Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

EXPERIMENT NO.
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: AGULARITY NUMBER TEST
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: To determine the Angularity Number of the
given sample of coarse aggregate.

TEST DESCRIPTION:
Angularity number test gives an idea of how angular the aggregate is. This
is based on the percentage of voids in the aggregate after compaction in a
specified manner. In angularity number test, a quantity of single sized
aggregate is filled into metal cylinder of 3 liter capacity. Then the aggregate
is compacted in a standard manner and the percentage of void found out. If
the void content of the aggregate is 33% the angularity of such aggregate
is considered 0. If the void is 44%, the angularity number of such aggregate
is considered 11.
APPARATUS REQUIRED FOR THE TEST:
i. Metal cylindrical container:
a. Capacity = 3.0 Liters,
b. Diameter = 150mm,
c. Height = 150mm,
d. Wall Thickness = 3mm
e. Rigid enough to resist deformation
ii. Tamping Rod:
a. Diameter = 16mm,
b. Length = 60cm,
c. One end rounded
iii. Balance
a. Capacity = 10 kg.
b. Accuracy = 1 g
iv. Scoop
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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

a. Size = 20 12 5 cm.,
b. Capacity = 1 Littre

Fig. 1 Angularity No. testing Apparatus

RELEVANT CODES:
IS 2386 (Part I)-1963 Methods Of Test For Aggregates For Concrete; Particle
Size and Shape; Bureau of Indian Standards
PREPARATION OF TEST SAMPLE:
The amount of aggregate available shall be sufficient to provide, after separation on the
appropriate pair of sieves, at least 10 kg of the predominant size, as determined by the sieve
analysis on the 20 mm, 16 mm, 12.5 mm, 10 mm, 6.3 mm and 4.75 mm IS Sieves.
PROCEDURE:
1) The cylinder shall be calibrated by determining to the nearest gram the weight of
water at
27C required filling it, so that no meniscus is present above the rim of the container
and weight of water required to fill the cylinder is taken as C.
2) The test sample should consist of aggregate retained between the appropriate pair of
IS Sieves from the following sets: 20 mm and 16 mm, 16 mm and 12.5 mm, 12.5
mm and 10 mm,10 mm and 6.3 mm , 6.3 mm and 4.75 mm.
3) The aggregates are filled in the cylinder in three layers with 100 blows per layer
ensuring that the top surface gets levelled.
4) The weight of the aggregates in the cylinder is taken. Three such observations should
be done and the mean is taken as W.
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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

Angularity number =
67

100 W
C GA

Where,
W is the mean weight in g of the aggregate in the cylinder
C is the weight of water in g required to fill the cylinder
GA is specific gravity of aggregate specimen
PRECAUTIONS:
Use safety shoes, mask & aprons at the time of test.
Thoroughly clean & dry the container before testing.
Special care should be taken that no outer air enters when using the
balance.

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