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 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 Which Are Carried Out on the Coarse Aggregates

 Crushing value of Aggregate ( IS 2386 Part IV -1963)

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 ( IS 2386 Part IV -1963)
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 ( IS 2386 Part IV -1963)
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.
 Flakiness Index of coarse Aggregates ( IS 2386 Part I -1963)
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.
 Aggregates testing equipment

 Screen Shakers- determine particle

sizes of large samples of aggregate
and other coarse materials.
- fine mesh strainer, or sift, is a
device for separating wanted
elements from unwanted material or
for characterizing the particle size
distribution of a sample, using a
screen such as a woven mesh or net
or perforated sheet material.
• Durability and Abrasion- tests
measure the hardness, strength, and
durability of aggregates.
- Durability is defined as the capability
of concrete to resist weathering action,
chemical attack and abrasion while
maintaining its desired engineering
properties. It normally refers to the
duration or life span of trouble-free
performance.
• Specific Gravity or relative density- is a
basic property and important for
proportioning and batching asphalt and
concrete mixes.
the ratio of the mass of a solution
compared to the mass of an equal volume
of water, is an estimate of the
concentration of substances dissolved in
the solution.
• Aggregate Angularity & Elongation
tests evaluate fine and coarse aggregate
shapes to judge their usability in asphalt
and concrete mixtures.

-is important to ensure adequate

aggregate interlock and prevent excessive
HMA deformation under load (rutting).
• Sand Equivalent - Test indicates the
amount of clay-like fines in aggregates
and granular soils.
- The test is used to qualify aggregates for
applications where sand is desirable but
fines and dust are not. A higher sand
equivalent value indicates that there is
less clay‐like material in a sample.
• Aggregate Washers - prepare samples
for gradation or fines content
determinations by washing away dust
and fines. Automated washing of
aggregate and soil samples reduces labor
costs and eliminates operator error.
• Wet-Washing Sieves - are effective
for fines content determinations of
aggregates, soils, concrete, and other
materials. These deep-frame sieves with
various depths and diameters are
available in durable stainless steel or
traditional brass.
• Sieve Shakers - agitate aggregate
gradation samples, improving
consistency and accuracy of particle
size testing.

• Moisture Testers - give fast,

accurate moisture determinations on
soil or aggregate materials and
provide highly accurate laboratory
results for smaller samples.
• Organic Impurities Test - detects
the presence of organic compounds
in fine aggregates with a simple
test.

• Methylene Blue Test Set detects

potentially harmful clay-like fines
in aggregate materials. The set
includes the apparatus and reagents
to run the test.
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.
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