Answers for Practice Problems in Lesson 5

Practice Problem #1: Specific gravity calculation for coarse aggregate

Given:
Oven-dry mass in air = 3168.5 g
Saturated surface-dry mass in air = 3190.0 g
Saturated mass in water = 1972.0 g

Solution/Answer:

𝐴
a) Bulk specific gravity, OD =
𝐵−𝐶
3,168.5 𝑔
=
3,190.0 − 1972.0

= 2.60

𝐵
b) Bulk specific gravity SSD =
𝐵−𝐶
3,190.0 𝑔
= = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟐
3,190.0 − 1,972 𝑔

Practice Problem #2: Calculate specific gravity for fine aggregate

Given:
Oven-dry mass in air = 490.7 g
Saturated surface-dry mass in air = 501.4 g
Mass of flask with specimen and water to fill mark = 953.5 g
Mass of flask with water to fill mark = 647.2 g

Solution/Answer:
𝐴
a. 𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑂𝐷 =
𝑆 +𝐵−𝐶

490.7𝑔
=
501.4𝑔 + 647.2𝑔 − 953.5𝑔

= 2.51

𝑆
b. 𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑆𝑆𝐷 =
𝑆 +𝐵−𝐶

501.4𝑔
= = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟕
501.4𝑔 + 647.2𝑔 − 953.5𝑔

Practice Problem #3: Calculation of absolute volume of an aggregate

A sample of oven-dry aggregate has a mass of 47.7 kg (105.0 lb). The bulk specific gravity is 2.60. Cal culate the absolute
volume of the aggregate.

Solution:

47 .7𝑘𝑔
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
2.60𝑥1,000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

Abs. vol. = 0.018m 3

Construction Materials and Testing -1-

1 st Sem, A.Y. 2020 -2021
Practice Problem #4: Calculation of aggregate absorption

Given:
Mass of saturated surface-dry aggregate in air = 501.4 g
Mass of oven-dry aggregate in air = 490.7 g

Solution/Answer:

𝑊𝑆𝑆𝐷 − 𝑊𝑂𝐷
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , % = 𝑥 100
𝑊𝑂𝐷

501.4𝑔 − 490.7𝑔
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , % = 𝑥 100
490 .7𝑔

Absorption, % = 2.2%

Practice Example #5: Calculation of total moisture and surface moisture

An aggregate sample has an absorption of 1.2% and a mass of 847.3 g when wet. After oven drying, it has a mass of 792.7 g.
Calculate the total moisture content and surface moisture content.
Solution:

𝑊 − 𝑊𝑂𝐷
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 , % = 𝑥 100
𝑊𝑂𝐷

847.3𝑔 − 792.7𝑔
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 , % = 𝑥 100
792 .7𝑔

= 6.9%

Surface moisture content = 6.9% - 1.2%

= 5.7%

Practice Problem 6: Calculation of surface moisture content (SSD basis), volumetric method

In a laboratory, the following were measured. Compute the surface moisture.

Mass of wet aggregate 500.0 g

Original flask reading 200 mL
Final flask reading 403 mL
Bulk specific gravity SSD of aggregate 2.60

Solution:

Mass of displaced water, Wd = vol. of displaced water x density of water

= (403 ml – 200 ml) x 1g/ml
= 203 g
500𝑔
203𝑔 −
Surface Moisture content, % = 2.60
𝑥 100
500𝑔 −203𝑔

= 3.7%

Construction Materials and Testing -2-

1 st Sem, A.Y. 2020 -2021