DONE BY:

AULINE SMITH HORACE DAVIS TAVAR SMITH

AVA GREEN

ID: 0504147 ID: O504202 ID: 0500559

ID: 0506103

LECTURER: DATE: GROUP: Title:

MR. VICTOR DOUSE SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 CT3

Flat and Elongated Particles

Aim
To Determine the Flatness and Elongation of particles in a 37.5mm aggregate

Theory
The geometrical irregularities of an aggregate particle are of great importance for the behavior of the aggregate. Generally it is difficult to avoid flat and elongated particles, but one can specify the tolerable amount for particular projects. The use of too many flat and elongated particles in can result in very harsh concrete, segregation of the concrete, loss of strength of the concrete and can cause changes in aggregate gradation, as flaky particles tend to pass diagonally through the sieves. A particle is said to be flat if the ratio of its width to thickness is greater than a certain specified value. On the other hand a particle is said to be elongated if the ratio of its length to width is greater than or equal to a certain specified value. Length can be defined as an aggregates maximum dimension, the Thickness as the maximum dimension perpendicular to the length and width and the Width as the maximum dimension in the plane perpendicular to the length. The flatness and elongation of a particle depends on the Specified Value (s.v.) that is given. In this case the Specified Value (s.v.) is 3. This means that the value obtained should be 3 or more to be classified as elongated or flat and the amount of flat and elongated particles in each sample tested should not exceed 5% in order for it to meet the requirements. The greater the specified value, the more longer particles are tolerated.

Fig.1. Diagram showing the explained dimensions of a particle. The measurement of flat and elongated is a measure of the aspect ratios of a particle depending on its specified purpose. Like most other construction materials the Engineer will determine the specified value or ratio. Currently manual measurement using the proportional or vernier caliper are employed for flat and elongated particles. These measurements are not only slow and laborious, but are also highly subjective. The

method involves first obtaining a sample and sieving it to separate each size larger than the 3/8 in. (9.5mm) sieve. Each size is then tested using a caliper device and the particles are weighed to determine a percentage of flat, elongated, or flat and elongated in a sample. Because this task is tedious there is a potential for poor implementation and inaccurate results. A typical sample may take up to an hour for analysis, and results may not be available for several hours, during which a lot of material may be produced that do not meet specifications. In carrying out this experiment, the individual should ensure that an unbiased or a representative sample is obtained. Since tests are being done on size fractions, only those fractions whose proportions exceed 10% of the initial mass are considered for testing. When measuring, care should be taken that whatever measuring device is used, is properly read.

Apparatus
Designated sieves of the following aperture sizes: 50mm, 37.5mm, 19.0mm, 9.5mm and 4.75mm. Shovel Vernier caliper Inherent error +/- 0.05cm Metler PM 30 Top Loading Electric Balance Capacity 30kg Inherent Error +/- 0.0005kg Weighing containers.

Materials
o 37.5mm Aggregate

Procedure
A representative field sample of 37.5mm aggregate was used The field sample was reduced by the quartering method to 6972g The sample was then sieved and individual size fractions namely 50mm 37.5mm, 37.5mm 19.0mm, 19.0mm 9.5mm and 9.5mm 4.75mm were weighed, tabulated and calculated as a percent (%) of the initial mass. Quartering reduced each fraction larger than the 9.5mm whose percentage of the initial mass exceeded 10%, until close to 100 particles were obtained. Tests were carried out on each of the particles in each size fraction and placed in three groups; flat, elongated, neither flat nor elongated (based on the 1:3 Dimensional Ratio). The proportion of sample in each group was determined by both mass and counting. The percentages of flat and of elongated particles were calculated to the nearest 1% for each sieve size greater than 9.5mm.

Table 1. Results of Determination of Flat and Elongated Particles for a 37.5mm Aggregate Initial Mass = 6972g Sieve Sizes (mm) 50 37.5 19.0 9.5 4.75 Size Fraction 50 37.5 37.5 19.0 19.0 9.5 9.5 4.75 Mass Retained (g) 310 3806 2238 589 % Retained 4.4 54.6 32 8.4

Table 2. Results of Determination of Flat and Elongated Particles For a 37.5mm Aggregate Initial Mass = 6972g
SIZE MASS TOTAL # MASS OF FRACTION RETAINED OF PART. REDUCED S (mm) (g) IN SAMPLE REDUCED (g) SAMPLE

FLAT

ELONGATED

NEITHER

# OF % PART. PART.

MASS (g)

% # OF MASS PART.

% PART.

MASS (g)

% # OF % MASS PART. PART.

MASS (g)

% MASS

37.5 - 19 19 - 9.5

3806 2238

109 103

2596.0 457.0

0 3

0 3

0 4

0 1

1 0

1 0

27 0

1 0

108 100

99 97

2580 453

99 99

Calculation
% of Particles = (# of Particles/Total # of Particles) x 100 Eg: 3/ 103 x 100 = 3 % % of Mass = (Mass of Particles/Total Reduced Mass) x 100 Eg: 4/ 457 x 100 = 1 % % Retained = Mass Retained x 100 Initial Mass

Eg: 310 x 100 = 4.4% 6972

Discussion of Results
Firstly, size fractions 50mm - 37.5mm and 9.5mm 4.75 mm did not meet the 10% criteria for testing, because the mass retained in these fractions were very small when compared to the other two. A total of 109 particles with a mass of 2596g were used to carry out this experiment for the 37.5mm 19mm size fraction. Particles of size fraction 37.5mm 19mm had no flat particles present. In contrast there was a single elongated particle weighing 27g, which was a minimal percentage of the whole, which meets the requirements. The number of neither flat nor elongated particles in this size fraction was a 108, which weighed approximately 2580g and represented 99% of the total number of particles and mass respectively. Under size fraction 19mm- 9.5mm, 103 particles with a mass of 457g were used to perform this test and the number of flat particles found was 3. The mass of the flat particles weighed 4g and represented 1% of the total reduced mass. There were no elongated particles of size fraction 19mm 9.5mm. The mass of neither flat nor elongated particles weighed 453g and represented 99% of the total reduced mass. The number of particles neither flat nor elongated in this size fraction was a 100 and represented 97% of the total number of particles. The number of flat and elongated particles in both of the size fractions tested did not exceed the 5% specified by the JS124 standard, which makes them suitable for use in the making of good concrete.

Observations
While sieving particles that were seemingly flat or elongated appeared not be able to pass through certain sieves in a particular angle or direction. These individual particles had to be placed through the sieves one by one to see if they would pass or be retained. A lot of the particles measured came close to meeting the specified value, which meant that if a smaller specified value had been chosen the results would have been quite different.

Sources of error
Sources of error would have been incorrect weighing and counting of particles, parallax error on the path of measuring the particles and the inherent properties of the vernier caliper and the balance used.

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that this aggregate does not contain a large percentage of flat or elongated particles (according to the specified value), which proves it to be suitable for the making of good concrete.