Aggregates for Concrete

Aggregate
( 60 - 80 % by volume )

FUNCTIONS OF AGGREGATE IN
CONCRETE

1. _________________________________

2. _________________________________

3. _________________________________

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF
AGGREGATES

1. _________________________
2. _________________________
3. _________________________
4. ______________________________
_ ___________________________

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 Classifications of Aggregate

• By Size
– Coarse aggregate - particles retained on No.4
sieve (4.75mm or 3/16 in.)
– Fine aggregate - particles passing No. 4 sieve.
• By Source
– Natural mineral aggregate - sand, gravel ,
crushed stone.
– Artificial or synthetic aggregate - blast-furnace
slag, expanded clay, expanded shale.

Classifications of Aggregate
(continued)
• By Types of Rock
1. Igneous rock - formed on cooling of the
magma.
• Intrusive igneous - formed by slow cooling beneath
earth’s surface. Characteristics: completely
crystalline minerals, coarser grain. Examples:
granite, trap rock.
• Extrusive igneous - formed by more rapid cooling at
or near earth’s surface. Characteristics: finer grain,
minerals with smaller crystals or glassy structures.
Examples: basalt, perlite.

Classifications of Aggregate
(continued)
2. Sedimentary Rock - formed from disintegration of
other rocks and deposited as sediments. Examples:
limestone, sandstone, shale

3. Metamorphic Rock - Igneous or sedimentary rocks

that have changed its structure due to heat and
pressure. Usually harder and denser. Examples:
marble, slate.

2
 Prediction of Behavior of
Aggregates in Service

• From past performance record - The best

basis for prediction of performance.
• From mineral composition. For example:
the minerals amorphous opal, chalcedony &
tridymite are known to cause alkali-silica
reaction.
• From results of tests - This method is most
commonly used.

L.A. Abrasion Test

• Purpose: _________________________
_________________________________
ASTM C 131 - For
aggregates smaller than
37.5 mm (1.5 in.)

ASTM C 535 - For

aggregates larger than
Los Angeles Abrasion Machine 19.0 mm (3/4 in.)

L.A. Abrasion Machine

3
 L.A. Abrasion Machine

L.A. Abrasion Test Procedures

1. Run sieve analysis on test sample to determine weight
retained on #12 sieve (1.7 mm or 0.067 in.). Place test
sample in L.A. testing machine (rotating drum with
metal balls inside)
C131 - 5,000 g sample, 6 to 12 metal balls
(depending on aggregate size)
C535 - 10,000 g sample, 12 metal balls
2. The L.A. machine is rotated at a speed of 30 to 33-rpm
for 500 revs.

L.A. Abrasion Test Procedures

(Continued)

3. Run sieve analysis on test sample after the test.

4. L.A. loss is computed as:

FDOT Specs:
L.A. Loss should be less than
45%

4
 L.A. Abrasion Test Result
Example

Weight of sample retained on #12 before

test = 5,000 g
Weight of sample retained on #12 after test
= 3,254 g
Result reported:
L.A. Loss =
=

Aggregate Soundness Test

ASTM Method C88

Purpose:

Aggregate Soundness Test

Procedures

1. Separate aggregate into different sizes by

sieving. From each size fraction, weigh out a
sample of specific amount to be tested.
2. Immerse each test sample in sodium sulfate or
magnesium sulfate for 16 to 18 hours.
(Sodium sulfate is more severe)
3. Dry test sample to constant weight in an oven at
110 C.
4. Repeat procedure (steps 2 & 3) for 5 or 10 cycles.

5
 Aggregate Soundness Test
Procedures (continued)

5. Determine % weight loss of each sample after

test by sieving it through a specified sieve.
6. Calculate and report:
% Soundness Loss =
Weighted average of % weight loss after test

FDOT SPECS: Soundness loss < 12%

(Sodium sulfate, 5 cycles)

SOUNDNESS TEST RESULT

EXAMPLE
_____________________________________________________________
Grading of
Original Weighted
SIZE Sample (%) % Wt. Loss %Loss
_____________________________________________________________
2 1/2 - 1 1/2 in. 20.0 4.8 0.96

1 1/2 - 3/4 in. 45.0 8.0 3.60

3/4 - 3/8 in. 23.0 9.6 2.20

3/8 in. - #4 12.0 11.2 1.34

_______________________________________________________________
Total 100.0 8.1
_______________________________________________________________
Soundness Loss = 8.1%

Test For Potential Alkali Reactivity

( Mortar Bar Method ) (ASTM C227)
PURPOSE: ______________________________________
___________________________________________________
Procedure:
• Make bars of mortar 1 in x 1 in x 12 in ( 1 part
cement to 2.25 parts of graded aggregate ).
• Measure the length of the bars after 24 hours in
the molds, and store the bars at a constant
temperature of 100 °F in sealed moist containers.
• Measure length changes at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12
months.
• If expansion is greater than 0.05% at 3 months or
0.10% in 6 months, the aggregate is considered to
be alkali reactive.

6
 Measuring length
change of mortar bar
with a length
comparator

Organic Impurities Test ( For Sand )

ASTM C40

• Purpose: ________________________________
________________________________________
• Procedure:
1. Mix the sand with a 3 % solution of Sodium Hydroxide
and allow it to stand for 24 hours.
2. Compare the color of the liquid to a solution of
Potassium Dichromate in Sulfuric Acid (light yellowish
color).
3. If the color of the liquid is darker, organic impurities
might be present, and further tests (such as ASTM C87)
should be made before the sand can be approved for
use.

Organic Impurity Test

Standard Color
Pass Fail

7
 Effect of Organic Impurities in Fine
Aggregate on Strength of Mortar (ASTM C87)

• Procedure
– Make 3 (2-inch) cube specimens of mortar with washed
aggregate, and 3 specimens with unwashed aggregate
with specified consistency and proportions.
– Run compressive strength test at 7 days.
– Calculate and report:
(average strength of mortar with unwashed agg.) X 100%
(average strength of mortar with washed agg.)
• The strength ratio should be greater than ______
(according to ASTM C33 Specifications).

Materials Finer than No. 200 Sieve

(ASTM C117)

• It is desirable to have low percentage of material

passing No. 200 sieve. Typical maximum
allowable: ___ for coarse aggregate. ______ for
fine aggregate
• Determine % passing No. 200 sieve by wet
sieving and drying.
• Two methods:
– Method A - uses only water
– Method B - uses water and a wetting agent

Materials Finer than No. 200 Sieve Test

8
 Lightweight Particles in Aggregate
(ASTM C 123)

• Purpose: ______________________________________
______________________________________________
• Basic Procedure:
– A heavy liquid with a specific gravity of 2.0 (typically a solution
of zinc chloride) is used to separate coal and lignite. A heavy
liquid with a spec. gravity of 2.4 (typically a solution of zinc
bromide) is used to separate chert and shale.
– The separated lightweight particles are washed, dried and weighed.
Results are reported in %.
• Typical maximum allowed: 0.5 - 1% for Coal and Lignite
3 - 8% for Chert and shale

Clay Lumps and Friable Particles in Agg.

(ASTM C142)

• Basic Procedure:
– Soak aggregate in water for 24 hours.
– Roll and squeeze aggregate particles between thumb
and forefinger to attempt to break them into smaller
sizes.
– Use wet sieving and oven drying to determine the
weight of the particles broken down.
– Report results in % by weight
• Typical allowable limits: ____ for fine aggregate.
_______ for coarse aggregate.

9
 Sieve Analysis

• Purpose: To determine _______________

______________ of aggregates.
• Standard Sieves:
6”, , 3”, 1.5”, 3/4”, 3/8”, #4, #8, #16, #30, #50,
#100, #200

The next standard sieve is half the size of the

preceding standard sieve.

Sieves and
Sieve Shaker
for Coarse
Aggregate

10
Sieves and Sieve Shaker for Fine Aggregate

Gradation Chart with Sieve Size Raised to 0.45 Power

Sieve Opening (mm)
0.04
0.07
0.15
0.3

0.6

1.2

2.5

10

20

40
5

100

With Intermediate Aggregate

80
Percent Passing

60

Without Intermediate Aggregate

40
Theoretical Optimum Density Line

20 0.45 Power Chart

0
1-1/2
#325
#200
#100
#50
#30

#16

3/8

3/4
#8

#4

Sieve Opening (Inches) Raised to the 0.45 Power

Fineness Modulus of Sand

• A number to quantify the fineness of an

aggregate.
• The sum of the cumulative percentages
retained on the standard sieves 6”, 3”, 1.5”,
3/4”, 3/8”, #4, #8, #16, #30, #50 and #100
sieves, divided by 100.
• Fineness modulus is usually used only for
fine aggregate.

11
 Calculation of Fineness Modulus
Example:
Sieve Cum. %Pass Cum. %Retained
3/8” 100 0
#4 98 2
#8 85 15 F.M. = ________
#12 78 - = ________
#16 72 28
#30 42 58
#50 23 77
#100 7 93
#200 2 -
Total = 273

Gradation Limits for Fine Aggregate

(ASTM C33 Spec.)
Sieve Cum. %Pass Cum. %Retained
3/8” 100 0
#4 95-100 0-5
#8 80-100 0 - 20
#16 50-85 15 - 50
#30 25-60 40 - 75
#50 10-30 70 - 90
#100 2-10 90 - 98
Total: 215 - 338
• Possible range of F.M.: 2.15-3.38
• However, ASTM C33 limits allowable F.M. to be 2.3 - 3.1.

Gradation Requirements for Coarse Agg.

(ASTM C33)
Cum. % Passing
Sieve No.4 No.56 No. 57 No. 67 No.8
2” 100
1.5” 90-100 100 100
1” 20-55 90-100 95-100 100
3/4” 0-15 40-85 - 90-100
1/2” - 10-40 25-60 - 100
3/8” 0-5 0-15 - 25-55 85-100
#4 - 0-5 0-10 0-10 10-30
#8 - - 0-5 0-5 0-10
#16 - - - - 0-5

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 Terminology on Aggregate Gradation
• Maximum Size - The smallest sieve that 100% of
the aggregate must pass.
• Nominal Maximum size - The smallest sieve
which the major portion of the aggregate must
pass. It may retain 5% to 15% of the aggregate,
depending on the size number of the aggregate.
________________________________________
________________________________________
• Well-Graded or Dense-Graded - Well distributed
in various sizes, resulting in low air voids and high
density when compacted.

Terminology on Aggregate Gradation

• Uniform Gradation - mostly one size.

• Gap-graded - missing a few sizes.

• Both uniform and gap-graded aggregates are

____________ ( high air voids and low density ).

Maximum Density Gradation

Fuller’s Maximum Density Curve:

%P = (d / D)0.5 X 100%
where:
%P = % Passing the sieve
d = Size of the sieve
D = Maximum aggregate size

FHWA Maximum Density Curve:

%P = (d / D)0.45 X 100%

13
 Densities of Aggregate

permeable voids Bulk Density =

Mass of Aggregate
Vol of (solids + voids)
solid
Apparent Density =
impermeable Mass of Aggregate__
V. of (solids + imperm. voids)
voids
True Density = Mass of Aggregate
Vol. of solids

Measurement of Dry Bulk Specific Gravity

For an impermeable solid

(Wt. in Air) - (Wt. in Water)

= Wt. of Water of Same Volume

Specific Gravity = Wt. in Air_______

(Wt. in Air - Wt. in Water)

For a Permeable Aggregate

(Saturated-Surface-Dry Wt in Air)
- (Wt. In Water)
= Wt of water of volume of (solid +
voids)

Dry Bulk Spec. Gravity

=
permeable
voids
volume of
agg.

14
 Measurement of Absorption and Moisture Content

% Absorption =

% Natural Moisture =

SSD Bulk Specific Gravity =

Determination of Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate

A
Bulk Dry Sp. Gr. =
B+S-C
A = Mass of oven-dry sample in air, g
B = Mass of Pycnometer filled with water to calibration mark, g
C = Mass of Pycnometer with sample and water to calibration
mark, g
S = Mass of saturated surface dry sample, g

CALCULATIONS (Cont.)

S
Bulk SSD Sp. Gr. =
B+S-C
B = Mass of Pycnometer filled with water to calibration mark, g
C = Mass of Pycnometer with sample and water to calibration
mark, g
S = Mass of saturated surface dry sample, g

15
Measurement of Bulk Unit Weight

Bulk
Volume Bulk Unit Weight
=

Unit
Weight
Test on
Coarse
Aggregate

16
 Storing and Handling of Aggregate

Avoid Segregation

(1) _____________________
_____________________

Storing and Handling of Aggregate

(2) _________________________
_________________________

Storing and Handling of Aggregate

(3) ____________
____________
wind

fine agg. coarse agg.

17
 Use of smaller but more piles

Flat pile of larger area but lower height

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