CEP 224: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Coarse Aggregates
 Origin of Aggregates
 Aggregates are commonly obtained by crushing the naturally occurring rocks. The
properties of the rocks are mainly depended upon the type of rock whether it is
sedimentary rocks, igneous rock or metamorphic rocks.

Sedimentary rock Igneous rock Metamorphic rock

 Coarse Aggregates
 are a construction component made
of rock quarried from ground
deposits.
 are commonly obtained by crushing
the naturally occurring rocks.
 one of the most important and
massively used building material in
the Construction Industry.
 one of the essential components of
concrete and occupies the largest
volume in the mix.
Types of Aggregates
 Fine gravel
 Medium gravel
Coarse aggregate Size
 Coarse gravel
 Fine gravel
Cobbles 4mm – 8mm

 Boulders
Medium gravel 8mm – 16mm

Where does coarse aggregate

Coarse gravel 16mmcome
– 64mm from?

Gravels
Cobbles constitute the majority
64mm – of
256mmcoarse aggregate used in
concrete
Boulders
with crushed stone making
>256mm
up most of the remainder.
 Properties of Coarse Aggregates
 Composition
Aggregate consisting of such materials that can chemically react with alkalis in cement and
cause excessive expansion, cracking, and deterioration of concrete mix should never be used.
 Size and Shape
The size and shape of the aggregate particles greatly influence the quantity of cement
required in concrete mix and hence ultimately the economy of concrete.

 Surface Texture
The development of hard bond strength between coarse aggregate and cement paste depends
upon the surface.
 Specific Gravity
The ratio of the weight of oven-dried aggregate which is kept for 24 hours at a temperature of
100 to 100°C, to the weight of an equal volume of water displaced by saturated dry surface
aggregate is called the specific gravity of aggregates.
 Bulk Density
Bulk density of aggregate can be defined as the weight of coarse aggregate required to
fill the unit volume of the container.
 Voids
The empty spaces left between coarse aggregate particles are known as voids.

 Porosity and Absorption

The holes produced in the rocks at the time of the solidification of the molten magma,
due to air bubbles, are known as pores.
 Bulking of Sand
It can be defined as an increase in the bulk volume of the quantity of sand in a moist
condition over the volume of the same quantity of dry or completely saturated sand.

 Fineness Modulus of Aggregate

Fineness modulus is commonly utilized to get an idea of how coarse or fine the aggregate
is.
 Surface Index of Aggregate
The total surface area of aggregate particles per unit weight of the material.

 Deleterious Materials
Aggregate should not contain any harmful material in such a quantity to affect the
durability and strength of the concrete.
CHARACTERISTIC OF COARSE AGGREGATES BASED ON ITS:
SIZE
 When the aggregate is sieved through 4.75mm sieve, the aggregate retained is called coarse
aggregate. In general, 40mm size aggregate used for normal strengths, and 20mm size is used for
high strength concrete.
Coarse aggregate Size
Coarse aggregate Size
Fine gravel 4mm – 8mm

Fine gravel 4mm – 8mm

Medium gravel 8mm – 16mm

Medium gravel 8mm – 16mm

Coarse gravel 16mm – 64mm

Coarse gravel 16mm – 64mm

Cobbles 64mm – 256mm

Cobbles 64mm – 256mm

Boulders >256mm

Boulders >256mm
SHAPE
 Rounded Aggregate
The rounded aggregates are completely shaped by attrition and available in the form of
seashore gravel.
 Angular Aggregates
The angular aggregates consist well-defined edges formed at the intersection of roughly
planar surfaces and these are obtained by crushing the rocks.
 Flaky Aggregates
When the aggregate thickness is
small when compared with width
and length of that aggregate it is said
to be flaky aggregate.
 Elongated Aggregates
When the length of aggregate is larger
than the other two dimensions then it is
called elongated aggregate
 Flaky and Elongated Aggregates
When the aggregate length is larger than its width and width is larger than its thickness
then it is said to be flaky and elongated aggregates. The above 3 types of aggregates are
not suitable for concrete mixing. These are generally obtained from the poorly crushed
rocks.
 Irregular Aggregates
The irregular or partly rounded aggregates are partly shaped by attrition and these are
available in the form of pit sands and gravel.
QUALITY
 The selection of good quality coarse aggregate is essential for the
production of concrete that meets the desired strength and durability
requirements. Ideal construction aggregate should have a rough
surface texture and should be clean, strong, and free from the coating
and other dirt particles.
How to Choose Quality Coarse Aggregate for Concrete Construction?
In order to select good quality coarse aggregates, engineers should consider the following
crucial points:

 The typical coarse aggregate size ranges from 4.75 mm to 18 mm.

 Gravel or broken stone aggregates with rough and non-glassy texture are the
best aggregates because they create a good bond with the cement paste.
 Aggregates need to be hard, strong, chemically inert, and non-porous.
 Organic substances and dirt coating compromise the strength and durability of
concrete.
 Coarse aggregates should not absorb moisture by more than 10% of their weight
after submersion in water for 24 hours.
 If aggregates absorb water by more than 10% of their weight, they are considered as porous
aggregate that are undesirable for concrete production.
 Aggregates should no contain flaky and elongated particles by more than 35% of their total
quantity.
 Angular and fairly cubical coarse aggregate particles are desirable.
 Coarse aggregate should contain various fraction sizes to ensure adequate compaction of
particles, hence resulting in increased density and reduced voids in concrete.
 In the majority of concrete works, aggregate sizes of 20 mm or smaller are used.
 To ensure good coarse aggregate compaction and higher concrete density, it is recommended
to mix 20 mm and 10 mm coarse aggregates in the ratio of 70:30 or 60:40.
 It is recommended to stack different aggregate sizes to use them efficiently.
 Prevent the use of friable and chert aggregates. The former is susceptible to splitting, whereas
the latter has low resistance against weathering and is likely to cause popouts.
Different Types of test on the Coarse Aggregates

 Crushing value of Aggregate

The crushing value of the coarse
aggregate is defined as the relative
measure of the resistance which is
offered by the aggregate to the
crushing under the gradually applied
load.
 Impact value of Aggregate
- Impact value of the coarse
aggregate is the test which gives a
relative measure of the resistance
offered by the aggregate to
the suddenly applied load which is
also known as impact load.
 Abrasion Value Test
- Abrasion value test of the coarse
aggregate will give the relative
resistance of the aggregate to the
wearing. Abrasion value of the coarse
aggregate help to know whether the
aggregates are suitable to use for
wearing surfaces.
 Shape test on aggregates

 Flakiness Index of coarse Aggregates

- The flakiness index of the aggregate is
the percentage by the weight of the
particles whose least dimension or the
thickness is less than 3/5th of their mean
dimension.

 Elongation of Coarse Aggregate

The elongation index of the aggregate is
the percentage by the weight of the
particles whose greatest dimension or the
length is greater than 1.8 times of their
mean dimensions.
 Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test
- measure the strength or quality of the
material while water absorption test
determines the water holding capacity of
the coarse and fine aggregates.
 Soundness Test on Aggregates
- The soundness of aggregate refers to the
durability of an aggregate in terms of the
resistance to the action of weather and is an
indication of the resistance to weathering of
fine and coarse aggregates.
 Bitumen Adhesion Test
-Bitumen adhesion test Bitumen adheres
well to all normal types of road aggregates
provided they are dry and free from dust.
In the absence of water there is practically
no adhesion problem of bituminous
construction. Adhesion problem occurs
when the aggregate is wet and cold.
QUESTION & ANSWER:
 Does coarse aggregates good for construction?
 Yes, because coarse aggregates are widely used in the railway ballast which will help
to uniformly distribute the load. It will help to increase the volume of the concrete and
also reduces the cost of the project.
 What is the function of coarse aggregate in concrete?
 The function of coarse aggregates is provides body and strength to the concrete and
acts as a filler material which will give the homogeneous mass of the concrete.

 How coarse aggregates affects mix design of concrete?

 Coarse aggregate is one of the essential components of concrete and occupies the
largest volume in the mix. That is why it greatly affects the concrete mix design. Its
properties such as strength, maximum size, shape, and water absorption influence
water demand, the quantity of cement and fine aggregate in concrete mixture.
 Why aggregate testing is important?

 Aggregates play an important role in the construction sector and can be used for different
projects. It is also an important element in the making of concrete and offer several benefits.
Their primary use is to strengthen concrete, strengthening its structure and thus minimizing
instances of cracks. Therefore, before utilizing aggregates for construction purposes they must
be tested and checked for quality.