Aggregate

Introduction of Aggregate
The aggregates occupy 7080 per cent of the volume of
concrete.
The properties of aggregate greatly affects the properties of
concrete such as Workability, strength, durability and economy
of construction.
Aggregate give body to concrete and certain aggregate exhibits
chemical bond at the interface of aggregate and paste.
Classification of aggregate
Aggregates can be classified based on
1 Petrology classification
i. Aggregate from igneous rocks
ii. Aggregate from Sedimentary rocks
iii. Aggregate from Metamorphic rocks
2 Classification based on physical characteristics
I. Size
II. Shape
III. Texture
3 Classification by weight
I. Normal Weight Aggregate
II. Light weight Aggregate
III. Heavy Weight Aggregate
According to Petrological Characteristics:
Igneous rocks: are formed by solidification of molten lava.
(granite)
Sedimentary rocks: are obtained by deposition of weathered &
transported pre-existing rocks or solutions. (limestone)
Metamorphic rocks: are formed under high heat & pressure
alteration of either igneous & sedimentary rocks (marble).
1 Petrology classification
i Aggregate from igneous rocks
Aggregate originated from igneous rock are normally hard,
tough and dense.
The igneous rocks have massive structure, entirely crystalline
or wholly glassy or in combination in between, depending upon
the rate at which they were cooled during formation.
They may be acidic or basic depending upon the percentage of
silica content.
They may occur light coloured or dark coloured.
The igneous rocks as a class are the most chemically active
concrete aggregate and show a tendency to react with the
alkalies in cement.
Most of aggregate are of igneous origin.
 cont.
ii Aggregate from Sedimentary rock
eg. Natural sand , gravel, Sandstone, limestone etc.
Igneous rocks or metamorphic rocks are subjected to weathering
agencies such as sun, rain and wind. These weathering agencies
decompose, fragmantise, transport and deposit the particles of rock,
deep beneath the ocean bed where they are cemented together by
some of the cementing materials.
The cementing materials could be carbonaceous, siliceous or
argillaceous in nature. At the same time the deposited and cemented
material gets subjected to static pressure of water and becomes
compact sedimentary rock layer.
The deposition, cementation and consolidation takes place layer by
layer beneath the ocean bed. These sedimentary rock formations
subsequently get lifted up and becomes continent.
The sedimentary rocks with the stratified structure are quarried and
concrete aggregates are derived from it.
n
iii Aggregate from metamorphic rock
Both igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks may be subjected to
high temperature and pressure which causes metamorphism
which changes the structure and texture of rocks. Metamorphic
rocks show foliated structure.
metamorphic rocks particularly quartizite and gneiss have been
used for production of good concrete aggregates.

Quartizite
2 Classification based on physical characteristics
I. Based on Size
Aggregates are divided into two categories namely
(a) Coarse aggregate and (b) Fine aggregate.

(a) Coarse aggregate: The size of aggregate bigger than 4.75 mm is

considered as coarse aggregate.
E.g. Uncrushed and crashed stone whose size is greater than
4.75 mm

(a) Fine aggregate: aggregate whose size is 4.75 mm and less is

considered as fine aggregate.
E.G Natural river sand
II Based on Shape
The shape of aggregates is an important characteristic since it
affects the workability of concrete.
a) Rounded Aggregate
b) Irregular aggregate
c) Angular aggregate
d) Flaky aggregate
e) Elongated aggregate
a) Rounded Aggregate: Completely water worn & fully shaped by
attrition. (River Gravel)

b) Irregular: Partly shaped by attrition so it contains some

rounded edges. (Land Gravel)

c) Angular: Has sharp corners, show little evidence of wear.

(Crushed Stone)
d) Flaky: Thickness is relatively small with respect to two other
dimensions. (Laminated Rocks)

e) Elongated: Have lengths considerably larger than two other

dimensions.
L

t w
 FLAT ELONGATED

ANGULAR ROUND
III Based on Texture
Surface texture is the property, the measure of which depends
upon the relative degree to which particle surfaces are polished
or dull, smooth or rough.
Surface texture depends on hardness, grain size, pore structure,
structure of the rock, and the degree to which forces
acting on the particle surface have smoothed or roughened it.
Hard, dense, fine-grained materials will generally have smooth
fracture surfaces.
3 Classification by weight
I. Normal Weight Aggregate
Normal weight aggregates can be further classified as natural
aggregates and artificial aggregates.

Natural
Sand, Artificial
Gravel, Crushed Broken Brick,
Rock such as Granite, Air-cooled Slag.
Quartzite, Basalt, Sintered fly ash
Sandstone Bloated clay
II Light Weight Aggregate

Expanded
Shale
Clay
Produce structural lightweight concrete Slate
1350 to 1850 kg/m3 Slag

Pumice
Produce lightweight insulating concrete Scoria
250 to 1450 kg/m3 Perlite
Vermiculite
Diatomite
III Heavy weight Aggregate
Barite
Limonite
Magnetite
Ilmenite

Produce high-density concrete up to 6400 kg/m3

Mechanical properties of Aggregate
a. Strength
b. Specific gravity
c. Bulk density
d. Porosity
e. Absorption
f. Moisture content
a Strength
Strength do not imply the strength of the parent rock from
which the aggregates are produced.
Aggregate crushing value gives a relative measure of the
resistance of an aggregate sample to crushing under gradually
applied compressive load.

The aggregate crushing value is restricted to 30 % for concrete

used for roads and pavement. 45 % may be permitted for other
structure
b) Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a unit volume of
material to the Weight of the same volume of water at 200 to 25C.

3
=
2 1
where W1 weight of saturated aggregate in water, kg
W2 weight of saturated surface dry aggregate in air, kg
W3 weight of oven dry aggregate in air, kg

Majority of natural aggregate have a specific gravity

between 2.6 to 2.7
 C
Apparent Specific Gravity =
C-B

C
Bulk Sp.Gr. =
A-B

Where A.mass of saturated surface dry aggregate in air

B mass of saturated surface dry aggregate in water
C mass of oven dry aggregate in air
c Bulk density
Bulk Density is the weight of the aggregate in a given volume
and is expressed in gm/cm3 or kg/m3 .
Know specific gravity and bulk density. percentage of voids can
be caluclated.
d Porosity (n)
It is defined as the ratio of volume of void in the aggregate to the
total volume of aggregate.

n= 100

the porosity of aggregate affects the bond between the aggregate
and cement paste, chemical stability, resistance of abrasion,
specific gravity and strength of concrete.

Porosity of common rock varies from 0 to 20 %

e Absorption
the percentage of water absorbed by an aggregate when immersed
in water is called absorption of aggregate.

WSSD-WDry
% Absorption = (Absorption Capacity)
WDry

It effects the bond between the bond between the aggregate and
cement paste, chemical stability, resistance of abrasion, specific
gravity and strength of concrete.
f Moisture content
the surface moisture is expressed as a percentage of the weight of
the saturated and surface dry aggregate is termed as moisture
content.

The total water content of a moist aggregate is equal to the sum of

absorption and moisture content.

Wagg-WDry
Moisture Content (m) =
WDry
Alkali Aggregate Reaction
The alkali aggregate reaction is the reaction between active silica
constitutes of aggregate and alkalies i.e Na2O and K2O present in
cement.
The expansive alkali silicate gels are formed due to the reaction
when conditions are congenial and progressive manifestation by
swelling takes place which result in disruption of concrete with
spreading of pattern cracks and eventual failure of concrete
structure.

Factors Affecting Alkali Aggregate reaction are

Reactivity of the aggregate, Alkali aggregate reaction, Availability of
moisture content, Temperature conditions and Alkali aggregate
reaction mechanisms.
Alkali aggregate reaction syptoms
AAR can be controlled by
Avoiding the use of reactive aggregate.
The use of low alkali cement.
Ensuring that optimum temperature is not available.
Controlling the availability of water which is basic requirement
for AAR.
Sieve Analysis
It is the operation of dividing a sample of aggregate into various
fractions each consisting of particles of the same size.
The sieve analysis is conducted to
determine the particle size distribution in a
Sample of aggregate, which we call gradation.
The aggregates used for making concrete are
normally of the maximum size 80 mm, 40 mm,
20 mm, 10 mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, 600 micron,
300 micron and 150 micron.
Fineness Modulus
Fineness Modulus is a numerical index of fineness, giving some
idea of the mean size of the particles present in the entire body
of aggregate.
The sum of the cumulative percentage retained on the sieves
divided by 100 gives the fineness modulus.

(% cumulative retained on each sieve)

FM =
100
FM for Fine aggregate 2.0 to 3.5
FM for coarse aggregate is 5.5 to 8.0
Example 1 Determine fineness Modulus of given sample of
aggregates
Sieve Size Amount
Retained
Sieve
Amount in Retained
gm on (gr)
Amount Retained on (%)
% Cumulative Retained on
10 mm 0
4.75 mm
30
2.36 80
1.18 100
600 um 120
300 um 125
150 mm
35
pan 10
 Sieve Size Amount Amount % %
Solution: Retained
in gm
Retained Cumulativ
on % e Retained
cummlative
passing
on (100-X)
X

10 mm 0 0 0 100
4.75 mm 94
30 6 6
2.36 80 16 22 78
1.18 100 20 42 58
600 um 120 24 66 34
300 um 125 25 91 9
150 mm
35 7 98 2
pan 10 2 100 0

6+22+42+66+91+98
FM = = 3.25
100
Grading of the aggregate
The particle size distribution of an aggregate as determined by
sieve analysis is termed as grading of the aggregate.

The grading of an aggregate is expressed in terms of percentages

by weight on or passing through a series of sieves taken in order of
80 mm, 40 mm, 20 mm, 10 mm, 4.75, 2.36 mm, 1.18 mm,
600 microns, 300 microns and 150 microns.

Different types of grading are

a Well graded b poorly graded c Gap Graded
Types of Gradations
Uniformly graded
- Few points of contact
- Poor interlock (shape dependent)
- High permeability
Well graded
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
Gap graded
- Only limited sizes
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
NCAT 40
A
Grading of fine aggregate and Coarse aggregate
The most suitable fine to coarse ratio to be used for any
particular mix will, however depends upon actual grading,
particle shape and surface texture of both fine aggregate and
coarse aggregates.

()
=
()
Where
a= proportion of fine to coarse aggregate
x= surface index of fine aggregate
y= surface index of coarse aggregate
Z= Surface index of combine aggregate
Specific Surface
The surface area per unit weight of the material is termed as
specific surface. This is an indirect measure of the aggregate
grading.

Surface index (fx)

It is a empirical number related to specific surface of the particle
with more weightage given to finer fraction.
The total surface index (fx) of a mixture of aggregate is
calculated by multiplying the percentage of material retained on
its sieve by the corresponding surface index and to their sum is
added a constant of 330 and the result is divided by 1000.
.
Example 1 for determining Surface index for combine grading
Solution

507
Surface index for combine grading (z) = = 0.507
1000
Example 2 Determine the proportion fine and coarse aggregate for
following data
Surface index for Combine grading
Solution
1 Calculate Surface index of combine aggregate

507
Surface index for combine grading (z) = = 0.507
1000
2 Calculate the Surface index for coarse aggregate and fine aggregate
3 the surface index for fine aggregate x= 1.065
the surface index for coarse aggregate y= 0.30
the surface index for combine aggregate Z= 0.507

() (0.5070.30) 1
a= = =
() (1.0650.507) 2.7

Therefore, F.A:CA = 1 : 2.7

Combine grading by trail and error
method
Grading Curves
The curve showing the cumulative percentage of passing the
sieves represented on the ordinate with Sieve opening to the
logarithmic Scale represented on abscissa is termed
as Grading Curve
The grading curve indicates weather the grading of a given
sample conforms to that specified or its too coarse or too fine or
deficient in particular size.
A
 In case the actual grading curve is lower than the specified
grading curve, the aggregate is coarser and segregation of mix
might take place.
In case the actual grading curve lies well above the specified
grading curve, the aggregate is finer and more water is required,
thus increasing the quantity of cement for a constant w/c ratio.
Therefore is uneconomical.
If the actual grading curve is steeper than specified, it indicates
an excess of middle size particle and lead to harsh mix.
If the actual grading curve is flatter than the specified grading
curve, the aggregate will be deficient in middle size particle.
Grading curve for Coarse Aggregate
Fig 2 Grading Curve for 40 mm

Fig 1 grading curve for 20 mm

Fig 3 grading curve for 10mm

Grading curve for Fine aggregate
G.