EXP NO 3

DATE: 12 Feb 2015

TESTS ON AGGREGATES 1

AIM:
To determine the following properties of coarse and fine aggregates
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Specific Gravity
Bulk Density and % of voids
Water Absorption Capacity
Flakiness Index
Elongation Index
Angularity Number
Bulking of Sand
Particle Size Distribution/Gradation

TEST-1 SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Specific Gravity of aggregates is often considered as a measure of strength and durability/quality
of aggregates. It also helps to identify the type of stone.
Specific Gravity is the ratio of unit weight of solids to unit weight of water at 4
C. BIS 2386 (Part3) pertains to the procedure of test for Specific Gravity.

Apparatus:
1. Pycnometer
2. Weighing Balance
3. Oven
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Procedure:
1. A sample of saturated surface dry fine aggregate of weight (C) is taken and filled in the
pycnometer roughly about 2/3rd of the volume.
2. Distilled water shall be poured into it until it is full.
3. Wipe out the external surface of pycnometer and weigh it (A)
4. Transfer the contents of the pycnometer into a tray and the sample is to be oven dried for
24 hours at 100-110C
5. Refill the pycnometer with distilled water to the same level and weigh it (B).
6. The oven-dried sample is weighed (D).
Same procedure shall be followed for Coarse Aggregates also.
The Specific Gravity is calculated as S =

D
C( AB)

Observations:
CONTENT
A (g)
B (g)
C (g)
D (g)
Specific gravity =

FINE AGGREGATE
2067
1521
853
793

COARSE AGGREGATE
2138
1521
990.5
920

D
100
C( AB)

2.58

2.46

TEST 2 WATER ABSORPTION

Water Absorption of aggregates are a measure of strength, as more water absorption tends to
relate to more porosity of aggregates. Porous aggregates are often unsuitable, unless they are
found acceptable in hardness, impact test.
Water Absorption is expressed in percentage as water absorbed by aggregates to the dry weight
of aggregates
BIS 2386 (Part 3) pertains to the procedure of test for Water Absorption.
Apparatus:
1. Container
2. Weighing Balance
Procedure:
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1. The sample of minimum 2000g is taken and shall be immersed in water, After immersion,
the entrapped air in the aggregate shall be eliminated.
2. The aggregates shall remain immersed in water for a period of 24 + hours at
temperature 275C
3. Then the aggregates shall be drained out of water and shall be surface dried by a cloth.
the weight shall be recorded as A
4. The aggregates shall be placed in an oven at a temperature of 100 C to 110 C
5. The aggregate is taken out from the oven after 24 hours, cooled and weight shall be
recorded as B
Water absorption of fine aggregate is calculated as
AB
100
Water absorption WA % =
B
Observations:
A (g)
B (g
WA (%)

FINE AGGREGEATE
500
483
3.52

COARSE AGGREGATE
1000
990.5
0.96

TEST 3 - BULK DENSITY AND % VOIDS

Bulk density of aggregates is the mass of aggregates required to fill the container of a unit
volume after aggregates are batched based on volume.
It depends on the packing of aggregate i.e. Either loosely packed aggregates or well dense
compacted aggregates. In case, if the specific gravity of material is known, then it depends on
the shape and size of particles. It is because, if all the particles are of same size than packing
can be done up to a very limited extent. If the addition of smaller particles is possible within the
voids of larger particles than these smaller particles enhance the bulk density of the packed
material. Shape of the particles also influence very widely, because closeness particles depends
on the shape of aggregates. BIS 2386 (Part3) pertains to the procedure of Bulk Density test

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Apparatus:
1. Cylindrical Vessel/ Container
2. Tamping Rod
3. Weighing Balance
Procedure:
1. The cylindrical vessel shall be filled with aggregates in three layers and tamp it 25 times
using tamping rod.
2. Finally fill aggregate in the metal measure to over-flowing and tamp it 25 times.
3. The weight of the compacted aggregate in the measure shall be recorded as A(kg)
4. To measure the volume of the vessel, water of Specific Gravity w shall be poured in the
vessel and weight shall be recorded as B(kg)
A
w
B

Bulk density shall be calculated as =

S
Percentage of Voids (%Voids) =

100

Observations:
Weight of Vessel (g)
Weight of Compacted aggregate
with Vessel (g)
Weight of Water with vessel (g)
A (g)
B (g)
w (kg/m3)
(kg/m3)

FINE AGGREGATE
2811

COARSE AGGREGATE
2934

8012

7590

5666
5201
2855
1000

5893
4656
2959
1000

1821.72

1573.50

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%Voids

29.39

36.04

TEST 4- ANGULARITY NUMBER

Angularity Number Test is carried out for determining shape of the aggregates. Based upon
shape the aggregates may be classified as Rounded, Angular or Flaky. Angular particles possess
well defined edges formed at the intersection of roughly planer faces and are commonly formed
in aggregates prepared by crushing of rocks.
Angularity is the absence of rounding of particles of an aggregate. This test is performed to
determine the angularity number i.e. the absence of roundedness or the degree of angularity of
the aggregate specimen.
The usual shapes of the particles are;
1.
2.
3.
4.

Rounded (river gravel)

Flaky (laminated rock)
Elongated
Angular (crushed rock)

Angularity number of an aggregate is the amount (to the higher whole number) by which the
percentage of voids in it after compacting in a prescribed manner exceeds 33. where, 33 is the
percentage of volume of voids, in a perfectly rounded aggregate. 67 is the percentage of
volume of solids in a perfectly rounded aggregate
BIS 2386 (Part 1) pertains to the procedure of Test for Angularity Number
Procedure:
1. The Angularity Number can be calculated from results of Specific Gravity and Bulk
Density Tests.
2. The procedure is similar to that of those tests except that the aggregates to be used shall
be retained between the following sieves:
20-mm and 16-mm
16-mm and 12.5-mm
12.5-mm and10-mm
10mm and 6.3-mm
6.3-mm and 4.75-mm
Angularity Number is calculated as AN = 67 Observations:
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100A
BGs

Weight of compacted aggregate, A (g)

Weight of water, B (g)
Specific Gravity of the aggregate, S

4656
2959
2.46

Angularity number

3.04

TEST 5 - FLAKINESS INDEX & ELONGATION INDEX OF COARSE AGGREGATES

Flakiness Index is the percentage by weight of particles in it, whose least dimension is less than
0.6 times of its mean dimension. In a similar way Elongation Index is the percentage by weight
of particles in it, whose largest dimension (i.e. length) is greater than 1.8 times its mean
dimension.
Mean dimension is the average of two sieves in which the aggregates have retained.
Flaky and elongated particles may have adverse effects on concrete and bituminous mix. For
instance, flaky and elongated particles tend to lower the workability of concrete mix which may
impair the long-term durability. For bituminous mix, flaky particles are liable to break up and
disintegrate during heavy traffic loads.

BIS 2386 (Part 1) pertains to the procedure of Flakiness and Elongation Index. The test
performed for aggregates in sizes of 16mm - 20mm.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Thickness Gauge
Length Gauge
Weighing Machine
IS Sieves 16m, 20mm

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Thickness Gauge for Flakiness Index

Length Gauge for Elongation index

Procedure:
1. The sample is taken from the lot and sieved through the sieves. The retained aggregates
are selected and out of it minimum f 200 pieces is taken and weighed (W).

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2. In order to separate flaky materials, each fraction is then gauged individually for
thickness on a thickness gauge which is provided in above figure.
3. The total amount of flaky material passed by the thickness gauge is weighed (F) to an
accuracy of 0.1% of the weight of sample.
Similar procedure is carried out for Elongation Index, where a length gauge is used instead of a
thickness gauge. Similarly, total amount of elongated material NOT passing through the length
gauge are weighed (E).
Flakiness Index (%) =

Elongation Index (%) =

F
100
W
E
100
W

TEST

FLAKINESS INDEX

ELONGATION INDEX

Thickness/ Length Gauge

W (g)
F (g)
E (g)

10.8mm
1706
306
-

32.4mm
1706
506

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17.94

29.66

TEST 6 - BULKING OF SAND

The volume increase of fine aggregate due to presence of moisture content is known as bulking.
Fine sand bulks more as compared to coarse sand. Extremely fine sand particularly the
manufactured fine aggregate bulks as much as about 40%.
Fine aggregate do not show any bulking when it is completely dry or completely saturated.
The moisture present in aggregate forms a film around each particle. These films of moisture
exert a force, known as surface tension, on each particle. Due to this surface tension each
particles gets away from each other. Because of this no direct contact is possible among
individual particles and this causes bulking of the volume.
Bulking of aggregate is dependent upon two factors,
1.

Percentage of moisture content

2.

Particle size of fine aggregate

Bulking increases with increase in moisture content upto a certain limit and beyond that the
further increase in moisture content results in decrease in volume. When the fine aggregate is
completely saturated it does not show any bulking. Fine sand bulks more as compared to coarse
sand, i.e. percentage of bulking in indirectly proportional to the size of particle. BIS 2386 (Part
3) pertains to the procedure of Bulking of Sand.

Apparatus:
1. Measuring Cylinders (300ml & 5ml)
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2. Tray
Procedure:
1. A sample of 200g of fine aggregate is taken
2. The weighed fine aggregate is filled, in loose dry condition in the measuring cylinder and
the height is measured (h1).
3. The fine aggregate is emptied to the tray and 1% of water by weight of sand is added.
4. Fine aggregate and water is thoroughly added and again filled in the measuring cylinder.
5. The fine aggregate is then leveled in the measuring cylinder and the height is measured
(h2).
6. The above procedure is repeated by adding 1% of water by volume to the existing sample
until when the height of fine aggregate saturated sand drops in two successive readings.
h2h1
100
h1

The bulking of Sand (%) =

Observations:
Water content
(g)
(%)
0
0
2
1
4
2
6
3
Initial Weight of FA = 200g

Volume of Fine
aggregate (ml)
132
146
144
142
h1= 132ml

Bulking of sand (%)

0
10.61
9.09
7.58

12
10
8
Bulking of Sand (%)

6
4
2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Water Content (%)

From Graph, Maximum Bulking of Sand: 11% at water content: 1.2%

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Field Method:
Procedure:
1. Fill the measuring vessel with loose sand and measure the height (h)
2. Remove the sand and fill water above the sand level
3. Top the vessel with sand and let it to inundate for some time. Record the reading as (y)

Bulking of Sand (%) =

( hy 1) 100

h (mm)
y (mm)
Bulking of Sand(%)

128
124
3.23%

TEST 7- PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION (Sieve Analysis)

The sieve analysis or the gradation test determines the distribution of aggregate particles, by size,
within a given sample. It is done to find the compatibility with design, production control
requirements, and verification specifications. This test is a very good quality control and quality
acceptance tool.
There are three types of gradation of aggregates
1. Well Graded: The aggregate lot contains all sizes of aggregates from finest to coarsest in
almost equal fractions. It is represented as S curve in Gradation curve
2. Poorly Graded: It does not contain all sizes of aggregates, but fairly a uniform size.
3. Gap graded: Some fraction of aggregates will be unavailable in gradation curve.

Fineness modulus is an empirical factor obtained by adding the cumulative percentages of

aggregate retained on each of the standard sieves and dividing this sum by 100. Fineness
modulus is used to get an idea of how coarse or fine the aggregate is. More fineness modulus
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value indicates that the aggregate is coarser and small value of fineness modulus indicates that
the aggregate is finer.
Apparatus:
1. IS sieves
2. Vibrating Machine
3. Weighing Machine
Procedure:
1. Take one kg of fine aggregate from the sample
2. The sieves shall be arranged are as below
4.75mm
2.36mm
1.18mm
600mm
300mm
150mm
Pan

3. Keep the sample in the top sieve.

4. Carry out the sieving in the set of sieves for not less than 2 minutes.
5. Pressure shall not be applied to the surface of the sieve to force particles pass through the
mesh.
6. Weigh of sample retained in each sieve and tabulate the values.

SIEVE SIZE

SIEVE
SIZE
(mm)

4.75mm
2.36mm
1.18mm
600 micron

4.75
2.36
1.18
0.6

CUMULATIV
WEIGHT OF
E WEIGHT
RETAINED
OF SAMPLE
PARTICLES
RETAINED
(g)
(g)
29.5
62
136
158

29.5
91.5
227.5
385.5
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CUMULATIV
E WEIGHT
OF SAMPLE
PASSING (g)
470.5
408.5
272.5
114.5

CUMULATIV
E
PERCENTAG
E OF
SAMPLE
PASSING (%)
94.1
81.7
54.5
22.9

300 micron
150 micron
pan

0.3
0.15
0

87
23
4.5

472.5
495.5
500

27.5
4.5
0

5.5
0.9
0

100
90
80
%

70
60

F
I
N
E
R

50
40
30
20
10
0
0.1

10

Sieve size (mm)

Fineness Modulus for FA =

259.6
=2.596
100

For Coarse aggregates, same procedure is followed, where weight of aggregates is taken as 5kg
and the sieve sizes are as below

`25 mm
20 mm
16 mm
12.5 mm
10 mm
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4.75 mm
Pan

SIEVE
SIZE
25
20
16
12.5
10
4.75
pan

SIEV
E
SIZE
(mm)
25
20
16
12.5
10
4.75
0

WEIGHT OF CUMULATIVE CUMULATIVE

RETAINED
WEIGHT OF
WEIGHT OF
PARTICLES
SAMPLE
SAMPLE
(g)
RETAINED, (g)
PASSING (g)
236
236
4764
798
1034
3966
2269
3303
1697
1163
4466
534
353
4819
181
178
4997
3
3
5000
0

% FINER (%)
95.28
79.32
33.94
10.68
3.62
0.06
0

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1

10

100

Fineness Modulus for CA = 2.23

Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) and Coefficient of Curvature (Cc) are shape parameters and is
calculated using the following equation:

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D10
D30
D60
Cu
Cc

Fine Aggregates
0.4
0.7
1.05
2.63
1.17

Coarse Aggregates
10.3
10.65
10.85
1.05
1.01

INFERENCES:
Test 1: Specific Gravity & Test 2: Water Absorption
The Specific gravity of aggregates should vary from 2.6 to 2.9 and Water Absorption should
range from 0.1% to 2%.
Both aggregates to some extent correspond to the provisions. Thus they can be used for various
applications. For Mix design of concrete, the moisture content in fine aggregates must be taken
in account since it is in excess of prescribed limits.
Test 4: Angularity Number:
According to IS 2386, the Angularity Number should lie between 0 and 11. Thus the aggregates
have better roundness and it requires less cement paste in concrete. Also it can be used in road
construction.
Test 5: Flakiness and Elongation Index
According to IS 2386, the Flakiness index and Elongation Index should not exceed 15% and
combined should not exceed 30%
Since the results does not correspond to the codal provisions, the aggregates would provide low
strength and low workable concrete. But these aggregates can be used in bituminous mix as the
flexible pavement need good interlocking aggregates.
Test 6: Bulking of Sand
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There are no codal provisions for Bulking of Sand and this experiment is needed to make
corrections in mix design of concrete for volume batching. If the bulking of sand is not
accounted, the mix would be under-sanded and harsh.
Test 7: Sieve analysis
The Fineness modulus yield results that the mean size of Fine aggregates is 600 microns and that
of Coarse aggregates is 12.5mm
For Well graded aggregates, Cu<4 and 1<Cc <3, but the experimental values do not correspond to
this. Thus both aggregates are gap graded.
REFERENCES:

1. http://www.in.gov/indot/div/mt/aashto/testmethods/aashto_t27.pdf
2. IS: 2386 (Part 1) Method of test for aggregates for concrete(Particle size
and shape)
3. IS: 460 Specification for Test Sieves
4. IS: 383 Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from natural sources
for concrete
5. http://civilblog.org/2014/02/11/bulking-of-fine-aggregate-what-why-how/

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