Civil Engineering Department

CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Experiment No. III
DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION OF AGREGATES
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the basic principle, significance and procedures in determining the
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Capacity of Aggregates.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Familiarize the equipment, apparatus, and method in determining the specific gravity and water
absorption capacity of aggregates.
2.2 Determine specific gravity and water absorption capacity of the aggregates.
2.3 Determine the different state of Specific gravity of aggregates.
3. Discussion:
The specific gravity of an aggregate is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate to the
weight of an equal volume of water.
 Bulk Specific Gravity (also known as Bulk Dry Specific Gravity): The ratio of the weight in air of
a unit volume of aggregate at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of
gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.
 Bulk SSD Specific Gravity: The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate,
including the weight of water within the voids filled to the extent achieved by submerging in
water for approximately 15 hours, to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled
water at the stated temperature.
 Apparent Specific Gravity: The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of the impermeable
portion of aggregate (does not include the permeable pores in aggregate) to the weight in air of
an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.
The Water Absorption Capacity of the aggregates increase in mass due to water in the pores of the
material.
4. Resources:
For Fine Aggregates
1 unit Pycnometer or Calibrated Volumetric Flask
1 Weighing Scale 5 kg capacity
1 Scoop or spoon
2 pan
1 kg of Fine Aggregates (soaked for 24 hrs.)
Potable water
For Coarse Aggregates
1 Wire basket of 4.75 mm mesh
1 Tamping rod
Absorbent cloth, dry, soft
1 Container with Water
4 kg of Coarse Aggregates
5. Procedure:
For Fine Aggregates
1. Weigh about 250 grams test sample of fine aggregate, W 1.
2. Immerse the test sample into a container with water for 24 hours and cover it.
3. Pour excess water carefully to avoid loss of fines. Spread the sample on a flat non-absorbent
surface and stir frequently to secure homogenous drying. Continue until the sample

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CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
approaches a free-flowing condition. The specimen is called saturated surface dry (SSD) when
it has reached a surface dry condition.
4. Weigh the SSD sample, W2.
5. Fill the pycnometer with water to the top and weigh, W 3.
6. Remove part of the water from the pycnometer and put the SSD sample into it. then Fill with
additional water to approximately 90 percent of its capacity. And agitate the pycnometer to
eliminate all air bubbles. Bring the water level in the pycnometer to its calibrated capacity.
7. Determine the total weight of the pycnometer, specimen, and water, W 4.
8. Remove the sample from the pycnometer and dry to constant weight at a temperature of
110°C, cool, and weigh, W5.
9. Calculate the specific gravity and absorption.

Note:
W1
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry, ¿
W 3 +W 2−W 4
W2
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD, ¿
W 3 +W 2−W 4
W5
 Apparent Specific Gravity, ¿
W 3 +W 5−W 4
W 2−W 5
 Water Absorption Capacity, ¿ × 100
W5

For Coarse Aggregates

1. Weigh about 1000 grams test sample of coarse aggregate, W 1, with a maximum 25 mm
nominal size and should not have particles of size less than 4.75 mm.
2. Soak the aggregates in water at room temperature for a period of 24 hours.
3. Remove the sample from the water. Roll it in a large absorbent cloth until all visible films of
water are removed. The sample is now in saturated surface dry (SSD) condition.
4. Weigh the SSD sample, W2.
5. Place the SSD sample in the wire basket and determine the weight in water, W 3. Note that the
wire basket should be immersed to a depth sufficient to cover it and the test sample during
weighing.
6. Remove the sample to constant weight at a temperature of 110°C (approx. 24 hours), and
weigh, W4.
7. Calculate specific gravity and absorption.

Note:
W1
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry, ¿
W 2−W 3
W2
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD, ¿
W 2−W 3
W4
 Apparent Specific Gravity, ¿
W 4 −W 3

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CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
W 2−W 4
 Water Absorption Capacity, ¿ ×100
W4

Course: CE 405 Experiment No.: 3

Group No.: 2 Section: CE22S2
Group Members: Date Performed: September 11, 2023
Date Submitted: September 18, 2023
Instructor: Engr. Charmween Jade Constantino

6. Data and Results:

Fine Aggregates Coarse Aggregates

Trial 1 2 3 4 Ave. 1 2 3 4 Ave.
Bulk
Specific
0.46 2.48
Gravity
Dry
Bulk
Specific
0.98 2.53
Gravity
SSD
Apparent
Specific 0.97 2.57
Gravity
Water
Absorptio 0.25% 1.19%
n Capacity
6.1 Computation

FINE AGGREGATES
DESCRIPTION VALUE
Total Test Sample W1 = 500g
SSD Sample W2 = 1060g
Pycnometer Fully Filled w/Water W3 = 945g
Pycnometer, Sample, And Water W4 = 920.5g
Oven-Dry Sample W5 = 849.75g

500
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry = = 0.4610
945+1060−920.5

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CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
1060
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD = = 0.9774
945+1060−920.5

849.75
 Apparent Specific Gravity = = 0.9720
945+849.75−920.5

1060−849.75
 Water Absorption Capacity = ×100 = 0.25%
849.75

COARSE AGGREGATES

DESCRIPTION VALUE
Total Test Sample W1 = 1000g
SSD Sample W2 = 1020.75g
SSD Sample in Water W3 = 616.75g
Oven-Dry Sample W4 = 1008.75g

1000
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry = = 2.4752
1020.75−616.75

1020.75
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD = = 2.5266
1020.75−616.75

1008.75
 Apparent Specific Gravity = = 2.5733
1008.75−616.75

1020.75−1008.75
 Water Absorption Capacity = × 100= 1.1896
1008.75

7. Observation

The initial masses of Fine and Coarse Aggregates before are 500g and 1000g in respective order. And
after the soaking of the samples for 24 hours the masses increased, and the mass are 1060g and
1020.75g in respective order. After that the samples were again weighed while submerged in water, the
mass is 920.5g and 616.75g in respective order. As observed with latest mass (W4 FINE and W3COARSE)
we can notice that the samples become lighter than before (W2 FINE and W2COARSE). And after the last
procedure which is to oven-dry the samples the new mass of the samples is 849.75g and 1008.75g.
And using all the collected data for computations we found that the Coarse Aggregates have a high-
water absorption and specific gravity (1.19% and 2.57) than the Fine Aggregates (0.25% and 0.97).

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CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

8. Conclusion:
Applying the different concepts and formulas for specific gravity allowed us to reach the aforementioned
results. Throughout the experimental process, it was found that coarse aggregates have a higher value of
specific gravity over fine aggregates. This is consistent with both materials’ Bulk Dry Specific Gravity, Bulk
SSD Specific Gravity, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Water Absorption Capacity. The group attributes this
to the nature of the materials, with coarse aggregates having larger sized particles than the fine ones.

6. Assessment:
BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally
Manipulative Members always
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed skills.
skills. skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-up
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials the material with minimum
Set-up
materials. with supervision. supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Members do not Members follow safety
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety precautions most of
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members have
Members do not know
defined Members are on tasks and
their tasks and have
responsibilities most have defined
no defined
Cooperative and of the time. Group responsibilities at all times.
responsibilities.
Teamwork conflicts are Group conflicts are
Group conflicts have
cooperatively cooperatively managed at
to be settled by the
managed most of the all times.
teacher.
time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Ability to do Members require Members require Members do not need to be

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CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
occasional
independent supervision by the
supervision by the supervised by the teacher.
work teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(Total Score)
Rating= ×100
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7. Reference(s):
ASTM 127-88 “Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates”
ASTM 128-98 “Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregates”

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