Chapter 2

Normal Aggregate

2.1 Role of Aggregate in Concrete

2.2 Classification of Aggregate
2.3 Mechanical Properties
2.4 Physical Properties
2.5 Thermal Properties
2.6Unsoundness and Impurities
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2.4.6. Sieve Analysis Department of Civil
Engineering
It is the process of dividing a sample of aggregate into
fractions of same size. It’s purpose is to determine the grading
or size distribution of the aggregate. General sieve Size are
shown in Table.
Most used sizes:
BS: 3, 2, 1.5, 3/4, 0.5, and 3/8
CA ASTM: 3, 2, 1.5, 3/4, 0.5, and 3/8
FA BS: 3/16, #7, #14, #25, #50, #100
ASTM: #4, #8, #16, #30, #50, #100

Grading Curves:
The results of sieve analysis can be represented
in a graphical form after this process (sieve
analysis) was performed in a tabular form.
 Standard Sieve Sizes (BS and ASTM)

75 3’’ (3’’) 75 3’’ (3’’)

- - 63 2.5’’ (2.5’’)
50 2’’ (2’’) 50 2’’ (2’’)
37.5 1.5’’ (1.5’’) 37.5 1.5’’ (1.5’’)
- - 25.0 1’’ (1’’)
20.0 0.786’’ (3/4’’) 19.0 0.75’’ (3/4’’)
- - 12.5 0.50’’ (1/2’’)
14.0 0.551’’ (0.5’’) - -
10.0 0.393’’ (3/8’’) 9.5 0.374’’ (3/8’’)
5.0 0.196’’ (3/16’’) 4.75 0.187’’ (#9)
2.36 0.0937’’ (#7) 2.36 0.0937’’ (#8)
1.18 0.0469’’ (#14) 1.18 0.0469’’ (#16)
600m 0.0234’’ (#25) 600m 0.0239’’ (#30)
300m 0.0117’’ (#52) 300m 0.0117’’ (#50)
15m 0.0059’’ (#100) 150m 0.0059’’ (#100)
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering

Methods: ASTM C 136; BS 812-Part I

Objective: Determine Percentages Passing of Each
individual Aggregate Size.

Sample: See Table

Specifications: ASTM C33 Limitations

Maximum Size- Structural Concrete
 25 mm
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering

Minimum Mass of Test Sample

Maximum Aggregate Minimum Mass of Test
Size Sample (kg)
#8 (42.36 mm) 0.10 (100 G)
#4 (4.75 mm) 0.50 (500 G)
9.5 mm (3/8”) 1
12.5 mm (0.5”) 2
19 mm (0.75”) 5
25 mm (1”) 10
37.5 mm (`1.5”) 15
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering

Series of Coarse Series of Fine

Aggregate Sizes Aggregate Sizes
25 mm 9.5 mm
#4
19 mm
#8
12.5 mm # 16
9.5 mm # 30
# 50
4.75 mm
# 100
Pan Pan
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering

Sample Calculation: Coarse Aggregate

Sieve Retained Retained %CR %CP
(Grams) (%)
25 mm 0 0 0 100
19 mm 1000 10 10 90
12.5 mm 4000 40 50 50
9.5 mm 3000 30 80 20
#4 1500 15 95 5
Pan 500
Total 10,000
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering

Sample Calculation: Fine Aggregate

Sieve Retained Retained %CR %CP
(Grams) (%)
#4 0 0 0 100
#8 100 10 10 90
# 16 100 10 20 80
# 30 450 45 65 35
# 50 200 20 85 15
# 100 130 13 98 2
Pan 20
Total 1000 278
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Maximum Aggregate Size
Dmax: Designated as the smallest sieve through which 100% of the
aggregate sample particles pass.
Dnominal : Designated as the largest sieve that retains some of the
aggregate particles, but generally not more than 10%.
A. Structural concrete
- Larger Dmax  Less water  lower w/c  Higher Strength
- Very large Dmax  lower bond area
 Discontinuities introduced by large Particles 
strength

Dmax is controlled by:

A - Spacing between steel bar;
B – Stockpiling
Note: Use Dmax < 1 1/2

B-Lean Concrete:
The use of 6 aggregate is advantageous, because it reduces the
amount of water needed thus cement , and therefore reducing the
cost.
 JUST
Department of Civil
Gradation Engineering
ASTM C 33 Requirements

Coarse Fine Aggregate

Aggregate %CP- %CP-
Sieve %CP Sieve %CP ASTM
ASTM
25 mm 100 100 #4 100 95-100

19 mm 90 90-100 #8 90 80-100

12.5 mm 50 20-55 # 16 80 50-85

9.5 mm 20 0-15 # 30 35 25-60

#4 5 0-5 # 50 15 10-30
# 100 2 2-10
Max Size = 25 mm
Nominal Size = 19 mm Max Size = # 4
Nominal Size = # 8
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Department of Civil
Fine Aggregate Engineering
Fineness Modulus

Methods: ASTM 125 & BS 812-Part I

Fineness Modulus (FM): Sum of Percentage Cumulative
Retained on Standard Sieves 9.5 mm,
# 4, # 8, # 16, # 30, # 50, & # 100
Divided by 100.

Specifications: 2.3  FM  3.1

Violation of 0.25 is Allowed

Sample Calculation (previous example):

FM = 278/100 = 2.8
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Grading Requirements Department of Civil

Engineering
No ideal grading can be recommended because of interacting
influences of the main influencing factors on workability:
1- The surface area of aggregate.
Low Specific Surface  low water & cement requirement Strength & low
Price. But, Fines are needed for lubrication (workability).

2. Relative volume occupied by aggregate:

High (%)  High Density  less voids (less filler: Cement + FA). But, Paste
and/or Mortar are needed for lubrication.

3:- Tendency to Segregation

-Preventing mortar form Passing outs of voids (between coarse
aggregate).

4- Amount of Fines in the Mix

- Mix should contain materials smaller than 300m to get satisfactory
workable mix without harshness. Thus according to ASTM, mix should
contain the following volume (%) of fines {< # 120 (300 m)}.
 JUST
Department of Civil
Engineering

Absolute volume of fines as

Maximum aggregate. Size fraction of concrete volume
(mm) (in.)

8 0.35 0.165
16 0.630 0.140
32 1.260 0.125
63 2.480 0.110
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Practical Grading Department of Civil

Engineering
Use aggregate with a grading such that a reasonable workability and
minimum segregation are obtained in order to produce :
- strong Concrete
Economical concrete.-

BS 882: 1983 & ASTM C33-89: Specify the grading limits for Fine
Aggregate not complying with standards may be used, provided that
concrete of the required quality can be produced.
ASTM: Recommend percent passing sieve # 50 and # 100 if the
cement content > 297 kg/m3 or > 237 kg/m3 ( if Air Entertainment is
used).
The BS and ASTM provide grading of coarse aggregate for
graded aggregate and for nominal one-size fractions. See Tables
However the actual grading requirements depend to some extent on:
•The shape: Sharp and angular should have slightly finer grading.
• The Surface Characteristics: Rough surface aggregate should have
finer grading.
•Smooth surface aggregate should have Course grading.
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Department of Civil
Engineering
Grading Requirements According to ASTM
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Department of Civil
Blending of Aggregate Engineering

When an aggregate of a certain Dmax does not meet the

requirements of ASTM, there is a need to mix this aggregate
with another one of different gradation and may be of different
Dmax to achieve the ASTM requirements:

•Let A refers to first aggregate and B to second Aggregate.

Define a as percent passing of A and b as percent passing of B.
Then the % passing of the mixture should be such as (aA+bB)
meets the ASTM requirements. The values a, and b can be
determined either by Trial and Error or by solving two linear
equations; the first equation is aA+bB = C’, where C1 is the
median of ASTM of a certain size, and the second equation is
a+b = 100%.
when blending more than two aggregates, trial & error should
be applied such as aA+bB+cC meets the ASTM requirements.
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Example: Find mixing proportions of Department of Civil

Aggregates A and B such that ASTM Engineering
grading limits are satisfied.
Gradation 25 19 12.5 9.5 4.75 2.36
(mm) (mm) (mm ) (mm) (mm ) (mm)
A 100 90 55 15 10 2
B 100 100 100 90 8 4
ASTM 100 90-100 40-75 20-55 0-10 0-5
ASTM 100 95 57.5 37.5 5 2.5
Median
C’ 100 93 68.5 37.5 9.4 2.6
C’=aA+bB Try C1=37.5% Now ; check whether all sieve sizes
37.5=a(15)+b(90) ….. Eq (1) are satisfied or not. For example at
a+b=100%=1 b=1-a…..Eq (2) sieve size of 12.5 (mm) we have:
From which:  C= 70%(55) + 30% (100) =
a=0.7 (or 70%); hence b=30% 38.5+30=68.5, since 40 < C’< 75
Okay
 JUST
Department of Civil
Engineering

2.4.7 Bulking of Sand

The increase in the volume of a given mass of sand caused by the

films of water pushing the sand particles apart. Two cases:

•Volume Patching  Less weight of aggregate occupy the fixed

volume.

•Mass patching  The proportion of the material is not affected.

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2.5 Thermal Properties Department of Civil

Engineering
Three thermal properties:
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
Important in mass concrete to which
-Specific heat insulation is applied; not so for ordinary
-Conductivity structural work

- Coefficient of thermal expansion of aggregate determines

the corresponding value of concrete:

A) (cement past) - (aggregate) > 5.5X10-6/C

 Durability of concrete subjected to F/T may be
detrimentally affected.

B) Smaller differences are not detrimental especially in

temperature range of 4 to 60C.

(aggregate) ranges from 513×10-6/C

(cement paste) ranges from 1116×10-6/C
( depends on degree of saturation).
 JUST
Department of Civil
2.6 Unsoundness and impurities Engineering

2.6.1 Unsoundness Due to Volume Changes

Physical causes of large or permanent volume changes of

aggregate are:-
• Freezing and Thawing Thermal changes
• Alternative wetting and drying.
If concrete is Unsound: deterioration happens in three forms:
- Local scaling ( so-called Pop-outs)
- Extensive Surface cracking.

Method of Testing
A) ASTM & BS Prescribe a test for Unsoundness.
• Aggregate are subjected to alternative immersion in sulphate
solution and drying ( the pressure caused by formation of salt
crystals cause disruption of the aggregate particles)
• Degree of unsoundess = Reduction in particles size after a
specified number of cycles.
B) Freezing and Thawing Test of aggregate. Does not really represent the
same situation; that is when aggregate are surrounded by the cement paste
(in concrete).
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2.6.2 Deleterious Substances Department of Civil

Engineering
- Impurities: Interfaces with the process of hydration of cement.
- Coatings: Prevent the development of good bond between aggregate and
cement paste.
- Weak & Unsound Particles.
- Aggregate containing sulphate or chloride Salts

Organic Impurities
Organic matter consists of products of decay of vegetable matter in
the form of humus or organic loam, usually present in sand.

Testing: [colorimetric Test]-ASTM C40-79.

- Acids are neutralized by 3% NaOH
- Prescribed quantities of the aggregate and solution being placed in a
bottle, and shaken vigorously and then left for 24 hours.
-Color of the solution indicates the organic content
 Dark  Organic Content 

No darker than yellow color  harmless organic impurities

Darker than standard  harmful organic impurities
 JUST
Department of Civil
Engineering
Clay and Other Fine Material
- Present in the form of - surface coating and/or loose materials that
could : (a) Reduce bond strength.
(b) Increase water demand.
BS 882: 1983 limitations of Clay, Silt, and Crusher dust:
< 15% (by mass) of crushed rock fines
< 10% (by mass) of crushed rock all - in aggregate.
< 3% (by mass) of crushed rock, uncrushed or partially crushed sand or
crushed gravel fines
< 1% (by mass) of uncrushed, partially crushed or crushed gravel.

ASTM: C33-84 limitations of crusher dust and clays

Passing (Dust) # 200 < ?% (by mass) of sand [ concrete subject to
abrasion]
<5% (by mass) of sand [ Other Concretes]
< 1% (by mass) of coarse aggregate (all Concretes]

Clays < 3% (by mass) of fine aggregate

Clays < 3% (by mass) of coarse aggregate [ concrete subjected to
abrasion]
Clays < 5% (by mass) coarse aggregate [ other concrete]
Salt Contamination JUST
Department of Civil
- Sand from seashore or rivers estuary
Engineering
contains > 6% (by mass) Salt
- If not washed by water  Cause reinforced steel corrosion
salt existence in concrete Absorption of moisture from air thus,
could: causing efflorescence; white deposits on
concrete surface

Unsoundness Due to Impurities

•Unsound aggregate fails to maintain integrity due to non-durable
impurities.
•leads to disruptive action upon freezing or even exposure to water ( Due
to change in volume)
Shale particles with low density  Unsound  Pitting and
Scaling  Strength 

Clay lumps, wood, coal

The content of shale, clay lumps , wood, and coal is limited to 2-5%. Also,
presence of Mica, Gypsum, and other sluphates should be avoid
The Following Table shows allowable contents of different impurities
(ASTM C33-84).
 JUST
Department of Civil
Engineering

Table shows allowable contents of

different impurities (ASTM C33-84).
Type of particle Maximum content (%) (by mass) in:
FA CA

Friable Particles 3 3.0 to 10.0

Soft Particles -

Coal 0.5-1 0.5 to 1.0

Chert - 3.0 to 8.0