Aggregate Gradation

Important Properties
Gradation
Relative density and absorption
Hardness (resistance to wear)
Durability (resistance to weathering)
Shape and surface texture
Deleterious substances
Crushing strength
Soft and lightweight particles
Chemical stability
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 Gradation Analysis
A gradation analysis (or sieve analysis) is a procedure
used to assess the particle size distribution (gradation)
of a granular material by allowing the material to
pass through a series of sieves of progressively
smaller mesh size and weighing the amount of
material that is stopped by each sieve as a fraction of
the whole mass. The size distribution is often of
critical importance to the way the material performs
in use.
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 Gradation Analysis

percent coarser 

or 
percent retained 

 Percentages
are calculated
 by mass
percent finer 

or 
percent passing 



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 Gradation Chart
(typically used for soil)
100

80
Percent Passing

60
Total mass percent passing each sieve

40

20

0
100 10 4.75 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Gradation Chart
(typically used for aggregate)
100

80
Percent Passing

60
Total mass percent passing each sieve

40

20

0
0.01 0.1 1 4.75 10 100
Opening Size (mm)
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 Sieve Shakers

Mary Ann Shaker

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 Screen Shakers

Gilson Shaker

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Sieve Sizes Used in Construction

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Sieve Sizes Used in Construction

Openings vary by
a factor of two

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 Gradation Chart
1½" ¾" 3/ "
8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100

80
Percent Passing (%)

60

40

20

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Gradation Example

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 Gradation Example

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 Typical Aggregate Gradations

Uniformly graded aggregate

All of the particles are approximately the same size

Open-graded aggregate
Very little fine aggregate thus lots of void space between particles

Gap-graded aggregate
Very little aggregate in the medium size range

Dense-graded aggregate
Lots of different particle sizes thus very little void space

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 Uniformly Graded Aggregate
1½" ¾" 3/ "
8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100
Percent Passing

80
uniform
60
sand
“clear”
40 gravel

20

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Uniformly Graded Aggregate

Narrow range of sizes

Grain-to-grain contact
High void content
High permeability
Low stability
Difficult to compact

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 Open-Graded Aggregate
1½" ¾" 3/ "
8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100
Open
Percent Passing

80
graded
sand
60
Open
40
graded
gravel
20
Few fines Few fines
0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Open-Graded Aggregate

Decent range of sizes

Very few fine particles
Grain-to-grain contact
High void content
High permeability
High stability
Difficult to compact

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 Gap-Graded Aggregate
1½" ¾" 3/ "
8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100
Open
Percent Passing

80 Missing
sizes
graded
sand
60
Open
40
graded Gap
gravel graded
20 blend

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Gap-Graded Aggregate

Wide range of sizes

Missing middle sizes
No grain-to-grain contact
Moderate void content
Moderate permeability
Low stability
Easy to compact

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 Dense-Graded Aggregate
1½" ¾" 3/ "
8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100
Percent Passing

80

60

40
Dense
graded
20 gravel

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Dense-Graded Aggregate

Wide range of sizes

Grain-to-grain contact
Low void content
Low permeability
High stability
Difficult to compact

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 Fuller’s Curve
Fuller, W.B. and Thompson, S.E. “The laws of
proportioning concrete," Transactions of the
ASCE, v. 159, 1907.

0.50 pi = percent passing ith sieve

 di 
pi    di = opening size of ith sieve
D D = maximum particle size

Produces the highest density and lowest void content

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 Aggregate gradation curves: (a) maximum density gradations for 37.5 and
4.75 mm sizes based on the Fuller relationship; (b) a uniform aggregate;
(c) a gap-graded aggregate; (d) screenings.

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 FHWA Maximum Density Curve
In 1962 FHWA published a modified version of
Fuller’s equation with a different exponent.

0.45
0.50 pi = percent passing ith sieve
 di 
pi    di = opening size of ith sieve
D D = maximum particle size

Produces the highest density and lowest void content

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Maximum density curves on Federal Highway Administration 0.45 power gradation chart.

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 Dense-Graded Aggregate

1½" ¾" 3/ "

8 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100

80
TDOT 411-D
Percent Passing

60

40 Maximum
Density
Curve
20

0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)
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 Dense-Graded Aggregate
200 1/ " 5/ "
2 8
100

80
Percent Passing

TDOT 411-D
60

40 Maximum
Density
Curve
20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Opening Size (mm) Raised to the 0.45 Power
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