‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ‫‪ATOOMUS‬‬ ‫‪1‬‬

‫العتوم‬
 Bulk Density , Specific Gravity &Water
Absorption Of Fine &Coarse
Aggregates:

Specific Gravity:
Introduction :
Specific gravity define as the ratio of the weight of given
volume of material to the weight of an equal volume of
material to the weight of an equal volume of water.usually,
water is used as the base with a specific gravity of (1.0) . in
concrete mix design calculation the saturated surface–dry
specific gravity is used .

Definition :
Saturated, surface-dry specific gravity : is the ratio of the
weight of agiven volume of material in a satyrated
Gssd = Assd/(Assd-W)
Where :
Gssd : the saturated surface-dry gravity .
Assd : the weight (in g ) of saturated surface-dry
aggregates sample in air .
W : weight ( in g ) of aggregate in water .

1. apparent (G.s) :
the ratio of apparent volume of material in a dry
condition to the weight of an equal volume of water .
Gapp = Ad/(Assd-W)
Where :
Gapp : the apparent specific gravity of a material.
Ad : weight ( in g ) of sample, oven dry; in air .
2. absolute ( G.s ) :

‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ATOOMUS 2

‫العتوم‬
 is the ratio of weight of absolute volume of the
material in a dry condition to the weight of an equal
volume of water .
Gabs = Ad/(Ad-W)
Where :
Gabs : the absolute specific gravity of the material .
-Surface moisture : a measure of free or surface .
-moisture on aggregate surface.SM% = ( wt. Of
surface moisture/ssd)x100 % .
3. unit weight :
4. is the weight of aggregate in agiven volume .
unit Wt. = weight of aggregate / given volume .

FINE AGGREGATE :
A- Bulk denisty :
Objective:
To determine the un compacted bulk density of fine .
Standard:
B.S. B12-1967
Apparatus:
1-A cylindrical metal container of nominal capacity.
2-A scale or balance accurate to 0.2%of the weight of
the material to be used.
3-A straight metal tamping rod.

B- Specific Gravity &Water Absorption Of Fine &Coarse

Aggregates

Objective:
1.To determine the specific gravity & water absorption for
fine smaller than ( 4.76 mm) .
2.To compare those results with the standard &needed
results.
‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ATOOMUS 3
‫العتوم‬
Standard:
B.S. B12-1967
Apparatus:
1-A balance of capacity not less than 3 kg, accurate to
0.5gr and of such a type that permit the weighting of
the vessel containing the aggregate & water.
2-A wide mouthed glass vessel such as a gas gar of
about 1% liters capacity with a flat ground lip and a
plane ground disc of plate glass to cover it, giving
virtually water-tight fit.
3-A means of supplying a current of warm air such as
hair drier.
4-A try of area not less than 325 cm2.
5-An air tight container large enough to take the
sample.
6-A container of size sufficient to contain the sample
covered with water and to permit vigorous agitation
without loss of any part of the sample or water.
7-A No 200(75microns) BS sieve & A NO 14 (1.20
mm) BS sieve.
Calculation:

Bulk density = ( mass of aggregate )/(volume of aggregate )

1. mass of container + plate = 3420 g .
2. mass of container + plate + water = 6213 g
3. mass of container + plate + fine aggregate = 7360 g .
4. VH2O = W2-W1 =2793 g .
5. weight of aggregate = W3-W1 = 3940 g .
------- bulk density = 3940/2793 = 1.411
Kg/m3

‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ATOOMUS 4

‫العتوم‬
 COARSE AGGREGATE :
A-Bulk denisty :
Objective:
To determine the un compacted bulk density of coarse
aggregate the test sall be carried as work as in the
process of the bulk density determination of fine
aggregate, except that :
Two cylindrical metal container sall be used .
B-Specific Gravity &Water Absorption Of Fine
&Coarse Aggregates
Objective:
To determine the specific gravity & water absorption for
fine larger than ( 9.5 mm ) .
Standard:
BS 812-1967
Apparatus:
. A semi-automatic balance capable of weight up to 5 Kg .
. A seamless bucket shaped container .
. A 16 mm diameter metal stirring rod .
. Distilled water .
An air-tight container of similar capacity to the bucket .
Calculation:

Bulk density = ( mass of aggregate )/(volume of aggregate )

6. mass of container + plate = 3420 g .
7. mass of container + plate + water = 6213 g
8. mass of container + plate + fine aggregate = 6843 g .
9. VH2O = W2-W1 =2793 g .
10. weight of aggregate = W3-W1 = 2423 g .

------- bulk density = 3940/2793 = 1.23

Kg/m3

‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ATOOMUS 5

‫العتوم‬
Final Calculation:

Bulk unit weight :

fine Coarse
Wt.of agg. g 3940 3423
Vol. Of given cc 2793 2793
container
Bulk unit wt. Kg/m3 1.411 1.23

Specific gravity & water absorption :

FINE COARSE
Wt. Of SSD sample A g 533 2513
Wt. Of vessel +sample + water B g 3425 4628
Wt. Of vessel filled with water C g 3106 3106
Wt. Of oven-dried sample D g 506 2419
G.s on an oven-dried basis GD D/A-(B-C) 2.36 2.4
G.s on a SSD basis GSSD A/A-(B-C) 2.49 2.5
Apparentr G.s Gapp D/D-(B-C) 2.71 2.7
Water absorption W% 100(A-D)/D 5.34% 3.89%

‫مؤمن توفيق احمد‬ ATOOMUS 6

‫العتوم‬