Highway And Traffic Engineering Laboratory Manual

Job NO. 03

Determination of the flakiness and the elongation index for the

given aggregate sample

SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE:

This test is used to determine the particle shape of the aggregate and each particle
shape being preferred under specific conditions. The significance of flakiness &
elongation index is as follows;

 The degree of packing of the particles of one size depends upon their shape.
 Due to high surface area to volume ratio, the flaky and elongated particles
lower the workability of concrete mixes.
 Flaky and elongated particles are considered
 Undesirable for base coarse construction as they may cause weakness with
possibilities of braking down under heavy loads.
 BS-1241 specifies a Flakiness index not exceeding 30% irrespective of the
aggregate size.
 Maximum permitted Elongated index is 35, 40 or 45% for aggregate sizes 2
½’’ - 2’’, 1 ½’’ - ¾’’ & ½’’ - 3/8’’.
 Both Flakiness and Elongation tests are not applicable to sizes smaller then
6.3mm i.e. ¼’’ sieve.

RELATED THEORY:

SHAPES OF PARTICLES

 The usual shapes of the particles are;

 Rounded (river gravel)
 Flaky (laminated rock)
 Elongated
 Angular( crushed rock)

APPARATUS:

• Thickness/Flakiness Index Gauge

• Length/Elongation Index Gauge
• Aggregate sample to be tested

FLAKY :

• A flaky particle is the one whose least dimension (thickness) is less than 0.6 times
the mean size.
• These are the materials of which the thickness is small as compared to the other
two dimensions.

Group No.2 BSCE01113084) (BSCE01113074) (BSCE01113104) The University of Lahore

 Highway And Traffic Engineering Laboratory Manual

• Limit of flaky particles in the mixes is 30%. If the flaky particles are greater than
30% then the aggregate is considered undesirable for the intended use.

FLAKINESS INDEX:

It is the percentage by weight of flaky particles in a sample.

Procedure:

• Perform the sieve analysis on the given aggregate sample. The aggregates are
then arranged in the into a number of closely limited particle size groups -stored on
the test sieves into a number of closely limited particle size groups
2 ½’’ - 2’’, 1 ½’’ - ¾’’ & ½’’ - 3/8’’

• Each group (fraction) is weighed and tested for thickness on appropriate opening
of the thickness gauge by passing each particle through slot of specified thickness
along least dimension.

• The weight of particles passing the thickness gauge is recorded for each fraction.
This is the weight of flaky particles.

• The flakiness index is calculated by expressing the weight of flaky particles as a

percentage of total weight of the sample.

Calculation for Sieve Analysis:

Sample weight=5000 gm.

Sieve Size
Passing Retained Weight Percentage Cumulative Percentage
Retained Retained weight Passing
Gm gm Retained %
%
2 1½ 245 4.9 4.9 95.1
1½ 1 985 19.7 24.6 80.3
1 ¾ 855 17.1 41.7 82.9
¾ ½ 325 6.5 48.2 93.5
½ 3/8 1660 33.2 81.4 66.8
3/8 Pan 930 18.6 100 81.4

Group No.2 BSCE01113084) (BSCE01113074) (BSCE01113104) The University of Lahore

 Highway And Traffic Engineering Laboratory Manual

Calculation for Flaky Particles:

Sieve Size
Passing Retained Weight Percentage Weight of Individual Weighted
Retained Retained Flacky Flackiness Flakiness
gm gm particles Index Index
gm % %
2 1½ 245 4.9 0 0 0
1½ 1 985 19.7 0 0 0
1 ¾ 855 17.1 0 0 0
¾ ½ 325 6.5 10 3.08 0.2
½ 3/8 1660 33.2 45 2.72 0.9
3/8 Pan 930 18.6
∑=5000 ∑=1.1

ELONGATED PARTICLES:

These are the particles having length considerably larger than the other two
dimensions and it is the particle whose greater dimension is 1.8 times its mean size.
Limit of elongated particles in the mixes is 45%. Thus, if
the elongated particles are greater than 45%, then the aggregate is considered
undesirable for the intended use.

ELONGATION INDEX:

It is the percentage by weight of elongated particles in a

sample. The Elongated index is calculated by expressing the weight of Elongated
particles as percentage of total weight of the sample.

Group No.2 BSCE01113084) (BSCE01113074) (BSCE01113104) The University of Lahore

 Highway And Traffic Engineering Laboratory Manual

Calculation for Elongated Particles:

Sieve Size
Passing Retained Weight Percentage Weight of Individual Weighted
Retained Retained Elongated Elongated Elongated
gm gm particles Index Index
gm % %
2 1½ 245 4.9 95 38.77 19
1½ 1 985 19.7 830 84.26 166
1 ¾ 855 17.1 240 28.07 48
¾ ½ 325 6.5 235 72.31 47
½ 3/8 1660 33.2 840 50.60 168
3/8 Pan 930 18.6
∑=5000 ∑=448

PRECAUTIONS:

 While sieving, care must be taken that the particles that are chocked in the
sieve must not be forced down into the next sieve. Such particles should be
pushed back into the same sieve.
 While placing different fractions on the table, place them some distance apart
so that no two fractions may get mixed. 3- Be careful while selecting the
opening of the flakiness and elongation gauges for any particular fraction.

COMMENTS:

Group No.2 BSCE01113084) (BSCE01113074) (BSCE01113104) The University of Lahore