AGGREGATE

DBN 163 (MATERIAL)

INTRODUCTION
The term aggregate is used to describe the gravels, crushed stones and other materials which are mixed with cement and water to make concrete. The function of aggregate in concrete is as a mass of particles which are suitable for resisting action of applied load,abrasion and percolation of moisture and the action of weather. It is also to reduce the volume changes resulting from setting and hardening of concrete.

CLASSIFICATION
HIGH DENSITY AGGREGATE
-COARSE AGGREGATE NORMAL AGGREGATE CLASSIFICATION -FINE AGGREGATE -ALL-IN AGGREGATE

NATURAL LIGHT WEIGHT AGGREGATE

ARTIFICIAL

HIGH DENSITY AGGREGATE

Aggregate of high specific gravity, that is ranging from 2800 kg/m3 to 2900 kg/m3 are used to make high density concrete. Examples of aggregate in this class examples magnetite and barytes. They produce dense and crack free concrete. The main drawback is that they are not suitably graded. It is difficult to have adequate workability without segregation.

NORMAL DENSITY AGGREGATE

COARSE AGGREGATE
Coarse aggregate are material retained on 5 mm BS 410 sieve test. Coarse aggregate consists of natural occurring stones (crushed, uncrushed or broken). It should be hard, strong, dense, durable, and clean. It should be roughly cubical in shape. Flaky pieces should be avoided. Characteristics of coarse aggregate The coarse aggregate is clean, hard, non porous, free from lumps of clay and vegetable matter. Water absorption of aggregate is not more than 10 % of its weight after 24 hours immersion in water. Angular and roughly cubicle particles are ideal. River gravels make the best coarse aggregate. Aggregate is chemically inert material.

NORMAL DENSITY AGGREGATE

FINE AGGREGATE
Fine aggregate is a material which passed through a 5mm BS 410 sieve test. Sand is generally considered to have a lower size limit of about 0.07 mm material between 0.06mm and 0.002mm is classified as silt, and smaller particles are called clay.

NORMAL DENSITY AGGREGATE

FINE AGGREGATE
Natural sand Fine aggregate resulting from natural disintegration of rocks

Sand may be described

Crushed stoned sand or crushing gravel sand

Fine aggregate produced by crushing hard stone or natural gravel respectively.

NORMAL DENSITY AGGREGATE

ALL-IN AGGREGATE
These are material composed of a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate. These are normally not graded and used in unimportant works as they are taken from pit or river bed. Hence, they are also regarded or referred to as pit run aggregate

LIGHT WEIGHT AGGREGATE

Any aggregate with particle density of less than 2000 kg/m3. Light weight aggregate may be subdivided into following groups: Naturally occuring materials pumice, foamed lava, volcanic tuff porous limestone. Naturally occuring materials which require further processing Expanded clay, shale and slate and other expanded minerals such as perlite and vermiculite Material which occur as industrial by products. Fly ash, sintered slate and colliery waste, foamed or expanded blast furnace slag.

LIGHT WEIGHT AGGREGATE

The main requirement of light weight aggregate is its low density. However, light weight aggregate has high water absorption,thus, the workability concrete mixes become stiff within a few minutes mixing. In that case, the aggregate require wetting before mixing in the mixer.

Characteristic of aggregate
Chemical stability
Aggregate will not react chemically with cement or be affected chemically by other external influences. In some areas, aggregate with certain certain chemical constituents react with alkalis in cement. This alkali-aggregate reaction may cause abnormal expansion and map-cracking of the concrete.

Characteristic of aggregate
Abrasion resistance
Essential when the aggregate is used in concrete subject to abrasion as in floors and pavement.

Resistant to freezing and thawing.

The freeze-thaw resistance of an aggregate is related to its porosity, absorption and pore structure.

Compressive strength
Resistance to compressive forces. The particle shape and surface texture of an aggregate influence the properties of fresh concrete more than they affect the properties of hardened concrete

Physical Properties
Strength
Strength of rock aggregate varies between 70 N/mm2 to 350 N/mm2. A good average value of crushing strength of aggregate is 200 N/mm2. In general, igneous rock are much stronger than the sedimentary and metamorphic rock

Physical Properties
Hardness
Ability of aggregate to withstand wear or load or applied pressure.

Toughness
Resistance of aggregate to failure by impact.

Durability
Ability of aggregate to with stand external or internal damaging attack or in word soundness of the aggregate.

Porosity

 Porosity
Aggregate normally have pores of various sizes

Water absorption
The water absorption is express as percentage of weight of the dry condition.

Grading