ISBN 978-0-626-26399-7

SANS 3001-AG20:2011
Edition 1

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Civil engineering test methods

Part AG20: Determination of the bulk density,
apparent density and water absorption of
aggregate particles retained on the 5 mm
sieve for road construction materials

Published by SABS Standards Division

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
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SABS

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
Edition 1

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope

Acknowledgement
The SABS Division wishes to acknowledge the valuable assistance of the Aggregate and Sand
Producers Association of South Africa (ASPASA), the Committee of Transport Officials (COTO),
and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 59E, Construction
Standards Pavement materials testing, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards
Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This document was published in July 2011.

This document supersedes TMH1-B14:1986 (second edition), SANS 5843 and SANS 5844.

SANS 3001 consists of various parts under the general title Civil engineering test methods.

Parts AG of the SANS 3001 series contain methods for testing aggregates.

Annex A is for information only.

Introduction
This part of SANS 3001 is used for determining the relative compaction of crushed stone base and
in the mix design procedures for concrete and asphalt where the volumetric and absorption
properties of aggregates are required.

Apparatus dimensions that are critical to the outcome of the method or procedure are given with a
tolerance. All other dimensions are nominal and should be considered fit for purpose. Existing
apparatus that conforms to the requirements of TMH 1 may be used in this standard until it is no
longer fit for purpose. In particular the 13,2 mm and 9,5 mm sieves may be used in place of the new
sieve sizes.

Except for minor variations this test method is similar to the ASTM and AASHTO test methods (see
bibliography).

This test method is classified as Group: B, Rating: 2, Activity: GR/AS, in accordance with the
requirements of the South African Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
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Contents
Page

Acknowledgement

Foreword

Introduction

1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Normative references.............................................................................................................. 3

3 Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 4

4 Apparatus................................................................................................................................ 4

5 Sample preparation................................................................................................................. 5

6 Procedure ............................................................................................................................... 5

7 Calculations............................................................................................................................. 5

8 Test report............................................................................................................................... 7

Annex A (informative) Examples of the calculation procedure ................................................ 8

Bibliography............................................................................................................................... 9

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
Edition 1

Civil engineering test methods

Part AG20:
Determination of the bulk density, apparent density and water absorption of
aggregate particles retained on the 5 mm sieve for road construction
materials

1 Scope
This part of SANS 3001 describes a method to prepare a test sample and to determine the following
parameters on aggregate particles retained on the 5 mm sieve:

a) bulk density;

b) apparent density; and

c) water absorption.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Information on currently valid national
and international standards can be obtained from the SABS Standards Division.

SANS 1649 (SABS 1649), Non-automatic self-indicating and semi-self-indicating weighing

instruments.

SANS 3001-PR1, Civil engineering test methods Part PR1: Determination of uncertainty of
measurement, repeatability, reproducibility and bias.

SANS 3310-1/ISO 3310-1, Test sieves Technical requirements and testing Part 1: Test sieves
of metal wire cloth.

SANS 3310-2/ISO 3310-2, Test sieves Technical requirements and testing Part 2: Test sieves
of perforated metal plate.

TMH 5, Sampling methods for road construction materials.

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
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3 Definitions
3.1
apparent density
AD
density of aggregate particles expressed as the mass of the aggregate particles divided by the
volume of the aggregate particles including impermeable (internal) voids but excluding permeable
(surface) and inter-particle voids

3.2
bulk density
BD
density of aggregate particles expressed as the mass of the aggregate particles divided by the
volume of the aggregate particles including the impermeable (internal), and permeable (surface)
voids, but excluding the inter-particle voids

3.3
constant mass
less than 0,1 % change in mass after two successive periods of more than 1 h of oven-drying

3.4
crushed stone base
granular layer (produced by crushing rock ) immediately below the surfacing in a road pavement

3.5
saturated surface-dry condition
condition at which the permeable (surface) voids of aggregate particles are just filled with moisture

3.6
tare
to reset a balance to read zero so that it excludes the mass of the container

3.7
water absorption
difference in mass between the saturated surface-dry condition and the oven-dry condition of a
given volume of aggregate

4 Apparatus
4.1 Electronic balance, fine measurement type that complies with SANS 1649, and with a
capacity of at least 12 kg, and reading to 0,1 g.

4.2 Wire basket, approximately 200 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height, manufactured from
mesh with 1 mm to 3 mm apertures.

4.3 Container, filled with water at a temperature of between 24 C and 26 C, suitable for
immersing the wire basket containing the test sample.

4.4 Riffler, with suitable openings larger than the largest particle in the sample (see TMH 5), and
at least three pans.

4.5 Drying oven, that is capable of maintaining a temperature range of between 105 C and
110 C, with continuous draft.

4.6 Thermometer, capable of covering the temperature range 0 C to 100 C, and reading to 1 C.

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
Edition 1

4.7 Cloth, of chamois leather approximately 750 mm 750 mm in size.

4.8 Sieves, that comply with SANS 3310-1 or SANS 3310-2, as applicable.

5 Sample preparation
Screen the field sample on the 5 mm sieve. Retain the material that does not pass that sieve.

Ensure that the mass of the test sample, which is dependent on the maximum particle size,
conforms to the approximate mass given in table 1.

NOTE Specimen samples are prepared and tested in duplicate.

Table 1 Size of test sample

1 2
Approximate test
Maximum particle size
sample mass
mm g
> 37,5 4 000
20 to 37,5 3 000
10 to 20 2 000
5 to 10 1 000

6 Procedure
6.1 Thoroughly wash the test sample on a 5 mm sieve protected by a larger sieve so as to remove
dust from the surfaces of the particles, and soak for 24 h 1 h in water.

6.2 Remove the sample from the water, drain off the free water for a few seconds and transfer it to
the damp chamois cloth.

6.3 Roll the material in the cloth until all visible water has been absorbed by the cloth. The
saturated surface-dry condition has been reached when the cloth has absorbed all visible water, but
the surfaces of the particles still appear damp. Large particles may be surfaced-dried individually
using the cloth.

6.4 Immediately weigh the test sample and record the mass, M1, to the nearest 0,1 g. Transfer the
test sample to a wire basket that has been tared in water.

6.5 Completely submerge the wire basket with the test sample in the container of water at a
temperature of between 24 C and 26 C, taking care that no air bubbles are entrapped. Weigh the
wire basket and test sample in the water and record the mass, M2, to the nearest 0,1 g.

6.6 Remove the sample from the wire basket, allow free water to drain off and then dry it to a
constant mass in the oven at a temperature of between 105 C and 110 C.

6.7 Determine the mass of the oven-dried test sample, M3, to the nearest 0,1 g.

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7 Calculations
NOTE An example of a calculation procedure is given in annex A.

7.1 Determine the bulk density (BD), the apparent density (AD) and the water absorption of the
test sample given in 7.1.1, 7.1.2 and 7.1.3, respectively.

7.1.1 Determine the BD to the nearest whole number, using the following equation:

M3
BD = 997
(
1M M )
2

where

BD is the bulk density of the aggregate particles, expressed in kilograms per cubic metre
(kg/m3);

M1 is the mass of the saturated surface-dry test sample, expressed in grams (g);

M2 is the mass of the saturated test sample in water at 25 C, expressed in grams (g);

M3 is the mass of the oven dried test sample, expressed in grams (g);

997 is the density of water at 25 C, expressed in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3);

7.1.2 Determine the AD to the nearest whole number, using the following equation:

M3
AD = 997
(M 3 M 2 )

where

AD is the apparent density of the aggregate particles, expressed in kilograms per cubic
metre (kg/m3).

Ensure that the results of duplicate tests agree to within 5 kg/m3, or repeat the procedure.

7.1.3 Determine the water absorption as the loss in mass between the saturated surface-dry and
the oven-dry conditions of the oven-dried mass of the test sample, to one decimal place, using the
following equation:

M M3
WABS = 100 1
M3

where

WABS is the water absorption of the test sample, expressed as a percentage (%).

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
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7.2 The uncertainty of the test method is dependant on the characteristics of the material, with
highly absorbent materials giving more variability than materials with low absorbency. Use the
following equations to determine the sigma value, , and the required precision E (two-sided limit
and precision category PV), for the statistical analysis of the uncertainty of the test results as
described in SANS 3001-PR1:

a) For AD:

= FAD AD

and

E = 0,00454 AD 5,2

where

FAD = 0,0025, for aggregates;

FAD = 0,0035, for crushed stone base.

b) For BD:

= FBD BD

and

E = 0,00527 BD 5,5

where

FBD = 0,0030, for aggregates;

FBD = 0,0040, for crushed stone base.

8 Test report
Report the results to the nearest 1 kg/m3 in the case of BD and AD, and to the nearest 0,1 % in the
case of water absorption.

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
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Annex A
(informative)

Examples of the calculation procedure

A.1 Use the following information to calculate A.2 to A.4:

M1 = 2 165,5 g;

M2 = 3 482,0 g;

M3 = 3 442,0 g.

A.2 Determine the BD (see 7.1.1), using the following equation:

M3
BD = 997
(M1 M 2 )

3 442,0
= 997
(3 482,0 2 165,5 )

= 2 607 kg/m3.

A.3 Determine the AD (see 7.1.2), using the following equation:

M3
AD = 997
(M 3 M 2 )

3 442,0
= 997
(3 442,0 2 165,5 )

= 2 688 kg/m3.

A.4 Determine the water absorption (see 7.1.3), using the following equation:

(M M 3 )
WABS = 100 1
M3

(3 482,0 3 442,0 )
=100
3 442,0

= 1,2 %.

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 SANS 3001-AG20:2011
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Bibliography
AASHTO T 85, Specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregate.

ASTM C 127, Standard test method for density, relative density (specific gravity), and absorption of
course aggregate.

SANS 3001-GR20, Civil engineering test methods Part GR20: Determination of moisture content
by oven-drying.

SABS

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