Fineness Modulus (FM)

An empirical coefficient derived by summing the

cumulative percentages of materials retained on
11/2, 3/4", 3/8", #4, #8, #16, #30, #50 & #100
and then dividing by 100

AGGREGATES
Part 2

FM = (P1+1/2+P3/4+P3/8+P#4+P#8+P#16+P#30+P#50+P#100)/100

Stockpiling

FM Calculation
Sieve Size

Mass
Retained (g)

125

3/8

125

No. 4

125

No. 8

125

No. 16

125

No. 30

125

No. 50

125

No. 100

125

Pan

Total

1000

% Mass
Retained

An index of fineness of an aggregate - higher the

F.M., the coarser the aggregate
Especially useful for sand (use #4 to #100 sieves)
2

Cumulative %
Mass
Retained

Sampling

Stockpiling
Prevent segregation and contamination
Good stockpiling = uniform gradation
To obtain a good stockpile:
Short drop distances
Minimize moving
Dont use single cone method
Separate stockpiles

Why Sampling Is Important

To evaluate the potential quality of a
proposed aggregate source.
Does new source meet aggregate
specifications?

To determine compliance with project

specification requirements.
Do current aggregates meet specifications?
5

Sampling from Stockpile

Sampling from Conveyor

Fine Aggregate

Source Aggregate
Properties

Definitions
* Coarse Aggregate
- Retained on 4.75 mm (No. 4)

Toughness
Soundness
Deleterious Materials
Gradation

ASTM D692

* Fine Aggregate.
- Passing 4.75 mm (No. 4)

ASTM D1073

* Dust
- At least 70% Pass. 0.075 mm ASTM D242
9

10

Toughness
* Los Angeles Abrasion (AASHTO T96, ASTM C131):
Resistance of coarse agg to abrasion and
mechanical degradation during handling,
construction and use
* Aggregate at standard gradation subjected to
damage by rolling with prescribed number of steel
balls in large drum for a given number of rotations
* Result expressed as % changes in original
weight
11

12

LA Abrasion Test

13

- 10% loss for extremely hard igneous rocks

- 60% loss for soft limestones and sandstones

15

14

16

Soundness

Soundness
* Estimates resistance to weathering
* Simulates freeze/thaw action by successively
wetting and drying aggregate in sodium sulfate or
magnesium sulfate solution
+ One immersion and drying is considered
one cycle
* Result is total percent loss over various sieve
intervals for a prescribed number of cycles
+ Max. loss values typically range from
10 to 20%per 5 cycles
17

18

Clay Lumps and Friable Particles

ASTM C 142

Soundness

Dries a given mass of aggregates

Soaks for 24 hours and each particle is
rubbed
A washed sieve is then performed over
several screens
Before

The aggregate dried

After
19

The percent loss is reported as the % clay

20
of friable particles

Steps in Gradation Analysis

Gradations

Part 1 - Washed sieve analysis

Aggregate Gradation
The distribution of particle sizes
expressed as a percent of total
weight.
Determined by sieve analysis

21

Washed Sieve

Dry aggregate and determine

mass
Wash and decant water through
0.075 mm sieve until water is
clear
Dry aggregate to a constant mass
22

Steps in Gradation Analysis

Part 2 - Mechanical sieve analysis
Place dry aggregate in standard
stack of sieves
Place sieve stack in mechanical
shaker
Determine mass of aggregate
retained on each sieve
23

24

Mechanical Sieve

Mechanical Sieve

Stack in
Mechanical
Shaker

Individual Sieve

Stack of Sieves
25

Gradations - Computation
Sieve Mass
Retained
9.5
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.60
0.30
0.15
0.075
Pan

Cumulative
Mass Retained % Retained

26

Gradations - Computing

% Passing

% Retained =

0.0
6.5
127.4
103.4
72.8
64.2
60.0
83.0
22.4

% Passing =

Cum. Wt Retained
Original Dry Wt.

* 100

Wt Retained * 100
]
[1 - Cum.
Original Dry Wt.

27

Gradations - Computation
Sieve Mass
Retained
9.5
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.60
0.30
0.15
0.075
Pan

0.0
6.5
127.4
103.4
72.8
64.2
60.0
83.0
22.4

Cumulative
Mass Retained % Retained
0.0
6.5
133.9
237.3
310.1
374.3
434.3
517.3
539.7

0.0
1.2
24.8
44.0
57.5
69.4
80.5
95.8
100.0

28

Aggregates

% Passing
100.0
98.9
75.2
56.0
42.6
30.6
19.5
4.2
0.0

Aggregate Absorption
Specific Gravity

29

Specific Gravity Tests for

Aggregates

Topics to be covered
Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity &
Absorption
Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity &
Absorption
Calculating Combined Specific
Gravities

Two tests are needed

Coarse aggregate (retained on the 4.75
mm sieve)
Fine aggregate (passing the 4.75 mm
sieve)

31

Apparent Specific Gravity, Gsa

32

Bulk Specific Gravity, Gsb

Surface Voids

Gsb =

Mass of Aggregate,
oven dry
Vol of agg, + surface voids

Vol. of water-perm. voids

Mass of Aggregate,
oven dry
Gsa =
Vol of agg
33

Bulk volume = volume of solid aggregate particle +

volume of water permeable pores
34

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Water Absorption

ASTM C127
Surface Voids
SSD weight - Oven dry weight
Solid Agg.
Particle

Oven dry weight

35

Dry aggregate
Soak in water for 24 hours
Decant water
Use pre-dampened towel to get SSD condition
Determine mass of SSD aggregate in air
Determine mass of SSD aggregate in water
Dry to constant mass
Determine oven dry mass
36

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

37

38

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Calculations - Example Problem

Calculations

Given:
Mass oven dry - 3625.5 (A)
Mass SSD 3650.3 (B)
Mass under Water - 2293.0 (C)

Gsb = A / (B - C)
A = mass oven dry
B = mass SSD
C = mass under water

Gs,SSD = B / (B - C)
Gsa = A / (A - C)
Water absorption capacity, %
Absorption % = [(B - A) / A] * 100
39

40

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity

Calculations - Example Problem

Calculations - Example Problem

Apparent Specific Gravity - Gsa

Apparent Specific Gravity - Gsa

A / (A - C)

3625.5/ (3625.5-2293.0) = 2.721

Bulk Specific Gravity - Gsb

Bulk Specific Gravity - Gsb

A / (B - C)

3625.5 / (3650.3 - 2293.0) = 2.671

Absorption, %

Absorption, %

(B - A) / A

(3650.3 - 3625.5) / 2293.0 = 0.68 %

41

42

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

ASTM C128

Dry aggregate
Soak in water for 24 hours
Spread out and dry to SSD
Add 500 g of SSD aggregate to pycnometer of known
volume
Pre-filled with some water

Add more water and agitate until air bubbles have

been removed
Fill to calibration line and determine the mass of the
pycnometer, aggregate and water
Empty aggregate into pan and dry to constant mass
Determine oven dry mass
43

44

Fine
Aggregate
Specific
Gravity

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

45

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

46

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

Calculations

Calculations - Example Problem

Given:

Gsb = A / (B + S - C)

A = mass oven dry

B = mass of pycnometer filled with water
C = mass pycnometer, SSD aggregate and water
S = mass SSD aggregate

A = mass oven dry =489.3

B = mass of pycnometer filled with water = 666.5
C = mass pycnometer,

Gsb,SSD = S / (B + S - C)
Gsa = A / (B + A - C)
Water absorption capacity, %

SSD aggregate and water = 982.3

S = mass SSD aggregate = 500.1

Absorption % = [(S - A) / A] * 100

47

48

Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

Combined Specific Gravity

Calculations - Example Problem

Gsb = A / (B + S - C) = 498.9/(666.5+500.1-982.3)
= 2.707

G sb =

Gsb,SSD = S / (B + S - C) = 500.1/(666.5+500.1-982.3)
= 2.714
Gsa = A / (B + A - C) = 498.9/(666.5+498.9-982.3)
= 2.725
Water absorption = [(S - A) / A] * 100 =
(500.1-498.9)/498.9 = 0.24 %

( PA + P B + PC )
PA
PB
+
GA
GB

PC
GC

Where: PA, PB & PC = percent by mass of

each aggregate in blend
GA, GB & GC = Bulk Specific Gravity
of each aggregate
49

50

- Example Problem -

Gsb =

( PA + PB + PC )
PA + PB + PC
GA

GB

Where: PA, PB & PC = percent by mass of

each aggregate in blend
GA, GB & GC = Bulk Specific Gravity
of each aggregate

GC

Based on the information given:

PA = 50%
PB = 25%
PC = 25%

GA = 2.695
GB = 2.711
GC = 2.721
( 50+ 25 + 25 )
Gsb =

50 + 25 + 25
2.695 2.711 2.721

= 2.705
51