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COARSE AGGREGATE
( Specificaton : IS : 383 –1970 )

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1. SIEVE ANALYSIS
2. SPECIFIC GRAVITY
3. WATER ABSORPTION
4. IMPACT VALUE
5. ABRASION VALUE
6. ELONGATION INDEX
7. FLAKINESS INDEX
8. CRUSHING VALUE
9. SOUNDNESS
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SIEVE ANALYSIS

OBJECT : Sieve Analysis .This method covers the procedure for

the determination of particle size distribution of fine, coarse and all
- in-aggregates by sieving or screening.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362

( Part I )

APPARATUS : (a) Sieves of the sizes given in table 1 of is 2386 –

part I – 1963 and confirming to IS 460-1962 shall be used.
(b) Balance.

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : 5 Kg of Coarse Agg Sample are taken for

the Sieve Analysis

PROCEDURE : (a) The sieve set is shaken as mentioned in IS

2386 – part I and the material retained in each sieve is noted.
(b ) % Passing through each sieve is calculated.

Cumulative
Sr. Sieve Weight Cumulative % % Passing % Passing
No. Size Retained Wt. Retained to be
Retained reported
1
2
3
4
5

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA :

Refer Table 2 of IS : 383 – 70 For different size of single size

aggregate.
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SPECIFIC GRAVITY &

WATER ABSORPTION
OBJECT : This test covers the procedure for the determination of
Specific gravity and water absorption of Aggregates.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
III ).

APPARATUS : (a) Oven

(b) Balance
(c) Wire basket of not more than 6.3 mm mesh.
(d) A stout water tight container in which the basket
may be freely suspended.

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : Appropriate quantity of sample is

taken

PROCEDURE : ( a ) Sample is immersed in water & kept in a tray

for a period of 24 hrs.
( b ) The sample is taken in a wire basket and weighed in distilled
water (A1).
( c ) Take the empty weight of the basket (A2). The weight of
saturated surface dried sample is taken (B). The sample is then
oven dried and the weight taken (C).
( d ) Calculation :
A= A1 - A2

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA :

1. Sp. Gravity of coarse Agg shall be in between 2.80 to 2.96

2. Water Absorption not more than 1 %

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 IMPACT VALUE

OBJECTIVE : To determine the Impact Value of the Coarse

Aggregate

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
IV)

APPARATUS : Sieves of Sizes 2.36 mm, 12.5 mm and 10 mm,

Impact Tester, Cylindrical metal measure, Tamping rod, Balance &
Oven

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : (a) Coarse aggregate passing 12.5-mm

sieve & retained on 10 mm sieve is taken.
(b) The sample is oven dried for 4 hours at 100 to 110 c.

PROCEDURE : (a) The sample is filled in cylinder in three layers.

Each layer is given 25 strokes.
(b) The weight of sample is taken (w). The sample is put into the
cup & 15 blows are given by hammer weighing 14 kg & falling height
38 cm .
(c) The crushed sample is sieved through 2.36 mm sieve & weight
of passing material is taken. (w1 )
(d) Observations & calculations :

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA : Impact value shall not be more than 30

% for wearing surfaces & shall not be more than 45 % for non-
wearing surfaces.
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ABRASION VALUE

OBJECTIVE : To determine the Abrasion value of Coarse Aggregate.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362

(Part IV)

APPARATUS : Los Angels Machine, Various IS Sieves

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : A constant weight ( 5 Kg ) of clean

coarse Agg conforming to one of the grading as per IS is dried at
105 to 110 c.

PROCEDURE : (a) The aggregate is then placed in the LOS ANGELS

testing machine with No of spheres.
(b) The No of spheres and No of revolutions fixed as per grade.
(c) After the revolutions the sample shall be sieved through
1.7-mm sieve and coarser material shall be washed & oven dried at
105 to 110c and weight is taken (A).(
(d) Observation & Calculations

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA : Shall not be more than 30 % for wearing

surfaces & shall not be more than 50 % non -wearing surfaces.
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ELONGATION INDEX

OBJECT : To determine the Elongation Index of Coarse Aggregate.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
I)

APPARATUS : Length Gauge , Balance

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : Take two hundred pieces of aggregate as

available from the sample.

PROCEDURE : (a) Take the weight of 200 pieces (w). Pass the 200
pieces from the respective size.
(b) Take the weight of retained pieces (w1)
(c) Observation & Calculation

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA :
a) Not Specified by IS
b) Refer T.I.-18 of E – in – C
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FLAKINESS INDEX

OBJECTIVE : To determine the Flakiness Index of Coarse

Aggregates.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
I)

APPARATUS : Thickness Gauge , Balance

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : Take two hundred pieces of aggregate as

available from the sample.

PROCEDURE : (a) Take two hundred pieces of aggregate as

available from the sample ( Ex. 20mm passing – 16 mm retained,
16mm passing 12.5 mm retained )
(b) Take the weight of 200-pieces (W). Pass the 200 pieces from
the respective size.
(c) Take the weight of passing pieces (W1 )
(d) Observation & Calculations

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA :
(a) Not Specified by IS
(b) Refer T.I.-18 of E – in – C
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CRUSHING VALUE

OBJECTIVE: To determining the Crushing Value of Course

Aggregate.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
IV)

APPARATUS : The apparatus for the standard test shall consist

of the followings:

a) A 15 cm dia open ended steel cylinder, with plunger and

base plate
b) A straight metal tamping rod of circular x-section 16 mm
in dia. And 45 -60 cm long, rounded at one end.
c) A balance of capacity of 3 kg, readable and accurate to
1gm.
d) IS sieves of sizes 12.5 mm, 10mm and 2.36 mm.
e) A compressive testing machine capable of applying a
load of 40 tonnes and which can be operated to give a
uniform rate of loading, so that the max load is reached
in 10 mins. The machine may be used with or without
spherical seating.
f) For measuring the sample, cylindrical metal measure of
sufficient rigidity to retain its form under rough usage
and of the following internal dimensions:
Diameter 11.5 cms
Height 18.0 cms

SAMPLING PROCEDURE : The material for the standard test shall

consist of aggregate passing a 12.5 mm IS sieve and retain on a 10
mm IS sieve, and shall be thoroughly separated on these sieves
before testing. For other sizes, the material shall be separated on
the appropriate sieves given in the table -1.
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TABLE-1
Details of aggregate crushing test for non- standard sizes of
aggregate.

Passing Retained on Dia. of Size of IS

through (mm) cylinder sieve
(mm) Used
25 20 15.0 4.75 mm
20 12.5 15.0 3.35 mm
10 6.3 15.0-7.5 1.70 mm
6.3 4.75 15.0-7.5 1.18 mm
4.75 3.35 15.0-7.5 850 microns
3.35 2.36 15.0-7.5 600 microns

The quantity of aggregate shall be such that the depth of the

material in the cylinder, after tamping as described below, shall be
10 cms. The appropriate quantity may be found conveniently by
filling the cylindrical measure in three layers of approximately
equal depth, each layer being tamped 25 times with the rounded
end of the tamping rod and finally leveled off.
The wt. of material comprising the test sample shall be determined
(Weight-A).

PROCEDURE: (a) The cylindrical test apparatus shall be put in

position on the base plate and the test sample added directly &
gives 25 strokes for one time. The surface of the aggregate shall
be carefully leveled and the plunger inserted so that it rests
horizontally on this surface, care being taken to ensure that the
plunger does not jam in the cylinder.
(b) The apparatus, with the test sample and plunger in position,
shall than be placed between the platens of the testing machine
and loaded at as uniform a rate as possible so that the total load
can be reached in 10 minutes. The total load shall be 40 tonnes.
(c) The load shall be released and the whole of the material
removed from the cylinder and sieved on 2.36mm IS sieved for the
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standard test, or the appropriate sieve given in the table -1. The
fraction passing the sieve shall be weighed (Weight-B).

In all of these operations, care shall be taken to avoid loss of the

fines.
(d) Calculation: The ratio of the weight of fines formed to the total
sample weight in each tests shall be expressed as a %. The result
being recorded to the 1st decimal place.

Aggregate crushing value = (B/A) 100

Where B = Wt. of fraction passing the appropriate sieve

A= Wt. of surface dry sample

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA : Crushing value shall not be more than 30

% for wearing surfaces & shall not be more than 45 % for non-
wearing surfaces.
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SOUNDNESS

OBJECT : This standard covers the procedure of the determine the

Resistance to disintegration of aggregates by saturated solutions
of sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate.

REFERENCE : Specification IS: 383 & Method of Test IS: 2362 (Part
IV)

APPARATUS: (a) Oven

(b) Balance
(c) Bowls / Containers
(d) IS Sieves

REAGENTS : Saturated sodium sulphate solution or saturated

magnesium sulphate solution.

SAMPLING : As per IS 2386 –Part V – 1963.

PROCEDURE : (a) Adequate sample of aggregate is immersed in

a saturated sodium sulphate solution or saturated magnesium
sulphate solution for 16 to 18 hrs.
(b) After the immersion period the aggregate sample shall be
removed from the solution and permitted to drain for 15 min and
placed in a drying oven at 105 c to 110c.
(c) The process of alternate immersion and drying is repeated until
five cycles are completed.
(d) Then thoroughly wash the Agg and kept in oven for drying.
(e) Calculation : Then sieve it on respective IS Sieves as per IS &
% loss is calculated.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA : Not more than 12 % when tested with

sodium sulphate or 18 % when tested with Magnesium sulphate.