( Reaffirmed 1997 )

IS:a3&i(PartV)-1963
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Standard

METHODS OF TEST
FOR CONCRETE
PART V
Cement

Chairman
SHRI K. K. NAMBIAR

SOUNDNESS

I
1
/
1
!

and Concrete Sectional Committee, BDC 2

Representing
The Concrete Association of India, Bombay

Members
SHRI K. V. THADANEY ( Alternate to
Shri K. K. Nambiar )
M. N. Dastur & Co. Private Ltd., Calcutta
SHRI K. F. ANTIA
Bhakra Dam Designs Directorate, New Delhi
SHRI P. S. BHATNA~AR
Central Water I_%Power Commission ( Ministry of
DR. I. C. DOS M. PAIS CIJDDOU
Irrigation t Power )
SHRI Y. K. MURTHY ( Alternate )
Khira Steel Works Private Ltd., Bombay
SHRI N. D. DAFTARY
Central Public Works Department
SHRI N. G. DEWAN
SUPER~ETENDIN~ENGINEER,
END CIRCLE( Alternate )
The Associated Cement Companies Ltd., Bombay
DR. R. R. HATTIBNQADI
SHRI V. N. PAI ( Alternate )
Geological Survey of India, Calcutta
SHRI P. C. HAZRA
JOINT DIRECTOR STANDARDS Research, Designs & Standards Organization
( Ministry of Railways )
(B&S)
ASSISTANTDIRECTORSTANDARDS ( B & S ) ( Alternate )
S. B. Joshi & Co. Private Ltd., Bombay
SHRI S. B. JOSHI
U. P. Government Cement Factory, Churk
&RI
M. M. LAL
Directorate General of Supplies 8~.Disposals ( MinisSHRI B. N. MAJU~DAR
try of Economic t Defence Co-ordination )
SHRI P. L. DAS ( Alternate )
CentrD;;hyd
Research Institute ( CSIR ), New
PROF. S. R. MEHRA
The Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SRRI N. H. MOHILE
Government Test House, Calcutta
SHRI S. N. MUKERJI
SHRI N. C. SEN GUPTA ( Alternate )
Institution of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
SHRI ERACH A. NADIRSHAH
National Buildings Organisation ( Minist,ry of
SHRI C. B. PAT&
Works, Housing & Rehabilitation )
SHRI RABINDER SINC+H (Alternate)
Cent~~or~~~lding Research Institute ( CSIR ),
PR0F.G. S.RAMASWAMY
SHRIK. SIVAPRASAD(
Alternate)
Gammon India Limited, Bombay
SHRI T. N. S. RAO
SHRI S.R. PINHEIRO (Alternate)

( Continued on page 2)
INDIAN
STANDARDS
INSTITUTION
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 MATHURA ROAD
NEW DELHI 1

is.2 23&l (RR* V:) - 1%3

( Cot&wed from page 1)

Members

Representing

Martin Burn Ltd.. Calcutta

Dslmia Cement ( Bharat ) Ltd., Calcutta
Central Board of Irrigetion & Power ( Ministry of
Irrigation & Power )
Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army~Headquarters

REPRESENTATIVE
SHRI NIHAR CnANDnA ROY
SECRETARY

BRIG G. S. SIHOTA

SHRI R. S. MEIIANDRU ( Alternate )

Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi
DR. BH. SUBBARAJU
Roads Wing, Ministry of Transport
SHRI J. M. TREHAN
cations
SHRI N. H. KESWANI ( Alternute )
Director, IS1 ( Ex-officio Member )
DR. H. C. VISVESVABAYA,
Deputy Director ( Bldg )

& Communi-

Secretary

Extra

SHRI A. PRITHIVI RAJ

Assistant Director ( Bldg ), IS1

Concrete Subcommittee, BDC 2 : 2

Convener

Saab S . B . JOSHI

Members

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( B & S )

SHRI N. H. BHAQWANANI
DR. I. C. DOS M. PAIS CUDDOU

S. B. Joshi & Co. Private

Ltd., Bombay

Designs
& Standards
Organization
Resee&
( Ministry of Railways )
Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army Headquarters
Central Water & Power Ccmmission (Ministry of
Irrigation & Power )

SHRI Y. K; MURTHY ( Alternate )

Directorate
SHRI P. I,. D_4s
ii::7

General
of Supplies
& Disposals
of Economic & Defence Co-ordina-

SHR~ B. N. MAJUMDAR ( Alternate )

Engineering Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
DIRECTOR
Mahsrashtra Public Works Department
SHRI V. N. GUNAJI
National
Buildings
Orgrtnisation
( Ministry
of
SHRI M. A. HAFEEZ
Works, Housing & Rehabilitation
)
SHRI B. S. SHIVAMURTHY ( Alternate )
Central Water & Power Commission ( Ministry of
SHRI C. L. HANDA
Irrigation & Power )
Geological Survey of India, Celoutta
Sam P. C. HAZRA
The Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHRI K. K. NAMBJAR
SHRI C. L. N. IYEN~AR (Alternate )
Central Road Research Institute ( CSIR ), New
DR. M. L. PURI
Delhi
Cent;lArz3ilding
Research
Institute
( CSIR ),
PROF. G. S. RAMASWAMY
SHRI K. SIVA PRASAD ( Alternate )
Gammon India Ltd., Bombay
SHRI T. N. S. RAO
SHRI S. R. PINHEIRO ( Alternate )
ENGINEER, Central Public Works Department
SUPERINTENDING
2ND CIRCLE
SHRI 0. P. GOEL ( Alternute )
Roads Wing, Ministry of Transport & CommunicaSHRI J. M. TRE~AN
tions
SRRI R. P. SI~KA ( AIternate )
Braithwaite Burn & Jessop Construction Co. Ltd.,
SHRI H. T. YAN
Calcutta

._

Ist2386(PartV)-1191911

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST
. FOR AGGREGATES FOR COWCRETE
PART V

0.

SOUNDNESS

FOREWORD

0.1This IndianStandard (Part V) was adopted by the Indian Standards

Institution on 13 September 1963, after the draft finalized by the Cement
and Concrete Sectional Committee had been approved by the Building
Division Council.
0.2 One of the major contributing factors to the quality of concrete is the
The test methods given in this standard
quality of aggregates used therein.
In a given
are intended to assist in assessing the quality of aggregates.
situation, for a particular aggregate, it may not be necessary to assess all
the qualities, and therefore it is necessary to determine beforehand the
purpose for which a concrete is being used and the qualities of the aggregate
which require to be assessed. Accordingly, the relevant test methods may
For the
be chosen from amongst the various tests covered in this standard.
convenience of the users, the test methods are grouped into the following
eight parts of Indian Standard Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete
( IS : 2386 - 1963):
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part

IV
V
VI
VII
VIII

Particle Size and Shape

of Deleterious
Materials
and Organic
Estimation
Impurities
Specific
Gravity,
Density,
Voids, Absorption
and
Bulking
Mechanical Properties
Soundness
Measuring Mortar Making Properties of Fine Aggregate
Alkali Aggregate Reactivity
Petrographic Examination

0.3 The Sectional Committee responsible for the preparation of this

standard has taken into consideration the views of concrete specialists,
testing authorities,
consumers and technologists and has related the
standard to the practices followed in this country.
Further, the need for
international co-ordination among standards prevailing in different countries
3

IS :23S6 (-Part V ) - 1963

of the world has also been recognized.
These considerations led the
Sectional Committee to derive assistance from C88 - 61T Tentative Method
of Test for Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulphate or Magnesium Sulphate issued by American Society for ,Testing and Materials.
0.4 Wherever a reference to any Indian Standard appears in this method,
it shall be taken as a reference to its latest version.
0.5 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirkment of this
standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing
the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with
The
IS : 2 - 1960 Rules for Rounding Off Numerical Values (Revised).
number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the
same as that of the specified value in this standard.
0.6 This standard is intended chiefly to cover the technical provisions
relating to testing of aggregates for concrete, and it does not include all the
necessary provisions of a contract.

I. SCOPE
1.1 This standard (Part V > covers the method of test to determine the
resistance to disintegration of aggregates by saturated solutions of sodium
sulphate or magnesium sulphate.
NOTEThis test furnishes information helpful in judging the soundness of
aggregates subject to weathering action, particularly when adequate information is
not available from service records of the material exposed to actual weathering
Attention is called to the fact that test results by the use of the two
conditions.
salts differ considerably,
and care shall be exercised in fixing proper limits in any
specification which may include requirements for these tests.

2. APPARATUS
2.1 Sieves - Sieves of the following sizes, having square openings, complying with the requirements specified in IS : 460 - 1962 Specification for Test
Sieves (Revised ) shall be used:
Coarse Series
Fine Series
8.0 mm
150 microns
10
mm
300 microns
12.5 mm
16
mm
600 microns
20
mm
25
mm
l-18 mm
31.5 mm
2.36 mm
40
mm
50
mm
4.00 mm
63
mm
475 mm
80
mm
4

IS:2386(PaktV)-1963
2.2 Containers - Containers for immersing the samplei of aggregate in
the solution, in accordance with the procedure described in this method,
shall be perforated in such a manner as to permit free access of the solution
to the sample and drainage of the solution from the sample without loss of
aggregate.
Arrangements shall also be available to ensure that the volume
of the solution in which samples are immersed shall be at least five times
the volume of the sample immersed at any one time.
NOTE -

Baskets made of suitable wire mesh or sieves with suitable

~ satisfactory containers for the samples.

openings

are

means for regulating the

2.3 Temperature
Regulation - Suitable
temperature of the samples during immersion in the sodium sulphate or
magnesium sulphate solution shall be provided.
2.4 Balances - For weighing fine aggregate, a balance having a capacity
of not less than 500 g, sensitive to at least 0.1 g, shall be used; for weighing
coarse aggregate, a balance having a capacity of not less than 5 000 g,
sensitive to at least one gram, shall be used.
2.5 Drying Oven - The drying oven shall be capable of being maintained
between 105 and 110C and the rate of evaporation, at this range of
temperature, shall average at least 25 g/h for four hcurs during which
period the doors of the oven shall be kept closed.
NOTE -- This rate shall be determined by the loss of water from 1-litre low-form
beakers each initially containing 500 g of water at a temperature
of 27 f 2C
placed at each corner and centre of each shelf of the oven. The evaporation
requirement is to apply when the oven is empty except for the beakers of water.

3. REAGENTS
3.1 Sodium Sulphate Solution - Saturated solution of sodium sulphate
shall be prepared by dissolving sodium sulphate, technical grade, conforming to IS : 255 - 1950 Specification for Sodium Sulphate, Anhydrous,
Technical,
or an equivalent grade of the salt of either the anhydrous
(Na,SO,)
or the crystalline
( Na,S04.10H,0)*
form in water at a
temperature of 25 to 30C. Sufficient salt ( see Note ) shall be added to
ensure not only saturation but aIso the presence of excess crystals when the
solution is ready for use in the tests. The mixture shall be thoroughly
stirred during the addition of the salt and the solution shall be stirred at
frequent intervals until used. The solution shall be cooled to a temperature
of 27 & 2C and maintained at that temperature for at least 48 hours
before use. The solution shall be thoroughly stirred immediately before
*Experience with the test method indicates that a grade of sodium sulphate
designated by the trade as dried powder, which may be considered as approximately anhydrous,
is the most practical
for use. That grade is more economically
The decahydrate
sodium sulphate presents
available than the anhydrous form.
difRculties in compounding the required solution on account of its cooling effect on the
solution,

ISIt 2386 ( Part V ) - 1963

use and salt cakes, if any, shall be broken and the specific gravity shall be
determined.
When used, the solution shall have a specific gravity of not
less than l-151 and not greater than 1,174. Discoloured solution shall be
discarded, or filtered and checked for specific gravity.
NOTE -For
making up the solution, 350 g of anhydrous salt
decahydrate salt per litre of water are sufficient for saturation at
since these salts are not completely stable and since it is desirable
crystals be present, the use of not less than 420 g of the anhydrous
the decahydrate salt per litre of water is recommended.

or 1 150 g of the
28C.
However
that an excess of
salt or 1 300 g of

3.2 Magnesium Sulphate Solution - The saturated solution of magnesium sulphate shall be made by dissolving magnesium sulphate, technical
grade, conforming to IS : 257 - 1950 Specification for Magnesium Sulphate
(Epsom Salt ), Technical, or an equivalent grade of the salt of either the
anhydrous ( MgSO, ) or the crystalline ( MgS0,.7H,O
) ( epsom salt ) form
in water at a temperature
of 25 to 30C.
Sufficient quantity of salt
( see Note ) shall be added to ensure saturation and the presence of excess
crystals when the solution is ready for use in the tests. The mixture shall
be thoroughly stirred during the addition of the salt aud the solution shall
be stirred at frequent intervals until used. The solution shall be cooled to
a temperature of 27 & 1C and maintained at that temperature for at least
48 hours before use. The solution shall be thoroughly stirred immediately
before use and salt cakes, if any, shall be broken up and the specific gravity
shall be determined.
When used, the solution shall have a specific gravity
of not less than 1.295 and not more than 1.308. Discoloured solution shall
be discarded, or filtered and checked for specific gravity.
NOTE - For making up the solution, 400 g of anhydrous salt or 1 400 g of the
heptahydrate
per litre of water are sufficient for saturation
at 28C. However,
since these salts are not completely stable, with the hydrous salt being the more
stable of the two, and since it is desirable that an excess of crystals be present, it is
recommended that the heptahydrate salt be used and in an amount of not less than
1 600 g per litre of water.

4. SAMPLES
4.1 Fine Aggregate - Fine aggregate for the test shall be passed through
a lo-mm IS Sieve. The sample sh@l be of such a size that it will yield not
less than 100 g of each of the following sizes, which shall be available in
amounts of 5 percent or more, expressed in terms of the following sieves:

Passing IS Sieve

Retained on IS Sieve

608micron

300-micron

1*18-mm
2*36-mm
&75-mm

600-micron
1.18-mm
2.36mm

IO-mm

4*75-mm

IS:2386(PartV)-1963
4.2 Coarse Aggregate - Coarse aggregate for the test shall consist of
material from which sizes finer than 475mm
IS Sieve have been removed;
such sizes shall be tested in accordance with the procedure for fine aggregate. The sample shall be of such a size that it will yield not less than the
following amounts of the different sizes, which shall be available in amounts
of 5 percent or more:

Size
( Square-Hole Sieves )
10 mm to 4.75 mm
20 mm to 10 mm
consisting of:
12.5 mm to 10 mm
20 mm to 12.5 mm
40 mm to 20 mm
consisting of:
25 mm to 20 mm
40 mm to 25 mm
63 mm to 40 mm
consisting of:
50 mm to 40 mm
63 mm to 50 mm
80 mm and larger sizes by 20 mm
spread in sieve size, each fraction

Yield
300 g
1 000 g
33 percent
67 percent
1 500 g
33 percent
67 percent
3 000 g
50 percent
50 percent
3 000 g

4.3 All-h-Aggregate - All-in-aggregate shall be separated in two major

fractions, finer than 4.75 mm and coarser than 4.75 mm. The former shall
be dealt with as fine aggregate and the latter as coarse aggregate.
NOTE
-It
shall be noted that testing closely sized aggregates, such as these
constitutes a more severe test than testing a graded aggregate, and this fact should
be taken into account while specifying limits in specifications.

4.4 Should the samples contain less than 5 percent of any of the sizes
specified in 4.1 or 4.2, that size shall not be tested, but, for the purpose of
calculating the test result, it shall be considered to have the same loss in
sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate treatment as the average of the
next smaller and the next larger size, or if one of these sizes is absent, it
shall be considered to have the same loss as the next larger or next smaller
size, whichever is present. When the 20 mm to 10 mm, 40 mm to 20 mm
or 63 mm to 40 mm test samples specified in 4.2 cannot be prepared due to
the absence of one or two sizes of aggregate shown for each, the size
available shall be used to prepare the sample tested.
5. PREPARATION

OF TEST

SAMPLE

5.1 Fine Aggregate - The sample of fine aggregate shall be thoroughly

washed on a 300-micron IS Sieve, dried to constant weight at 105 to 110C

16:2386(PartV)-1963

and separated into different sizes by sieving as follows:

Make a rough separation of the graded sample by means of a nest of
the,sieves specified in 4.1. From the fractions obtained in this manner,
select samples of sufficient size to yield 100 g after sieving to refusal.
(In general, a 110 g sample will be sufficient.)
Fine aggregate
sticking in the meshes of the sieves shall not be used in preparing
the samples.
Samples of 100 g shall be weighed out of each of
the separated fractions after final sieving and placed in separate
containers for the test.
5.2 Coarse Aggregate - The sample of coarse aggregate shall be
thoroughly washed and dried to constant weight at 105C to 110C and
shall be separated into different sizes shown in 4.2 by sieving to refusal.
The proper weight of sample for each fraction shall be weighed out and
placed in separate containers for the test. In the case of fractions coarser
than the 20-mm IS Sieve, the number of particles shall also be counted.
6. PROCEDURE
6.1 Storage of Samples in Solution - The samples shall be immersed
in the prepared solution of sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate for
not less than 16 hours nor more than 18 hours in such a manner that the
solution covers them to a depth of at least 15 mm (see Note ). The containers shall be covered to reduce evaporation and prevent the accidental
The samples immersed in the solution
addition of extraneous substances.
shall be maintained at a temperature of 27 & 1C for the immersion
period.
NOTE
Suitably weighted wire grids placed over the sample in the containers
will permit this coverage to be achieved with very light aggregates.

6.2 Drying Samples After Immersion -After

the immersion period,
the aggregate sample shall be removed from the solution, permitted to drain
for 15 f 5 minutes, and placed in the drying oven. The temperature of the
oven shall have been brought previously to 105 to 110C. The samples
shall be dried to constant weight at this specified temperature. During
the drying period, the samples shall be removed from the oven, cooled
to room temperature and weighed at intervals of not less than 4 hours nor
more than 18 hours. Constant weight may be considered to have been
achieved when two successive weights for any one sample differ by less than
0.1 g in the case of fine aggregate samples, or by less than 1.0 g in the case
of coarse aggregate samples. After constant weight has been achieved the
samples shall be allowed to cool to room temperature, then they shall again
be immersed in the prepared solution as described in 6.1.

6.3 Number of Cycles - The process of alternate immersion and drying

shall be repeated until the specified number of cycles as agreed to between
the purchaser and the vendor is obtained.
8

7. QUANTITATIVE BCAMINATION
7.1 The quantitative examination (see Note) shall be made as follows:
a) After the completion of the final cycle and after the sample has
cooled, the sample shall be washed free from the sodium sulphate
or magnesium sulphate as determined by the reaction of the washwater with barium chloride ( BaCl, ).
b) After the sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate solution has been
removed, each fraction of the sample shall be dried to constant
weight at 105 to 110X, and weighed, Fine aggregates shall be
sieved over the same sieve on which it was retained before the test,
and coarse aggregate over the sieve shown below for the appropriate
size of particle:

Size of Aggregate
63 mm to
40 mm to
20mmto
10 mm to

Sieve Used to
Determine Loss

40 mm
20 mm
10mm
475 mm

31.5 mm
16 mm
80 mm
4.00 mm

NOTE-In
addition to the procedure described in (a) and (b), it is suggested that
additional information of value will be obtained by examining each fraction visually
in order to determine whether there is any evidence of excessive splitting of the
It is also suggested that additional information of value will be obtained
grains.
if, after treating each separate fraction of the sample as described in (b), all sizes,
including detritus, are combined and a sieve analysis made using sieves of the
following sizes:

150,300 and 800 micron, 1*18,2*36, 4.75, 10,20,40,

and 80 mm.
The results of the sieve analysis shall be recorded as cumulative
retained on each sieve.
8.

percentages

QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION

8.1 Fractions

of samples coarser than 20 mm shall be examined qualjtatively after each immersion and quantitatively at the completion of the test.
8.2 The qualitative examination and record shall consist of two parts, (a)
observing the effect of the action (see Note ) by the sodium sulphate
or magnesium sulphate solution and the nature of the action, and (b)
counting the number of particles affected.
NOTE--Many
types of actions may b,e expected.
In general, they may be
classified as disintegration, splitting, crumbling, cracking, flaking, etc.
While only particles larger than 20 mm in size are required to be examined
qualitatively, it is recommended that examination of the smaller sizes be also made
in order to determine whether there is any evidence of excessive splitting.
9.

REPORTING OF RESULTS

9.1 The report shall include the following data:

a) Weight of each fraction

ofeach

sample before test.

!
:

IS:2386(PartV)-1963
b) Material from each fraction of the sample finer than the sieve on
which the fraction was retained before test, expressed as a percentage by weight of the fraction.
c) Weighted average calculated from the percentage of loss for each
fraction, based on the grading of the sample as received for examination or, preferably, on the average grading of the material from
that portion of the supply of which the sample is representative.
In these calculations sizes finer than the 300-micron IS Sieve shall
be assumed to have zero percent loss.
In the case of particles coarser than 20 mm before test, (1) the
number of particles in each fraction before test, and (2) the number
of particles affected, classified as to number disintegrating, splitting,
crumbling, cracking, flaking, etc.
4 Character of solution ( sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate ).
9.2 A recommended form for recording of test data is given in Table I.
Test values given are for illustration and these may be appropriate for
either salt depending on the quality of the aggregate.
TABLE I SUGGESTED FORM FOR RECORDING SOUNDNESS TEST DATA
( With Illustrative Test V+dues )
SIEVE SIZE
~___--L--_-~
Retained
Passing
on

(1)

150micron
300 1,
600
l*li)mm
236 ,:
475 ,,
10 mm
Total

GRADINQOF
ORIGINAL
SAMPLE
PERCENT

(2)

150 micron
300 ,,
600
I*lgmm
2.36 ,,
475 ,,
-

WEIUHT OF
TEST FRACTIONSBEFORE TEST

PERCENTAQE WEIGHTED
PAsSINo
AVERMXG
FINER SIEVE (CORRECTED
AFTER TEST
PERCENT
( ACTUALPERLoss)
CENTLOSS)

(4)

(3)

(5)

(6)

--

Soundness Test for Fine Aggregate

50
100
100
100
100
-

11.4
26.0
252
17.0
108
46

100.0
-

---~.

400
-_- ..___._~

z2
4.8
8.0
11.2
11*2*

1.09
1.21
1.36
1.21
0,52

539

4.8
80
96
11.2

096
3.60
2.20
1.34

Soundness Test for Coarse Aggregate

63 mm

40 ,,
20 ,,
10 I,
Total

40 mm
20 ,?
10 ,,
475 ,,
--

200
45.0
23.0
120

3 ooot
1500t
_1 ooot
300t

100.0

5 800

810

*The percentage loss ( 112 percent ) of the next smaller size is used as the percentage loss for this size, since this size contains less than 5 percent of the original
sample as received ( see 4.4 ) .
tMinimum amounts; larger samples may be used.

10