ABDULLAH GUL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 344 MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

LAB EXPERIMENT 2

Tests on Aggregate / Determination of Specific Gravity

and Water Absorption

Submitted to:
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Burak UZAL
Research Assistant. Abdulkadir ZALP

Mehmet Safa YILMAZ

110310012
1.INTRODUCTION

The main target of this test is to determine the specific gravity and water absorption capacity of
aggregates. Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of one material to the density of water -a
standard material-. This ratio or relative density provides us make comparison the density of
one substance according to water density. The specific gravity values of aggregates are used in
design calculations of concrete mixtures. Thus, specific gravity of aggregates must be known
while designing concrete mixtures. In a concrete mix, the weight of each concrete material can
be transformed to solid volume via the specific gravity of each material known. In this way, the
volume ratios of materials in one cubic meter of concrete can be found. However, the specific
gravity of aggregates is needed to find weight-to-volume relationships and to calculate various
volume-related quantities such as voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and voids filled by asphalt
(VFA). Absorption can be used as an indicator of aggregate durability as well as the volume of
asphalt binder it is likely to absorb. [1] Also, the specific gravity of an aggregate is considered
as a measurement of quality or strength of the material. On the other hand, the water absorption
capacity of aggregates is also an important parameter to determine the strength of aggregates
because aggregates that have excessive water absorption capacity is more porous so their
strength is lower than the having lower water absorption capacity aggregates. In this
experiment, the specific gravity and the water absorption capacity of aggregates will be
measured.

2. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS
Materials used for test as follows;
- Water
- Aggregates

Figure 1 Aggregates filled with water

3. EXPERIMENTAL APPRATUS
Apparatus used for test as follows;
- Oven (Figure 2.1)
- Wire basket (Figure 2.2)
- A container for filling water and suspending the basket (Figure 2.3)
- Towel (Figure 2.4)
- Balance (Figure 2.5)
- An air tight container (Figure 2.6)
- Tray (Figure 2.7)

Figure 2.1 Oven Figure 2.2 Wire basket

Figure 2.3 A container for filling water Figure 2.4 Towel

and suspending the basket
 Figure 2.5 Balance Figure 2.6 An air tight container

Figure 2.7 Tray

4-EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1- Take a sample from aggregates according to sample taking method.

2- The mass of aggregate sample which will be used for experiment varies according to their
maximum size. In this experiment, at least 5 kg aggregate with maximum size of aggregates of
31.5 mm was taken.

3- Submerge the sample during 24 hours (before the test)

4-Set prepared experiment sample in wire basket and submerge this wire basket in
tank according to condition that water must be above 50 mm from upper side of basket.

5- Weigh the empty wire basket (Figure 3.1)

5- Weigh basket and the sample at water and record this value (Figure 3.2)

6- Pour aggregate from basket to one of the dry towel carefully.

7- Submerge empty basket again water, weigh it at water and record this value

8- Wipe water that remains on surfaces of aggregates on dry cloth through towel by hand
(Figure 3.3)

9- Weigh the sample in a condition of saturated surface dry and record this value (Figure 3.4)

10- Transfer the sample to a tray and dry them in drying oven at 110+5 C until they

arrive constant mass (oven dry mass). After, cooling the specimen up to ambient

temperature, weigh particles of aggregate and record this value

Figure 3.1 Weight of wire basket Figure 3.2 Weight of basket and sample at water
Figure 3.3 Wiping of water on aggregate Figure 3.4 Weight of SSD aggregates

5-RESULT & DISCUSSION

The specific gravity of aggregates are defined in three different ways;

Experiment data obtained from lab;

Weight of basket and sample in water = 2.3725 kg

Weight of wire basket = 0.461 kg

Weight of saturated surface dry aggregate, in air = 2.9179 kg

Oven dry weight of aggregate = 2.8250 kg

Weight of saturated aggregate, in water, = 2.3725 - 0.461 = 1.9115 kg

Apparent Specific Gravity = (2.8250)/ (2.8250-1.9115) = 3.0925

Bulk Specific Gravity, Dry = (2.8250)/ (2.9179 -1.9115) = 2.8070

Bulk Specific Gravity,SSD = (2.9179)/( 2.9179-1.9115) = 2.8993

Water absorption = [(B A)/A] x 100%.

Water absorption capacity of aggregates = [(2.9179 - 2.8250)/ 2.8250 ] X100% = 3.288%

As a result of experiment, apparent specific gravity, bulk specific gravity in dry state
and bulk specific gravity in SSD state is found respectively for aggregate specimen as 3.0925,
2.8070, 2.8993. However, water absorption capacity of aggregates is detected as 3.288%
6- CONCLUSION

Apparent specific gravity is the proportion of the weight in air of a unit volume of the
impermeable portion of aggregate at a specified temperature to the weight in air of an equal
volume of gas-free distilled water at a specified temperature. The mass measurement only
includes the aggregate particle. Apparent specific gravity is intended to only measure the
specific gravity of the solid volume so it will be the highest of the aggregate specific gravities.
Apparent specific gravity value is measured as 3.0925. That value shows the measurement of
the weight in air of a unit volume of impermeable portion of aggregate. [1]
Bulk specific gravity (dry) is the proportion of the weight in air of a unit volume of
aggregate (involving the permeable and impermeable voids in the particles, but not involving
the voids between particles) at a specified temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of
gas-free distilled water at a specified temperature. The mass measurement only includes the
aggregate particle. Due to the fact that bulk specific gravity (dry) involves the water permeable
void volume, bulk specific gravity will be less than apparent specific gravity. The value of bulk
specific gravity (dry) is found as 2.8070. [1]
Bulk specific gravity (SSD)the proportion of the mass in air of a unit volume of
aggregate, involving the mass of water within the voids filled to the extent achieved by
submerging in water for approximately 15 hours (but not including the voids between particles)
at a stated temperature, compared to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled
water at a stated temperature. The mass measurement includes the aggregate particle as well as
the water within the water permeable voids. The value of bulk specific gravity (SSD) is found
as 2.8993. [2]
Absorption is the increase in weight of aggregate due to water in the pores, but not
including water adhering to the outside surface of the particles, expressed as a percentage of the
dry weight. Absorption capacity states the maximum amount of water the aggregate can
absorb. The absorption capacity is used in mix proportioning calculations and can be used to
transform from saturated surface dry state to oven dry state or vice versa. Most normal weight
aggregates have water absorption capacities in the interval of 1 to 2%. High absorption
capacities indicate high-porosity aggregates that can possess potential durability problems.
Water absorption capacity of aggregate sample is measured as 3.288% That value shows the
aggregate can absorb water in that ratio according to aggregate weight. Since this value is
greater that 2%, that aggregate can meet durability problem [3]
7- REFERENCE
1) Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity, (2011, April 22). Retrieved January 12, 2017,from

from http://www.pavementinteractive.org/article/coarse-aggregate-specific-gravity/

2) SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF COARSE AGGREGATE, Retrieved (n.d) from

http://www.in.gov/indot/div/mt/aashto/testmethods/aashto_t85.pdf

3) Moisture Content. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2017, from

http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/materials/aggregate/moisture
%20content.htm