BULK WEIGHT

OF
AGGREGATES
OBJECTIVE:

• To determine the bulk unit weight and voids in aggregate

in either a compacted or loose condition.
APPARATUS:
• Balance
• Tamping rod
• Shovel or Scoop
• Plate glass
• Measure (A cylindrical metal measure, preferably provided with
handles.)
 TABLE 1 Capacity of Measures
Nominal Maximum

Size of Agg(mm) Capacity of Measure (mᵌ)

12.5 0.0028
25 0.0093
37.5 0.014
75 0.028
100 0.070
125 0.100
APPARATUS:

Tamping rod
Plate glass Measure

Scoop Shovel Balance

PROCEDURE:

1. Calibrate the metal bucket to determine its volume by determining the

net weight of water required to fill it and dividing it by the density of
water. For this test procedure, it is sufficiently accurate to accept the
density of water at room temperature to be 998 kg/m3.
2. Rodding the aggregates: Fill the bucket one third full and rod the
aggregate layer with 25 strokes of the tamping rod, evenly distributed
over the surface. Add another layer of aggregates so that the bucket is
approximately two thirds full and repeat the rodding procedure. The third
layer of aggregates should fill the pail to overflowing. Again repeat the
tamping procedure and strike off the excess with the tamping rod.
Manually try to balance the depressions below the top of the bucket with
slight projections above the top. When tamping the first lift, do not permit
the rod to penetrate to the bottom of the bucket. However, the
subsequent lifts should penetrate to the top of the previous lift.

3. The rodded unit weight is computed in kg/m3 from the net weight of the
rodded aggregates in the bucket divided by its volume.
Sampling:
Obtain the sample in accordance with Practice D75, and reduce to test sample size in
accordance with practice C702

Test Sample
The size of the sample shall be approximately 125 to 200 % of the quantity required
to fill the measure, and shall be handled in a manner to avoid segregation. Dry the
aggregate sample to essentially constant mass, preferable in an oven to 110 ± 5˚C
Selection of Procedure
The shoveling procedure for loose bulk density shall be used only when specifically stipulated.
Otherwise, the compact bulk density shall be determined by the rodding procedure for aggregates
having a nominal maximum size greater than 37.5 mm or less, or by the Jigging procedure for
aggregates having a nominal maximum size greater than 37.5 mm and not exceeding 125 mm

Rodding Procedure
Fill the measure one-third full and level the surface with the fingers. Rod the layer of aggregate with 25
strokes of the tamping rod evenly distributed over the surface. Fill the measure two-thirds full and again
level and rod as above. Finally, fill the measure to overflowing and rod again in the manner previously
mentioned. Level the surface of the aggregate with the fingers or a straightedge in such a way that any
slight projections of the larger pieces of the coarse aggregate approximately balance the larger voids in the
surface below the top of the measure. In rodding the first layer, do not allow the rod to strike the bottom of
the measure forcibly. In rodding the second and third layers, use vigorous effort, but not more force than
to cause the tamping rod to penetrate to the previous layer of aggregate
Jigging Procedure
Fill the measure in three approximately equal layers compacting each layer by placing
the measure on a firm base. Such as a cement-concrete floor. Raising the opposite
sides alternately about 50 mm and allowing the measure to drop in such a manner as
to hit with a sharp. Slapping blow. The aggregate particle. by this procedure. Will
arrange themselves in a densely compacted condition. Compact each layer by
dropping the measure 50 times in the manner described, 25 times on each side. Level
the surface of the aggregate with the fingers or a straightedge in such a way that any
slight projections of the larger pieces of the coarse aggregate approximately balance
the larger voids in the surface below the top of the measure.
Determine the mass of the measure plus its contents, and the mass of the measure
alone, and record the values to the nearest o.05 kg
Shoveling Procedure
Fill the measure to overflowing by means of a shovel or scoop, discharging the
aggregate from a height not to exceed 50 mm above the top of the measure. Exercise
care to prevent, so far as possible, segregation of the particle sizes of which the sample
is composed. Level the surface of the aggregate with the fingers or a straightedge in
such a way that any slight projections of the larger pieces of the coarse aggregate
approximately balance the larger voids in the surface below the top of the measure.
Calculation
Bulk Density----- Calculate the bulk density for
the ridding, jigging, or shoveling procedure as
follows:
M = (G – T)/V
Or M = (G – T) x F
Where:
M = bulk density of the aggregate, kg/mᵌ
G = mass of the aggregate plus the measure, kg
T = mass of the measure, kg
V = volume of the measure, mᵌ
F = factor for measure, m‫־‬ᵌ
The bulk density determined by this test method
is for aggregate in an oven dry condition. If the
bulk density in terms of saturated-surface-dry
condition is desired, use the exact procedure in
this test method, and then calculate the SSD
bulk density using the following formula:
Mssd = M{1 +(A/100)}
Where:
MSSD = bulk
A = % absorption, determined in accordance
with Test Method C127 or Test
Method C128
Void Content----- Calculate the void content in
the aggregate using the bulk density determined
by either the rodding, jigging, or shoveling
procedure, as follows:
% Voids = 100 [ (SxW) – M] / (S x W)
Where:
M = bulk density of the aggregate, kg/mᵌ
S = bulk specific gravity (dry basis) as
determined in accordance with Test Method
C127 or Test Method C128, and
W = density of water, 998 kg/mᵌ
Volume of Measure----- Calculate the volume of a
measure as follows:
V = (W – M)/D
F = D/ (W – M)
Where:
V = volume of the measure, mᵌ
W = mass of the water, plate glass, and measure,
kg
M = mass of the plate glass and measured
temperature, kg/mᵌ
D = density of the water for the measured
temperature, kg/mᵌ
F = factor for the measure, 1/mᵌ