EXPERIMENTSPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE AGGREGATE

Procedure:
1. Weigh the test sample: A (g)
2. Cover the test sample with water, either by immersion or by addition of at least 6
percent moisture to the sample, and permit to stand for 244 hr.
3. Decant the excess water with care to avoid loss of fines. Spread the sample on a flat
non-absorbent surface exposed to a gently moving current of warm air, and stir
frequently to secure homogenous dying. Continue until the sample approaches a free-
flowing condition. When the specimen has reached a surface dry condition, it is called
saturated surface dry (SSD).
4. Weigh the sample: B (g)
5. Fill the pycnometer with water to the top, and weigh: C (g)
6. Remove part of the water, and introduce the SSD sample into the pycnometer.
7. Fill with additional water to approximate 90 percent of its capacity.
8. Roll, invert, and agitate the pycnometer to eliminate the air bubbles.
9. Bring the water level in the pycnometer to its calibrated capacity.
10. Determine the total weight of pycnometer, specimen, and water: D (g)
11. Remove the sample from the pycnometer, dry to constant weight at a temperature of
1105 oC, cool and weigh: E (g).
12. Calculate the specify gravity and absorption.