TRANSPORTATION LAB

HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Experiment No. 03

STANDARD TEST FOR SPECIFIC GRAVITY & WATER ABSORBTION

OF AGGRAGATES

(ASTM C 127-88)
Purpose:

 To determine the specific gravity of aggregate materials.

 To determine the water absorption of aggregate materials.

Apparatus: Water absorption apparatus, Oven, Balance, Tray, sieve set and Absorbent cloths
Theory: Water absorption test is done for measure the amount of water that aggregate material
can absorb into its pores structure. The amount of moisture in the aggregate such as, in road, sub
base and base course or asphalt mix may affects the properties of the aggregates mixture. The bulk
specific gravity (SSD) and absorption are based on aggregate after 24 hour soaking in water.

Significance of test: The strength of asphaltic materials depends on the water in pores. If the
aggregates absorbs more water, the mix will have lesser water for reacting with bitumen and affect
the layer strength.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

 TRANSPORTATION LAB
HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
Procedure:

 Dry the test sample to constant weight at a temperature of 110  5 C.

 Cool in air at room temperature for 1 to 3 hours for test samples.
 Subsequently immerse the aggregate in water at room temperature for a period of 24  4 hours.
 Remove the test sample from the water and roll it in a large absorbent cloth until all visible
films of water are removed.
 A moving stream of air may be used to assist in the drying operation.
 Weigh the test sample in the saturated surface-dry condition.
 After weighing, immediately place the saturated-surface-dry test sample in the sample
container and determine its weight in water at 23 1.7 C.
 Dry the test sample to constant weight at a temperature of 110  5 C, cool in air at room
temperature 1 to 3 hours, and weigh.

Precautions:

1)

Calculations:
Test Weight of Weight of Weight of Weight of Bulk Specific Apparent Specific Absorption,
No saturated sample bucket Saturated saturated surface Gravity Gravity Percentage
in water with suspended sample in water, dry sample in air,
bucket, in water,
W3 = W4 , g
W1 , g W2 , g 𝑊4 𝑊4 𝑊3 −𝑊4
W1-W2 , g 𝑋 100
𝑊3 − (𝑊1 − 𝑊2 ) 𝑊3 − (𝑊1 − 𝑊2 ) 𝑊4

Average

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

 TRANSPORTATION LAB
HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
Results: The experiment has been performed successfully and average water absorption &
specific gravity of selected sample is……………… & ……….. respectively. .
Recommendations:

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING