Abstrack

Specific gravity is a measure of a materials density (mass per unit volume) as compared to the
density of water at 73.4o F (23o C). Therefore, by definition, water at a temperature of 73.4o F (23o C)
has a specific gravity of 1.

The coarse aggregate specific gravity test is used to calculate the specific gravity of a coarse
aggregate sample by determining the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate to the
weight of an equal volume of water. Aggregate specific gravity is used in a number of applications
including superpave mix design, deleterious particle identification and separation, and material
property change identification. It is similar in nature to the fine aggregate specific gravity test.

The coarse aggregate specific gravity test measures coarse aggregate weight under three different
sample conditions:

- Oven dry (no water in sample)

- Saturated surface-dry (SSD, water fills the aggregate pores)
- Submerged in water (underwater)

Aggregate Specific Gravity Types

- Apparent Specific Gravity (GSA)

- Bulk Specific Gravity (GSB)
- Bulk Saturated Surface Dry (SSD) Specific Gravity
- Effective Specific Gravity (GSE)

STEP OF WORK

1. Prepare all equipments and workspace, make sure that all in clean condition
2. Prepare the weigher, the needle set at position 0
3. Weigh the empty basket (A)
4. Insert the test specimens in the separator
5. Washing test specimens to remove the dirt with a brush
6. Drying the test specimens in an oven at temperature 100 5o C for 24 hours
7. Repeat step 1. Insert the dry specimens into a basket and then weigh the specimens.
Calculate the weight of the dry specimens (B)
8. Soak the specimens in a bucket for 24 hours at room temperature
9. Create a test specimens in a state of SSD
10. Repeat steps 1 & 2. Insert the test specimens into the basket and then weigh the specimens
in an (SSD) (C)
11. Fill a bucket with water, then weigh the basket in water (D)
12. Insert the test specimens into the basket and shake it in water to remove trapped air
13. Calculate the weight of the test specimens in saturated conditions
14. Clean equipments and workspace