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University of Southeastern Philippines

College of Engineering

CE 412 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING LABORATORY REPORT

SECTION
JOHN LORD M. CASTILLO
CE 4-1 GRADE

LAB EXP. 4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE
ASTM
AGGREGATES DATE
________

I. SAMPLE SOURCE
Local Hardware

II. APPARATUS USED


Sieve
Mold
Weighing scale
Volumetric Flask
Tamper
Oven

III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND


The fine aggregate specific gravity test is used to calculate the specific gravity of a
fine aggregate sample by determining the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate
to the weight of an equal volume of water. It is similar in nature to the coarse aggregate
specific gravity test.

Specific Gravity - defined as ratio of weight of solid to the weight of an equal


volume of free distilled water (no dissolved air/impurities) at a stated temperature.

Water Absorption - is the ratio of weight of water absorbed to the weight of dry
sample expressed as a percentage. It will not include the amount of water adhering to the
surface of the particles

Fine Aggregates - Any material which is passing BS sieve #4 (ASTM sieve 4.75mm)
is known as fine aggregate.

Saturated Surface Dry Condition (SSD) - it is the condition related with the
aggregate particles in which the permeable pores on the aggregate particles are filled with
water but without free water on the surface of the particles.

Oven Dried Specific Gravity - it is the ratio of the oven dried density of the
aggregate to the density of the gas tree distilled water at a standard temperature.

Saturated Surface Dry Specific Gravity - It is the ratio of the saturated surface dry
density of the aggregate to the density of the gas free distilled water at a standard
temperature.

Apparent Specific Gravity - It is the ratio of the apparent density of the aggregate to
the density of the gas free distilled water at a standard temperature (.e. 4 oC).

Using these three weights and their relationships, a sample's apparent specific gravity, bulk
specific gravity and bulk SSD specific gravity as well as absorption can be calculated. These
are;
 Oven-dry (no water in sample).
 Saturated surface dry (water fills the aggregate pores).

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 Submerged in water (underwater).

IV. PROCEDURES
1. Take approximately 1 kg fine aggregate.
2. Wash the sample.
3. Submerge the sample for at least 24 hours.
4. Remove the sample from the water and spread the sample on a flat, non-absorbent
surface.
5. Expose to a gently moving current of warm air.
6. Stir frequently to a homogenous drying to achieve SSD condition.
7. Use cone test for surface moisture.
8. Place a portion of partially dried fine aggregate loosely in the mold by filling it to
over flowing.
9. Lightly tamp the sand into the mold with 25 light drops of the tamper.
10. Each drop should start about 5mm above the top surface of the sand.
11. Lift the mold vertically. If the sand slumps slightly, it has reached SSD condition.
12. Weigh 500g of the SSD sample.
13. Put it into a volumetric flask and fill it with water up to its volume capacity.
14. Remove all air bubbles.
15. Take and record the weight for saturated condition.
16. Dry the fine aggregates by placing it in the oven and waiting until completely
dried.
17. Take and record the weight for oven-dried condition.

V. ILLUSTRATION (DOCUMENTATION OF ACTUAL LAB


EXPERIMENT/PICTURES AND ILLUSTRATION)

Cleaning of Sample Fine Aggre- Submerged Sample Fine Aggre-


gates gates

VI. RESULTS (TABLE FORM) AND CALCULATION

SAMPL MASS MASS MASS MASS MASS OF


E OF OF OF OF SAMPLE +
SAMPL FLASK FLAS OVEN FLASK+WA
E (SSD) K+ DRY TER
WATE
R
1 500 g 195 g 690 g 388 g 926 g
2 500 g 195 g 690 g 387 g 929 g
3 500 g 195 g 690 g 377 g 924 g

A – dry weight
B – SSD weight
C – weight, flask filled w/ water
D – weight, flask w/ aggregates and water
E – oven-dried weight

BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY (DRY) = E/(C+B-D)


BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY (SSD) = B/(C+B-D)
APPARENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY = E/(C+E-D)
ABSORPTION =[(B-E)/E] x 100

FOR SAMPLE A:

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A= BSG (DRY)= 388/(690+500-926) = 1.47
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) =
500/(690+500-926) = 1.89 C= 690 g
ASG = 388/(690+388-926) = 2.55
D= 926 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 28.87%
E= 388 g 388

FOR SAMPLE B:
A= BSG (DRY)= 387/(690+500-929) = 1.48
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) =
500/(690+500-929) = 1.92 C= 690 g
ASG = 387/(690+387-929) = 2.61
D= 929 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 29.19%
E= 387 g 387

FOR SAMPLE C:
A= BSG (DRY)= 377/(690+500-924) = 1.42
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) =
500/(690+500-924) = 1.88 C= 690 g
ASG = 377/(690+377-924) = 2.64
D= 924 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 32.63%
E= 377 g 377

AVERAGE:
BSG (DRY) = (1.47+1.48+1.42)/3 = 1.46
BSG (SSD) = (1.89+1.92+1.88)/3 = 1.90
ASG = (2.55+2.61+2.64) /3 = 2.60
ABSORPTION= (28.87+29.19+32.63)/3 = 30.23%

VII. OBSERVATION AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED


Similar to the coarse, the mass of the fine aggregates also varies from one state (e.g.
oven dried, saturated surface dry) to another. However, there were obvious difference
in the appearance of the coarse and fine aggregates even when they are at similar
moisture condition.
Unlike the coarse aggregates, cleaning the fine aggregates is especially hard
obviously because its particles can’t remain intact when exposed to running water. It
took us a lot of time to place the fine aggregates in the volumetric flask. Also, when it
was time to oven dry the sample, the oven was already full, but then later we found
out that samples whose experiments were already done was still in there so we were
able to solve the problem quickly. Honestly speaking, those were the only significant
problems that we encountered since we were already quite familiar on the different
moisture conditions of aggregates.

VIII. LESSONS LEARNED AND PERSONAL REFLECTION


After the experiment, I learned about the different ways of achieving the SSD
condition of fine aggregates and the significance of removing the bubbles entrapped
when the fine aggregates was in the saturated condition. Before performing this test,
we expected that it would be somehow similar to how we executed the test for coarse
since the topic is the same, but we were clearly wrong. Though we performed the
experiment quite smoothly, we still encountered unfamiliar things all throughout.
This can be related to the unforeseen events that we may chance upon during our
daily lives, just when we thought it was just an ordinary day, something unexpected
happens and from that moment, it is up to us whether we complain or learn.

IX. GROUP MEMBERS WITH PICTURE FOR THIS EXPERIMENT

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CHECKED BY: MERLINDA L. LEMIN
DATE: __________________ INSTRUCTOR SIGNATURE

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