This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

ISBN 0-626-18375-8
SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

Any reference to SABS SM 845 is deemed

to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Bulk densities and voids content

of aggregates

Published by Standards South Africa

1 dr lategan road groenkloof private bag x191 pretoria 0001
tel: 012 428 7911 fax: 012 344 1568 international code + 27 12
www.stansa.co.za
© Standards South Africa
 This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2006 Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS
standards and to update referenced standards.

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee StanSA SC 5120.61A,
Construction standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of Standards
South Africa, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This edition cancels and replaces the first revision (SABS SM 845:1994).

A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendment
No. 1.
 This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

Bulk densities and voids content of aggregates

1 Scope and field of application

This standard specifies a method for determining the compacted and uncompacted bulk densities
and the voids content of an aggregate, the values being calculated from the mass of the aggregate
that fills a measure of known volume.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this standard. All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference to a
standard is deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to agreements
based on this standard are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions
of the standards indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international standards
may be obtained from Standards South Africa.

SABS 197, Test sieves. Amdt 1

SANS 197, Preparation of test samples of aggregates.

SANS 201 (SABS SM 829), Sieve analysis, fines content and dust content of aggregates.

SANS 3310-1/ISO 3310-1 (SABS ISO 3310-1), Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing –
Part 1:Test sieves of metal wire cloth. Amdt 1

SANS 3310-2/ISO 3310-2 (SABS ISO 3310-2), Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing –
Part 2: Test sieves of perforated metal plate. Amdt 1

SANS 5844, Particle and relative densities of aggregates.

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply:

3.1
bulk density
the density, expressed in kilograms per cubic metre at a stated temperature and in a stated
condition (i.e. dry, saturated surface-dry or "as received"), of a measured volume of aggregate,
such volume including both the water-permeable and water-impermeable pores normal to the
material

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SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

3.2
relative bulk density
the ratio of the mass at a stated temperature and in a stated condition (i.e. dry, saturated surface-
dry or "as received"), of a measured volume of aggregate, to the mass at the same temperature of
gas-free distilled water of the same volume

3.3
voids
the open spaces in a porous or packed medium, that can be filled with liquid or gas

4 Apparatus
4.1 Metal, watertight, cylindrical container with a smooth inside and with the approximate
capacity given in table 1, appropriate to the size of the aggregate. The container is rigid enough to
retain its form under rough usage without deformation, and is protected against corrosion. The top
rim is smooth and plane to within 0,25 mm, and parallel to the base to within 0,5°. The actual
capacity of the container, in cubic metres, is determined by measurement of the volume (or mass)
of water (at a temperature of 20 °C to 25 °C) that is required so to fill the container that, when it is
covered with a glass plate, bubbles and excess water are eliminated.

NOTE Larger containers can be fitted with handles, to facilitate easier handling.

Table 1 — Dimensions of container and number of compaction strokes

1 2 3 4 5
Container
Maximum nominal
size of aggregate Approximate Minimum thickness Number of strokes
capacity Height: of metal per layer
3
diameter ratio
mm dm mm
4,75 3 1:1 to 1:1,5 3 20
37,5 15 4 30
75 30 5 50

4.2 Metal tamping rod, straight, with rounded ends and an approximate diameter of 16 mm and
an approximate length of 600 mm.

4.3 Suitable shovel or scoop.

4.4 Test sieves, that comply with the requirements of SANS 3310-1 or SANS 3310-2. Amdt 1

5 Preparation of test specimens

5.1 Dry a test sample (see SANS 197) of mass at least sufficient to fill a container of the
appropriate of the sizes given in table 1, to constant mass at a temperature of 100 °C to 110 °C in a
well ventilated oven. Cool the test sample to room temperature.

NOTE Aggregates may be air dried under normal laboratory conditions, provided that the fact is stated in the
test report.

5.2 If the voids content of the aggregate is to be used as an index of the particle shape, grade the
test sample in accordance with SANS 201, and use the portion that represents the largest
percentage (by mass) of the aggregate as the test specimen.

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SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

5.3 If the voids content of the aggregate is determined for other purposes, e.g. concrete mix
design, use the whole of the test sample as the test specimen.

6 Procedure
6.1 Uncompacted bulk density

6.1.1 Fill the container to overflowing with the thoroughly mixed dried aggregate by means of the
shovel or scoop (see 4.3), the aggregate being discharged from a height not exceeding 50 mm
above the rim of the container. Segregation of the particles of different size should as far as
possible be prevented.

6.1.2 Remove the surplus aggregate by rolling the tamping rod (see 4.2) across and in contact with
the rim of the container, and remove, by hand, any aggregate impeding the progress. In the case of
aggregate of particle size 4 750 µm and smaller, level off the surface, using the tamping rod as a
straight-edge.

6.1.3 Determine, to the nearest 0,2 %, the mass of the aggregate in the container.

6.2 Compacted bulk density (rodding procedure)

NOTE The rodding procedure is applicable to aggregate that has a maximum particle size of 37,5 mm.

6.2.1 Carefully fill the container in three approximately equal layers (see 6.1.1), the last layer to
overflowing, levelling the surface of the first two layers by hand and rodding each layer of aggregate
with the required number of strokes (see table 1) of the tamping rod evenly distributed over the
surface of the layers. When rodding the first layer, do not allow the rod to strike the bottom of the
container forcibly. When rodding the second and third layers, use enough force to cause the
tamping rod to penetrate the previous layer of aggregate. Avoid breaking up individual particles of
the aggregate.

6.2.2 Level off the surface of the aggregate as described in 6.1.2 and determine the mass as
described in 6.1.3.

6.3 Compacted bulk density (jigging procedure)

NOTE The jigging procedure is applicable to aggregates of particle size larger than 37,5 mm and smaller than
75 mm.

6.3.1 Fill the container in three approximately equal layers as described in 6.2.1, compacting each
layer by placing the container on a firm base, such as a concrete floor, and alternately raising first
one side and then the other side approximately 50 mm, and then allowing the container to drop.
Compact each layer by dropping the container 50 times in the manner described, 25 times on each
side.

6.3.2 Level off the surface of the aggregate as described in 6.1.2, and determine the mass as
described in 6.1.3.

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SANS 5845:2006
Edition 2.1

7 Expression and reporting of results

7.1 Calculate the bulk density δ of the aggregate (compacted or uncompacted, as appropriate), in
kilograms per cubic metre, as follows:

m
V

where

m is the mass of the aggregate in the container, in kilograms; and

V is the volume of the container, in cubic metres.

Report the result to the nearest 10 kg/m3.

7.2 Calculate the percentage voids content of the aggregate, as follows:

⎛ D⎞
100 ⎜1 − ⎟
⎝ G⎠

where

G is the apparent relative density of the aggregate (as determined in accordance with
SANS 5844); and

D is the relative bulk density of the aggregate (compacted or uncompacted, as appropriate),

i.e. δ/1 000 (see 3.2).

Report the result to the nearest 0,5 %.

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