PRACTICUM WEEKLY REPORT

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

TECHNOLOGY (CIVL6110)

ORGANIZED BY GROUP 5/BA43

CANDIKA WIJAYA 2301865501

KEVIN ARDIAN 2301853073

SENDY 2301868541
WAN REZA ADITYA 2301862701

ASSISTANTS:

ANTONIUS RUBEN WAKKARY SP074

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

ENGINEERING FACULTY
BINA NUSANTARA UNIVERSITY
JAKARTA
2021
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CHAPTER 5

SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE

AGGREGATE
5.1 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this practicum is to determine specific gravity and percentage
weight of water that can be absorb by fine aggregates, calculated against weight of dry
aggregate.

5.2 BASIC THEORY

Concrete is generally composed of three main constituent materials, namely
cement, aggregate and water. If needed, admixture can be added to change certain
properties of the concrete in question (Mulyono, 2005). Fine aggregate is an aggregate
with a size smaller than 4.8 mm (Mulyono, 2005). Fine aggregate can be in the form
of natural sand (the result of natural formation of rocks) or artificial sand (produced
by stone crushing tools). Coarse aggregate is rock whose grain size is greater than 4.8
mm (Mulyono, 2005). Finding the relative density value of a sample of raw materials
is generally done by using a scale, steel basket (steel yord) which refers to the reference
book of physical properties and physical mineralogy (Hurlbut and Klein, 1977). For
finer aggregates, this pycnometer is used. There are several methods that can calculate
the density of fine and medium aggregates, namely by using a gas jar and a specific
gravity bottle (BS 812: 1975). Specific gravity characteristics are generally used in the
calculation of aggregate volume in various types of mixtures containing aggregates
including Portland cement concrete, asphalt concrete, and other mixtures which are
proportionally or analyzed by volume. The absorption value is used in calculating the
change in aggregate weight due to water absorption by the pores, compared to dry
conditions. The value of bulk specific gravity is a general characteristic used to
calculate the volume placed by aggregates in various mixtures, including cement,
asphalt concrete and other proportional mixtures.

Bulk specific gravity is the ratio between the weight of dry aggregate and the
weight of distilled water whose content is the same as the content of the aggregate
when it is saturated at a certain temperature.

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𝐴
Dry Specific Gravity (Sd) = 𝐵+𝑆−𝐶 …………(5.1)

The saturated surface dry specific gravity (SSD) is the ratio between the weight
of the dry aggregate of the saturated surface and the weight of distilled water whose
content is the same as the content of the dry aggregate at a certain temperature.

𝑆
SSD Specific Gravity (Ss) = …………(5.2)
𝐵+𝑆−𝐶

Apparent specific gravity is the ratio between the weight of dry aggregate and
the weight of distilled water, which has the same content as dry aggregate at a certain
temperature.

𝐴
SSD Specific Gravity (Ss) = …………(5.3)
𝐵+𝐴−𝐶

5.3 PRACTICUM TOOLS

The tools that are used in this practicum are:
a. Digital scale;
b. Pycnometer;
c. Konik cone;
d. Small compacting rod;
e. Sieve No.4;
f. Thermometer;
g. Oven;
h. Pan;

Figure 5.1 Pycnometer Figure 5.2 Digital scale Figure 5.3 Konik cone

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Figure 5.4 Pan Figure 5.5 Oven Figure 5.6 Thermometer

Figure 5.7 Small compacting rod Figure 5.8 Sieve No.4

5.4 MATERIAL
The materials that used in this practicum is dry fine aggregate that passed the
sieve No.4 as much as ±1000 gram.

Figure 5.9 dry fine aggregate

5.5 PRACTICUM PREPARATION
The preparation of this practice is:

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a. Take the fine aggregate which is dried in the oven for 24 hours
b. Remove excess water then spread it on a flat surface and do not absorb water
until it dries. if desired, use a mechanical aid such as a mixer to achieve a
saturated and dry surface condition. As long as the drying material reaches
the desired condition it is necessary to rub by hand to separate the adhered
granules. Continue until the ingredients come off and no longer stick;
c. If the first time there is no surface moisture in the cone, it is certain that the
saturation and dryness of the surface have passed. If this happens re-mix by
adding a few milliliters of water to the sampe continue to stir until blended
and cover the container, then let 30 minutes;
d. Place the cone on a flat, non-absorbent surface with a large hole at the bottom
e. Add the aggregate to the brim into the cone and smooth the surface.
f. Compact the aggregate inside the cone 25 times with a small compacting rod
g. Slowly lift the cone towards the vertical
h. Check the results after the cone is lifted, there are 3 types of aggregate
moisture content, namely:

Figure 5.10 General Form of Determination Saturated and Surface Dry Condition of
Fine Aggregate
i. If the saturated and dry surface conditions have not been reached (the
aggregate surface is still too humid), then the sand will still be in a cone
shape. If the cone is lifted and the sand collapses gradually, a saturated and
dry surface condition is reached;
5.6 PRACTICUM PROCEDURE
These are the procedure of this practicum

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a. Fill the pycnometer halfway with water, then put the fine aggregate in a
saturated and dry condition as much as 500 grams and add more water until
90% of the pycnometer capacity
b. Shake the pycnometer to remove any air bubbles
c. Add water to the pycnometer up to the mark and weigh it
d. Remove the aggregate from the pycnometer and dry in the oven
e. chill the aggregate for 30 minutes and weigh
f. weigh the pycnometer filled with water to the limit.

5.7 PRACTICUM RESULTS

5.7.1 PRACTICUM DATA
The data below was obtained during the practicum.
a. Weight of fine aggregate in SSD condition (S) = 250 gr;
b. Weight of pycnometer + water + fine aggregate (C) = 1097.4 gr;
c. Weight of pycnometer + water (B) = 948 gr;
d. Weight of oven dry fine aggregate (A) = 242.2 gr.

5.7.2 PRACTICUM ANALYSIS

Figure 5.11 Saturated and Surface Dry Condition

In Figure 5.11, it can be seen that the SSD condition has been achieved
because the wet state of the aggregate is almost the same as the aggregate in the

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concrete. To analyze the data, calculations are needed.

𝐴
Dry specific gravity (Sd) =
𝐵+𝑆−𝐶
242.2
= 948+250−1097.4

= 2.41;
𝑆
SSD specific gravity (Ss) = 𝐵+𝑆−𝐶
250
= 948+250−1097.4

= 2.61;
𝐴
Apparent specific gravity (Sa)= 𝐵+𝐴−𝐶
242.2
= 948+242.2−1097.4

= 2.61;
𝑆−𝐴
Absorption =  100%
𝐴
250−242.2
=  100%
242.2

= 3.22%.

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5.8 CONCLUSIONS
From this practicum, it can be concluded:
a. The result of calculating the value of dry specific gravity (Sd) of the fine
aggregate is 2.41;
b. The result of calculating the value of SSD specific gravity (Ss) of the fine
aggregate is 2.49;
c. The result of calculating the value from apparent specific gravity (Sa) of the fine
aggregate is 2.61;
d. The result of calculation of absorption value is 3.22% where the aggregate
cannot be used due to certain conditions

5.9 ERROR FACTORS

From this practicum, there may be several error factors such as
a. Reduction of the weight of sand that has been weighed during transfer into the
pycnometer because there is still sand that is wasted during the process of
entering the sand into the pycnometer
b. There are still air bubbles in the pycnometer

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References:

Josua Egoardo. BERAT JENIS DAN PENYERAPAN AGREGAT HALUS

(Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate. Accessed (12 march 2021) from
https://www.academia.edu/24526885/BERAT_JENIS_DAN_PENYERAPAN_AGR
EGAT_HALUS_Specific_Gravity_and_Absorption_Of_Fine_Aggregate
nadyameichristinakl17. 2018. BERAT JENIS DAN PENYERAPAN
AGREGAT Agregat Halus. Accessed (12 march 2021) from
https://nadyameichristinakl17.wordpress.com/2018/11/28/praktikum-minggu-ke-2-
berat-jenis-dan-penyerapan-agregat/

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