TESTING OF AGGREGATES
VARIOUS TEST INVOLVED
SIEVE ANALYSIS
DETERMINATION OF FLAKINESS INDEX
DETERMINATION OF ELONGATION INDEX
DETEMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES
AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE
AGGREGATE IMPACT VALUE
AGGREGATE ABRASION VALUE
FINENESS MODULUS
BULKING OF SAND
SIEVE ANALYSIS
It is conducted to determine particle size distribution of sample
The sieves used are as follows
80mm 4.75mm
40mm 2.36mm
20mm COARSE
600µm
AGGREGATES
FINE AGGREGATES
10mm 300µm
4.75mm 150µm
Example for calculation of Fineness Modulus
Coarse aggregate Fine aggregate
IS Sieve size Wt. ret Cum. Wt. Cum. % Cum. % Wt. ret Cum. Wt. Cum. % Cum. %
retain retained passing retain retained passing
80mm 0 0 0 100 - - - -
40mm 0 0 0 100 - - - -
20mm 6 6 40 60 - - - -
10mm 5 11 73.3 26.7 0 0 0 100
4.75mm 4 15 100 00 10 10 2 98
2.36mm - - 100 00 50 60 12 88
1.18mm - - 100 00 50 110 22 78
600µm - - 100 00 95 205 41 59
300µm - - 100 00 175 380 76 24
150µm - - 100 00 85 465 93 7
<150µm - - 00 35 500 - -
Total 15kg - 713.3 500g - 246
F.M=713.3/100 = 7.133 F.M= 246/100 = 2.46
Determination of fineness modulus
Fineness modulus is an empirical factor obtained by adding the cumulative
percentages of aggregate retained on each of the standard sieves ranging
80mm-150 micron and dividing the sum by 100.
Larger the F.M=coarser the material
It’s a ready index of coarseness and fineness of material.
Limits than can be used for guidance:
Sand Fineness modulus
Fine sand 2.2-2.6
Medium Sand 2.6-2.9
Coarse sand 2.9-3.2
Fineness Modulus more than 3.2 is unsuitable for concrete
Grading Limit for sand in Zone 1 and 2
Grading Limit for sand in Zone 3 and 4
Test for determination of flakiness index
Flakiness index of aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles in it
whose least dimension is less than 3/5th of their mean dimension.
This test is not acceptable for size<6.3mm
Test conducted using a metal gauge . A sufficient quantity of sample is
taken such that a minimum of 20 pieces of each fraction can be tested.
Each fraction is gauged in thickness on the metal gauge.
Desirable Flakiness Index is 40 to 50 as per British Standard.
Test for determination of elongation
index
Elongation index on an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles
whose greatest dimension is more than 1.8 times their mean dimension
Elongation index not applicable to sizes smaller than 6.3mm
Test conducted using metal length gauge
Sufficient sample quantity is taken so as to provide a minimum number of
200 pieces of any fractions
Each fraction shall be individually gauged for length on the metal gauge.
The presence of elongated particles more than 10 to 15% are undesirable.
Determination of specific gravity and
water absorption
The specific gravity is considered to be a measure of strength or quality of the
material. The specific gravity test helps in identification of stone.
Water absorption gives an idea of strength of aggregate. More the water
absorption, more porous is aggregate therefore unacceptable unless and until
has high acceptable strength, hardness and impact.
Apparatus:
I. wire mesh basket < 6.3mm
II. Oven temperature 100-110°C
III. Container for filling water and suspending basket.
IV. Weighing units
V. Shallow tray
VI. 2 dry absorbent clothes
Procedure
2kg sample,washed,fines removed,placed in wire basket,immersed in distilled water. Temp=22-32°C.
Cover of 50mm required
Lift and drop the basket continuously for 25times at rate of about 1 drop per sec. completely
immerse basket for approx. 24 hrs afterwards
Basket removed from water and allowed to drain for a few min. transferred to dry absorbent
cloth
Weigh SSD sample to nearest 1.0 g or 0.1% of the total weight, whichever is greater and record this as
SSD weight. Dry the sample in a pan to a constant weight in an oven @ 110 ±5°C. Cool in air at room
temperature for 1 to 3 hr, or until the aggregate can be comfortably handled. Record weight to
nearest 1.0 g or 0.1%, whichever is greater, as oven dry weight.
A1= Weight of Basket + Aggregate after immersion in water
A2 = Weight of Empty Basket after immersion in water
A= Weight of saturated aggregate (A1-A2)
B = Weight of surface dry aggregate in air
C = Weight of oven dried aggregate
Specific Gravity = C/ (B-A)
Apparent Specific Gravity = C/ (C-A)
Water absorption = 100 (B-C)/ C
Test for determination if aggregate
crushing value
Aggregate crushing value gives a relative measure of the resistance of an
aggregate to crushing under a gradually applied compressive load.
Standard aggregate crushing test made on aggregate passing through IS
12.5mm sieve and retained on 10mm IS sieve
Sample properties
∆ Size=12.5mm-10mm
∆ Weight of sample=6.5 kg
∆ Sample in surface dry condition
Procedure
Fill the standard cylinder with the sample in 3 layers.
Each layer tamped 25 times
Place the cylinder in the apparatus on the base
plate which is further positioned on a compressive
testing machine
Machine is uniformly loaded upto 40 tons in
10min.load is then released
Empty the cylinder and material is sieved through
2.36mm IS sieve. Fraction passing sieve is measured
Results
Test for the determination of
aggregate impact value
It gives the relative measure of resistance of an aggregate to sudden shock or
impact
Sample:
Passing 12.5mm and retained on 10mm
Dried in oven for 4hrs @100°C
Fill the cylinder in 3 layers each tamped 25 times and then struck off level.
Weigh the cylinder.(with and without sample).
Procedure
This cylinder is then placed in aggregate impact value apparatus
Weight of 14kgs raised to height of 380mm and then allowed to free fall.
Sample subjected to 15 such blows each delivered within an interval<1 sec.
Crushed aggregate removed & sieved through 2.36mm IS sieve.
Results
Test for determination of aggregate
abrasion value(IS:2386(Part IV) 1963)
Two methods are
Sieve size Weight in gms of test sample for grade
mentioned-Devals abrasion
test & Los Angeles abrasion Passing retain A B C D E F G
test. The latter gives a more mm mm
realistic picture therefore
80 63 - - - - 2500 - -
Los Angeles testing is been
described. 63 50 - - - - 2500 - -
The Test sample consists of 50 40 - - - - 5000 5000 -
clean aggregate, dried in 40 25 1250 - - - - 5000 5000
oven at 105°C should
25 20 1250 - - - - - 5000
confirm to one of the
grading 20 12.5 1250 2500 - - - - -
Abrasive charge consists of 12.5 10 1250 2500 - - - - -
cast iron spheres or steel 10 6.3 - - 2500 - - - -
spheres. 48mm diameter, 6.3 4.75 - - 2500 - - - -
each weighing around 390-
445g. 4.75 2.36 - - - 5000 - - -
Procedure- Los Angeles test
Rotated @20-33rev/min
Test sample + abrasive Material discharged
Gradings A,B,C,D-500
charge placed in and sieved through
revolutions
testing Machine 1.7mm IS Sieve.
Gradings E,F,G-1000
Difference between Material retained is
original and final washed,dried in oven
weight of test sample is @105-110°C,weighed
expressed as % to nearest gram
Specified Abrasive Charge
Grading Number of species Weight of charge (gm) Note-
A 12 5000 ± 25 The difference is
B 11 4584 ± 25 reported as
C 8 3330 ± 20 percentage of wear
D 6 2500 ± 15 which should not be
more than 16% for
E 12 5000 ± 25
concrete aggregates.
F 12 5000 ± 25
G 12 5000 ± 25
Bulking of Sand
