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Experiment 2 Determination of Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates

1. The document describes an experiment to determine the specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregates. Samples were soaked in water for 24 hours then surfaced dried and weighed both in and out of water to calculate properties. 2. Specific gravity is a ratio comparing the weight of material to an equal volume of water. Absorption measures water absorbed in aggregate pores. 3. The experiment found the apparent specific gravity, bulk specific gravity in saturated surface dry and oven dry conditions, and absorption of three coarse aggregate samples. Absorption varied between 1.7-4.36% showing differences in pore structure.

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252 views

Experiment 2 Determination of Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates

1. The document describes an experiment to determine the specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregates. Samples were soaked in water for 24 hours then surfaced dried and weighed both in and out of water to calculate properties. 2. Specific gravity is a ratio comparing the weight of material to an equal volume of water. Absorption measures water absorbed in aggregate pores. 3. The experiment found the apparent specific gravity, bulk specific gravity in saturated surface dry and oven dry conditions, and absorption of three coarse aggregate samples. Absorption varied between 1.7-4.36% showing differences in pore structure.

Uploaded by

Ren
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© © All Rights Reserved
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EXPERIMENT 2

Determination of Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates


Referenced Standard
ASTM C127-88
AASHTO T85-91
Introduction
Basically, specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of
material to the weight of an equal volume of water. The variations of the
definitions of specific gravity depend upon the material and its purpose. In
concrete work, the term specific gravity customarily refers to the density of the
individual particle, not to the aggregate mass as a whole. The most common
definition of specific gravity in aggregate in concrete is specific gravity in the
saturated-surface-dry condition (SSD). The bulk (oven dry) specific gravity and
apparent specific gravity are used to a lesser degree.
Absorption, according to STM C127 and C1280, is a measure of the total
pore volume accessible to water. The absorption capacity of an aggregate is
determined by finding the weight of the aggregate under the SSD condition and
the oven-dry sample weight is the absorption capacity. Coarse aggregates are
considered to be saturated surface dry when have been wiped free of visible
moisture film with a cloth after the aggregates have been soaked in water for 24
hours.

Objectives:
1. To perform and understand the procedure for determining the
specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregates.
2. To understand the importance of SSD in determining the absorption
capacity of the aggregate.
3. To determine the following properties of a coarse aggregate sample:
a. Apparent specific gravity
b. Bulk specific gravity in SSD condition
c. Bulk specific gravity in the oven dry condition
d. Absorption
Apparatus/Materials:
Coarse aggregate sample Balance sensitive to 1.0 gram
Wire mesh basket Oven
Sieve Sample container

Procedure:
1. Prepare the sample of the coarse aggregates obtained from Experiment 1.
Refer to Table 1 for prescribed quantities according to sample size.
Perform the sampling procedure of Experiment 1 if new test samples are
to be tested.
2. Soak the test sample clean water for approximately 24 hours. Specific
gravity and absorption of aggregates not oven-dried before soaking may
be higher than aggregates dried at room temperature.
3. Dry the aggregate sample to its saturated-surface dry condition by wiping
its surface dry using towel.
4. After wiping its surface dry, weigh the test sample in air (B) to the nearest
1.0 gram. Do this quickly to prevent evaporation of moisture from the
aggregate.
5. Place the weighed test sample in a wire mesh sample and dip it in water
at a temperature of 23±1.7°C. Remove entrapped air in the aggregates by
shaking. Measure the weight of the sample in the basket while dipped in
water (C).
6. Remove the sample from the basket and allow to dry in the oven at
110±5°C to a constant weight (A).
7. From the values obtained above, calculate the specific gravities and
absorption of the aggregate.

Table 1
Minimum Requirements for Test Samples
Nominal Size of Aggregates Minimum Mass of Test Samples
≤ 12.5 mm (1/2”) 2 kg
19.0 mm (3/4”) 3 kg
25.0 mm(1”) 4 kg
1 5 kg
37.5 mm (1 ”)
2
50 mm (2”) 8 kg
1 12 kg
63 mm (2 ”)
2
75 mm (3”) 18 kg
1 25 kg
90 mm (3 ”)
2
100 mm (4”) 40 kg
Source: Marotta & Herubin (1997)

Drawing:

Observations:
Quantity 1 2 3
Mass of the empty wire basket in air, g 375 375 375
Mass of the wire basket + SSD sample in air, g 461.81 486.73 508.89
Mass of the SSD sample in air, g 86.81 111.73 133.89
Mass of the basket + sample in water, g 434. 922 449.688 463.41
Mass of the empty container (used for oven- 13.06 12.75 13.07
drying) in air, g
Mass of the container + oven-dried sample in air, g 98.42 119.81 143.5
Mass of the oven dried sample in air, g 85.36 107.06 130.43

Data Analysis:
1. Apparent Specific Gravity
Gs = M o ÷ [ M o - M w]

2. Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD)


G ssd = M ssd ÷ [ M ssd - M w ]

3. Bulk Specific Gravity


G b = M o ÷ [ M ssd - M w ]

4. Absorption
A = {[ M ssd - M o] ÷ M o} x 100%

Where:
M o = oven-dry mass of sample
M ssd = SSD mass of sample
M w = mass of sample in water

Results:
Aggregate: Nominal Size:
Measure 1 2 3 Average
Mass of the SSD sample in air 86.81 111.73 133.8 110.78
Mass of the SSD sample in water 59.922 74.688 88.41 74.34
107.616
Mass of oven-dried sample in air 85.36 107.06 130.43 7
         
Property 1 2 3 Average
Apparent specific gravity 3.36 3.31 3.10 3.26
Bulk specific gravity 3.17 2.89 2.87 2.98
Bulk specific gravity (SSD) 3.23 3.02 2.95 3.06
Absorption 1.70 4.36 2.58 2.88

Discussion of Results:
Specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregates were obtained in this
experiment. Using the wire mesh basket, minimum mass of the test samples
were soaked and dried then SSD condition was observed and obtained. Mass of
the SSD sample in air differs from the mass of the SSD sample in water.

Conclusion:
Specific gravity and Absorption are important tests because it can be used
in calculation for concrete mix design. Concrete mix design is one of the most
important methods to produce high quality concrete mix design. This calculation
can’t be completed without the information of these two. In absorption, it
indicates the quantity of water which will be absorbed in the pore structure.
Depending on the moisture condition in the aggregates that is present will affect
the water-cement ratio, strength and durability.

Post-lab exercises:
1. Define hygroscopic moisture.
Hygroscopic moisture is simply the moisture of an air-dried
sample.
2. A 3.0-kg has a moisture content of 12%. Determine its dry weight.

3. Derive the formula:


Free moisture = (MT/MW)x[(GSSD-1)/ GSSD]
Where:
MT = mass of sample in air
MW = mass of sample in water
GSSD = specific gravity in the SSD condition
PHOTO DOCUMENTATION

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