 150m and 75m.

3. Specific Gravity (IS 2386 Part 3)

Coarse aggregates:

(i)

A balance or scale of capacity not less than 3 kg, readable and accurate to 0.5 g
and of such a type and shape as to permit the basket containing the sample to be
suspended from the beam and the weighed in water.

(ii)

A well ventilated oven thermostatically controlled to maintain a temperature of

100 oC to 110 oC.

(iii)

A wire basket of not more than 6.3 mm mesh or a perforated container of

convenient size.

(iv)

A stout water tight container of convenient size.

(v)

Two dry soft absorbent cloths each not less than 7545 cm

(vi)

A shallow tray of area no less than 650 cm2

(vii)

An air tight container of capacity similar to that of the basket.

Fine aggregates:
(i)

A balance of capacity not less than 3kg ,readable and accurate to 0.5 g and of such
a type as to permit the weighing of the vessel containing the aggregate and water .

(ii)

A well ventilated oven to maintain a temperature of 100 C to 110 C.

(iii)

Pyconometer of about 1 liter capacity having a metal conical screw top with a
6mm hole at its apex. The screw top shall be water tight.

(iv)

A means supplying a current warm air.

(v)

A tray of area not less than 32 cm.

(vi)

An air tight container large enough to take the sample.

(vii)

Filter papers and funnel.

THEORY:

1. Bulk Density
It is the mass of the unit volume of bulk aggregate material. The term volume includes
the volume of the individual particle and the volume of the voids between the particles.
Bulk density is used in weight as well as volume batching.
Bulk Density depends upon how densely the aggregate is packed. It also depends upon
the size, distribution and shape of the particles. If particles are of the same size then they
can be packed to a limited extent but when smaller particles are added, the voids get
filled with them and thus the bulk density increases. For a coarse aggregate a higher bulk
density means that there are few voids which are to be filled by the fine aggregate and
cement. Hence bulk density also depends upon the degree of packing.

2. Sieve Analysis
Sieve analysis helps to determine the particle size distribution of the coarse and fine
aggregates. The sieve analysis determines the gradation (the distribution of aggregate
particles, by size, within a given sample) in order to determine compliance with design,
production control requirements, and verification specifications. The gradation data may
be used to calculate relationships between various aggregate or aggregate blends, to
check compliance with such blends, and to predict trends during production by plotting
gradation curves graphically, to name just a few uses. Used in conjunction with other
tests, the sieve analysis is a very good quality control and quality acceptance tool.
3. Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is a measure of a materials density (mass per unit volume) as compared
to the density of water at 73.4F (23C). Therefore, by definition, water at a temperature
of 73.4F (23C) has a specific gravity of 1.

Aggregate specific gravity is used in a number of applications including Mix design,

deleterious particle identification and separation and material property change
identification.
PROCEDURE:
1. Bulk Density
(i)

Take the weight of empty measure (W1).

(ii)

Fill the measure with aggregates sample for about one third height and tam evenly
with 25 strokes of the rounded end of the tamping rod

(iii)

Add a similar quantity of aggregate as second layer and tamp it evenly with 25
strokes.

(iv)

Fill the measure with a third layer of aggregate up to over following and tamp it
with 25 strokes.

(v)

Strike off the surplus aggregate using the tamping rod as a straight edge.

(vi)

Take the weight (W2).

(vii)

Empty the measure and fill it again to over flowing by means of a shovel, the
aggregate being discharged from a height not exceeding 5 cm above the top of the
measure.

(viii)

Level the surface of the measure and weight it.

2. Sieve Analysis
Sample - The test sample shall be selected from material which has been thoroughly
mixed and which contains sufficient moisture to prevent segregation. A representative
sample, sufficient to yield not less than the appropriate weight of dried material, as shown
below, shall be selected:
Maximum Size of Aggregate (mm)

Minimum Weight of Sample (g)

4.75

500

10

2000

20

2500

40 or over

5000

The test sample is dried to a constant weight at a temperature of 110 5 o C and

(i)

weighed.
(ii)

The sample is sieved by using a set of IS Sieves.

(iii)

On completion of sieving, the material on each sieve is weighed.

(iv)

Cumulative weight passing through each sieve is calculated as a percentage of the

total sample weight.

(v)

Fineness modulus is obtained by adding cumulative percentage of aggregates retained

on each sieve and dividing the sum by 100.

3. Specific Gravity
Coarse aggregate:
(i)

Take 2 kg of aggregate. Sample larger than 10mm

(ii)

Wash the sample thoroughly to remove finer particle and dust.

(iii)

Place the sample in a wire basket and immerse it in distilled water at a

temperature between 22 oC and 32 oC with a cover of at least 5 cm of water above
the top of the basket.

(iv)

Remove the entrapped air by lifting the basket containing the sample 25 mm
above the base of the tank and allowing it to drop per second, care being taken to
see that the sample is completely immersed in water during the operation.

(v)

Weigh the sample in water at a temperature of 22 oC to 32 oC (W1).

(vi)

Remove the basket and aggregate from water and allow it to drain for a few
minutes.

(vii)

Empty the aggregate from the basket to a shallow tray.

(viii)

Immerse the empty basket in water jolt 25 times and then weigh in water (W2).

(ix)

Place the aggregates in oven at a temperature of 100 oC to 110 oC for 24 0.5

hours.

(x)

Remove it from the oven and cool it and find the weight (W3).

Fine aggregate:
(i)

Take about 500g of sample and place it in the pyconometer.

(ii)

Pour distilled water into it until it is full.

(iii)

Eliminate the entrapped air by rotating the pyconometer on its side, the hole in the
apex of the cone being covered with a finger.

(iv)

Wipe out the outer surface of pyconometer and weigh it (W1)

(v)

Transfer the contents of the pyconometer into a tray, care being taken to ensure
that all the aggregate is transferred.

(vi)

Refill the pyconometer with distilled water to the same level.

(vii)

Find out the weight (W2)

(viii)

Drink water from the sample through a filter paper.

(ix)

Place the sample in oven in a tray at a temperature of 100C to 110 C for 240.5
hours, during which period, it is stirred occasionally to facilitate drying.

(x)

Cool the sample and weigh it (W3).

RESULTS:
1. (i)

(a) Bulk density of the fine aggregate (loose state) =

(b) Percentage of voids in fine aggregate (loose state) =

(ii)

(a) Bulk density of the fine aggregate (compacted state) =

(b) Percentage of voids in fine aggregate (compacted state) =

(iii)

(a) Bulk density of the coarse aggregate (loose state) =

(b) Percentage of voids in coarse aggregate (loose state) =

(iv)

(a) Bulk density of the coarse aggregate (compacted state) =

(b) Percentage of voids in coarse aggregate (compacted state) =

2. (i) Specific gravity of fine aggregate =

(ii) Specific gravity of coarse aggregate =
INFERENCE:
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION:
1. Bulk Density
Sample State

Sample
Type

Weight of

Volume of

Weight of

Weight of

Bulk

container

container

container

aggregate

density

Weight of
aggregate

LOOSE
COMPACTED

(W1)

(V)

(kg)

(m3)

(W2)
(kg)

(W=W2-W1)
(kg)

(kg/m3)

Fine
Coarse
Fine
Coarse

Bulk Density,

W/V (kg/m3)

Percentage of Voids = 100 x (Gs-)/Gs where Gs = Specific gravity of the aggregate

2. Sieve Analysis
S.
No

OBSERVATIONS
IS Sieve

Size of
opening

CALCULATIONS

Mass of
soil
retained

Percentage Cumulative % finer

retained
% retained

Coarse Fraction (Part-I)

80 mm

80 mm

40 mm

40 mm

20 mm

20 mm

10 mm

10 mm

4.75 mm

4.75 mm

Fine Fraction (Part-II)

2 mm

2 mm

1 mm

1 mm

600

0.600 mm

425

0.425 mm

300

0.300 mm

212

0.212 mm

150

0.150 mm

75

0.075 mm

Pan

3. Specific Gravity
Coarse Aggregate:
Weight of the sample in water (W1) =
Weight of the empty basket in water (W2) =
Weight of oven dried sample (W3) =
Apparent Specific Gravity = W3/(W3- (W1-W2))
Fine Aggregate:
Weight of pyconometer + sample + water (W1) =
Weight of pyconometer + water (W2) =
Weight of oven dried sample (W3) =
Apparent Specific Gravity = W3/(W3- (W1-W2))