EXPERIMENT #1

TITLE: Reducing Field Sample of Aggregate to Test Sample by Quartering

Number of Hours required for Completion: 3 hrs. Date Due: July 11, 2016
Date Started: July 4, 2016 Date Completed: July 10, 2016

Submitted by: Section: CE 43 L B1

Dalugdog, Rose Angela H.
Feniza, Steven James
Fuentes, Vanessa May
Jagape, Kirby James
Llesis, Ailene
Manosa, Christine Joy
__________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE:
This method covers for the reduction of large samples of aggregate to the appropriate

size for testing employing techniques that are intended to minimize variations in measured

characteristics between the test samples so selected and the large sample.

REFERENCE:

ASTM Standard C 125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates.

AASHTO T 248 Reducing Aggregate Field Sample to Testing Size.

EQUIPMENT:

Straight-edged scoop.

Flat-edged shovel or trowel.

Broom or brush.
PROCEDURE:

1. Place the original sample on a hard clean, level surface where there will be neither loss

of material nor the accidental addition of foreign material.

2. Mix the material by turning the entire sample over at least three times until the

material is thoroughly mixed. With the last turning, form the entire sample into a

conical pile by depositing individual lifts on top of the preceding lift.

3. Carefully flatten the conical pile to a uniform thickness and diameter by pressing down

the apex with a shovel or trowel so that each quarter sector of the resulting pile will

contain the material originally in it. The diameter should be approximately four to

eight times the thickness.

4. Divide the flattened mass into four equal quarters with a shovel or trowel and remove

two diagonally opposite quarters, including all fine material, and brush the cleared

spaces clean. The two unused quarters may be set aside for later use or testing, if

desired.

5. Successively mix and quarter the remaining material until the sample is reduced to the

desired size.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION:

The field samples of aggregate must be extensively reduced to its desired appropriate

size for testing to conduct a series of tests to describe the material, measure its quality and

to determine its physical characteristics such as sieve analysis, soundness, hardness, etc. in a

manner that the smaller test sample portion is most likely to be a representation of the larger

sample, and thus of the total supply.

Several methods of sample reduction are employed to minimize the variations in the

aggregate characteristics between the smaller test sample and the larger field sample. The

appropriate field sample reduction method is dependent mainly on the nominal maximum

size of the aggregate (which is the smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount of
the aggregate is permitted to pass.), the amount of free moisture in the sample, and the

equipment available.

The reduction methods include the use of Mechanical Splitter, Quartering Method and

the use of Miniature Stockpile. As for this experiment, we used the Quartering method.

Furthermore, the following chart should be used in selecting the appropriate reduction

method for the aggregate to be tested.

Mechanical Splitter Quartering Miniature Stockpile

Fine Aggregates Air Dry
Coarse Aggregates
Fine Aggregates Free
Moisture on the Particle
Surface.
Coarse Aggregates
Fine Aggregates Free
Moisture on the Particle
Surface.
Not appropriate for Coarse
Aggregates

Combined Aggregates with Not appropriate for

Combined Aggregates Free Moisture on the Combined Aggregates
Particle Surface.

However in some circumstances, reducing the field sample prior to testing is not

recommended. Significant differences may unavoidably occur during sample reduction in

the case of an aggregate having relatively few large size particles in the sample, these particles

may be unequally distributed among the reduced size test samples. If the test sample is being

tested for certain contaminants occurring as a few discreet particles in a small percentage, the

reduced test sample may not be truly a representative of the total aggregate as produced. In

this case, the entire original field sample should be tested.