Department of Civil Engineering

National Institute of Technology Karnataka

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Aggregates are the important constituent of concrete . They give

body to the concrete, reduce shrinkage and effect economy.

Earlier aggregates were considered as chemically inert materials but

now it has been recognised that some of the aggregates are chemically
active and also that certain aggregates exhibit chemical bond at the
interface of aggregate and paste. The aggregates occupy 70-80 percent of
the volume of concrete , their impact on various characteristics and
properties of concrete is undoubtedly considerable.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Classification of Aggregates

Size: Coarse Aggregates & Fine Aggregates.

Specific Gravity: Light Weight, Normal Weight and Heavy Weight
Aggregates.
Availability: Natural Gravel and Crushed Aggregates.
Shape: Round, Cubical, Angular, Elongated and Flaky Aggregates.
Texture: Smooth, Granular, Crystalline, honeycombed and Porous.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
Aggregate Classification
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Natural gravel and crushed aggregates

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Specific Gravity of Coarse Aggregates

Aim: To determine the specific gravity of coarse aggregates.

Apparatus: Pycnometer, Wash bottle, Weighing balance 1 gm

accuracy

Pycnometer Weighing balance Wash bottle

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
IS CODE REFERANCE: IS 2386 (Part III)-1963
(Reaffirmed 2002).
THEORY: Specific gravity of the substance is the ratio of unit weight of
substance to the unit weight of water. Specific gravity of aggregate is
required to calculate the compaction factor in connection with the
workability measurements.
(𝐰𝟐 −𝐰𝟏 )
Specific gravity =
( 𝐰𝟒 −𝐰𝟏 − 𝐰𝟑 −𝐰𝟐 )

w1 = weight of empty pycnometer (gm)

w2 = weight of empty pycnometer + coarse aggregate (gm)
w3 = weight of empty pycnometer + coarse aggregate + water (gm)
w4 = weight of empty pycnometer+ water (gm)
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

DIAGRAM:

Pycnometer
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
PROCEDURE:

1) A pycnometer is cleaned, and it is weighted (w1 ) using an electronic

balance.

2) Roughly, coarse aggregate is taken up to about one-third the capacity

of the pycnometer. The weight of pycnometer filled with aggregate is
taken and noted (w2 ).

3) The remaining portion of the pycnometer is now filled with water up to

the neck of the pycnometer. The pycnometer is provided with a brass
conical lid and rubber washer to prevent leaking of water.

4) Water is filled carefully using a pipette through the small hole at the
top. The weight of the bottle along with aggregate and water is
measured (w3 ).
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

5) The pycnometer is completely emptied. Care is taken such that no

particles of aggregate remain inside. It is thoroughly washed and
then filled with water completely. The weight after filling the
pycnometer with water only, is measured. (w4 ).

6) The specific gravity of the coarse aggregates calculated by the

standard formula given earlier.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATION:
Trial 1 Trial 2

Specific gravity of coarse aggregate

Average Specific gravity of coarse aggregate

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

RESULT:
The specific gravity of coarse aggregate is
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Bulk Density of Coarse Aggregates

AIM: To determine the bulk density and percentage voids in coarse
aggregates.
APPARATUS: Weighing balance, 15 liter Cylindrical vessel, and vibrator.

Weighing balance Cylindrical vessel Vibrator

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
IS CODE REFERENCE: IS 2386 (Part III)-1963.
(Reaffirmed 2002).
THEORY:
The bulk density or unit weight of aggregates gives information regarding specific weight
and grading of the aggregate. The bulk density of aggregates is measured by filling a
container by known volume in standard manner and weighting it.
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓
Bulk Density (B) =
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓

The spaces between the particles of aggregates which are not occupied by the solid
material are known as voids. Percentage of voids present in aggregates is calculated with
the help of bulk density (g/cm3 Kg/lit) and specific gravity.
𝑮−𝑩
Percentage of the voids = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑮
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

PROCEDURE:
1. The volume (V) of the container is calculated by measuring the diameter (D) and
height (H) of the container.
2. Weight of the empty container (W1) is measured by using an electronic balance.
3. The container is completely filled, up to its brim, by the given sample of coarse
aggregates and its weight (W2) is measured.
4. Then the container is put over the vibrator; because of the vibrations, there will be a
sump in the height of aggregates within the container and additional amount of
coarse aggregates are to be added to fill it again.
5. The total weight W3 of the compacted coarse aggregates along with the container is
measured.
6. The bulk densities of the coarse aggregates in both loose and compacted states are
is calculated by standard formula given earlier.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

7. By using the specific gravity and bulk density (Kg/m3) the percentage of voids in both
the loose and compacted states are calculated by standard formula given above.

W1 = Empty weight of the container.

W2 = Weight of the container + Weight of coarse aggregate in loose state.
W3 = Weight of the container + Weight of coarse aggregate in compacted state.
Gs = Specific gravity of coarse aggregates.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS:

Specific gravity of coarse aggregates Gs=

Diameter of cylindrical container D = m

Height of cylindrical container H= m

Volume of the container V= m3

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS:
S.No Description Trial – 1 Trial - 2

1 Empty weight of container W1 ( kg)

2 Weight of container + coarse
aggregate in loose state W2 (kg)
3 Weight of coarse aggregate in
loose state (W2-W1) (kg)
4 Bloose =(W2-W1)/V gm/cm3

5 Percentage voids present in loose

state
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS:
S.No Description Trial – 1 Trial - 2

6 Empty weight of container W1 ( kg)

7 Weight of container + coarse
aggregate in compact state W3 (kg)
8 Weight of coarse aggregate in
compact state (W3-W1) (kg)
9 Bcompact =(W3-W1)/V gm/cm3

10 Percentage voids present in loose

state
Trial-1
Trial-2
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

RESULTS:
The bulk density of coarse aggregate in loose state = kg/m3

The bulk density of coarse aggregate in compact state = kg/ m3

Percentage voids in loose state =

Percentage voids in loose state =

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
SIEVE ANALYSIS OF COARSE AGGREGATES
AIM: To determine the particle size distribution and fineness modulus of the given
sample of coarse aggregate by sieve analysis. (MAS = 20mm)

APPARATUS: Sieves of size 40 mm, 20mm, 10mm, 4.75mm, Weighing balance,

Mechanical vibrator.

Weighing balance Sieve shaker 26

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

27
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Grading of Coarse Aggregates as per I.S.383-1970

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Grading of Coarse Aggregates as per I.S.383-1970

Nominal Size: 20mm
I.S. Sieve size IS :383-1970 Grading Requirements
Percentage Passing for Percentage Passing for
Single-sized aggregate Graded aggregate

40 mm 100 100

20mm 85-100 95-100

10mm 0-20 25-55

4.75 mm 0-5 0-10

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

PROCEDURE:
1) The sieves of various sizes are cleaned and each one of them is weighted
separately.
2) The sieves are arranged in the decreasing order of their aperture sizes.

3) 5 kg of coarse aggregate is accurately weighted and introduced in to the first sieve.

4) The entire setup is taken and placed on a vibrator for 2 minutes.

5) The sieves along with retained aggregate are separately weighted and weight of the
coarse aggregates in each sieve is calculated.

6) Percentage weight retained in each sieve is determined. The cumulative

percentages of aggregates retained up to each sieve is found. Fineness modulus is
calculated.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
OBSERVATIONS: Trial -1

Sieve size Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the Percentage of Cumulative Percentage
empty sieve + Aggregate Aggregate percentage finer
sieve (gm) Aggregate retained retained retained
retained (gm) (gm) in the sieve
40 mm
20 mm
10 mm
4.75 mm
2.36 mm
1.18 mm

Pan
Total
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS: Trial -2

Sieve size Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the Percentage of Cumulative Percentage
empty sieve + Aggregate Aggregate percentage finer
sieve (gm) Aggregate retained retained retained
retained (gm) (gm) in the sieve
40 mm
20 mm
10 mm
4.75 mm
2.36 mm
1.18 mm

Pan
Total
CALCULATION

Trial-1

Trial -2
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

RESULT:-

Fineness modulus of the available sample of coarse aggregate is:

Trial 1 =
Trial 2 =

Classification of the Aggregate: Single-Sized/Graded.

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

Elongation Index and Flakiness Index Tests

AIM: To determine the flakiness and elongation index of the given aggregate
sample.
APPARATUS: Weighing balance, Sieves, Thickness Gauge ( For Flakiness Index test),
and Length Gauge ( For Elongation Index text)
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

IS CODE REFERENCE: IS 2386 (Part I)-1963.

(Reaffirmed 2002)
THEORY:
Flakiness index: Aggregate particles are classified as flaky when they have a
thickness (smallest dimension) of less than 0.6 times of their mean sieve size.
The flakiness index of an aggregate sample is found by separating the flaky particles
and expressing their mass as a percentage of the mass of the sample tested. This test
is not applicable to aggregates passing 6.30mm sieve and those retained on 63.0mm
sieve.
Elongation index: Aggregate particles are classified as elongated when they have a
length (greatest dimension) of more than 1.8 times of their mean sieve size. The
elongation index is found by separating the elongated particles and expressing their
mass as a percentage of the mass of sample tested. The test is not applicable to
material passing 6.30 mm sieve or retained on 50 mm sieve.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

IS : 2386 ( Part I ) - 1963

 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

PROCEDURE:
1. A quantity of aggregate shall be taken sufficient to provide the minimum number of
200 pieces of any fraction to be tested.

2. The sample shall be sieved with the sieves.

3. Each fraction shall be gauged in turn for a length on a metal gauge. The gauge
lengths used shall be as specified in table.

4. The total amount of aggregate retained or passed by the length gauge/thickness

gauge shall be weighted to an accuracy of at least 0.1% of the weight of the
sample.

5. The same procedure is carried out for determining the elongation index test.
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

DIAGRAMS:
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

DIAGRAM:
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS:
Size of the Aggregate (mm) Weight of the Flakiness Gauge Weight Passing
Passing through Retained on IS Sample (mm) on Flakiness
IS Sieve Sieve (gm) Gauge (gm)
63mm 50 mm 33.90
50 mm 40 mm 27.00
40 mm 31.5 mm 19.50
31.5 mm 25 mm 16.95
25 mm 20 mm 13.50
20 mm 16 mm 10.80
16 mm 12.5 mm 8.55
12.5 mm 10 mm 6.75
10 mm 6.3 mm 4.89
Total
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka

OBSERVATIONS:
Size of the Aggregate (mm) Weight of the Elongation Weight Retained
Passing through Retained on IS Sample Gauge on Elongation
IS Sieve Sieve (gm) (mm) Gauge (gm)
63mm 50 mm -
50 mm 40 mm 81.0
40 mm 31.5 mm 58.5
31.5 mm 25 mm -
25 mm 20 mm 40.5
20 mm 16 mm 32.4
16 mm 12.5 mm 25.6
12.5 mm 10 mm 20.2
10 mm 6.3 mm 14.7
Total
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
 Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Karnataka
Result :

Flakiness Index of the given Aggregate sample =

Elongation Index of the given Aggregate sample =