Relative Density and

Absorption
 Aggregate Moisture

Dry SSD Wet

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 Absorption
MD
M AW
% Abs   100%
MD

MAW

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 Question

A 1-ft3 bucket holds

100 lb. of aggregate.
How much volume is
occupied by the air
and how much by the
aggregate particles?

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 Particle Density
Particle density is the ratio of the mass
of an aggregate particle to its own volume
(also called mass density of solids).

M

V

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 Relative Density
Relative density is the mass density
of an object relative to the mass density
of water (also called specific gravity).

 MV M
RD   
w w V  w

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 Relative Density
Relative density depends on the volume
you assume for the aggregate particles.

Net Bulk
Volume Volume
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 Apparent Relative Density

MD
RD A 
VN  w
Net volume

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 Bulk Relative Density

MD
RDB 
VB  w
Bulk volume

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 SSD Relative Density

MSSD
RDSSD 
VB  w
SSD aggregate

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 Example
An aggregate sample has an oven-dry mass of
3954.2 g, an SSD mass of 4006.8 g, and a net
volume of 1532.6 cm3.

Find RDA, RDB, RDSSD, and %Abs

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 Measuring Relative Density

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 Measuring Relative Density

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 Measuring Relative Density

M
RD 
V  w
mass of water displaced

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 Measuring Relative Density

Maggregate
RD 
Mwater displaced

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 Buoyancy

Mwater displaced × g

=
Min water × g
Min air × g

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 Measuring Relative Density

Mwater displaced  Min air  Min water

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 Apparent Relative Density

OD
M in air
RD A  OD
Min air  Min water
Net volume

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 Bulk Relative Density

OD
M in air
RDB  SSD
Min air  Min water
Bulk volume

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 SSD Relative Density

SSD
M in air
RDSSD  SSD
M in air  Min water
Bulk volume

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 Achieving an SSD State
Coarse aggregate should be soaked
in room temperature water for 24±4 h
then rolled in a large absorbent cloth to
remove all visible surface moisture.

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 Achieving an SSD State
Fine aggregate should be brought to
a moisture content of at least 6% and
allowed to stand for 24±4 h. Aggregate
is then spread out on a nonabsorbent
surface and air is blown across it until
it attains a free flowing condition.

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 Achieving an SSD State

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