CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES

EXPERIMENT 4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION

Carla Monique G. Rivera

BSCE – 3

DECEMBER 11, 2017

GROUP MEMBERS:

Denisse G. Malaga

Renee D. Diva

Kimberly D. Erodias

Christine Louise L. Macloy

Engr. Jane H. Chua

INSTRUCTOR
I. Statement of the Problem
Objective:

II. Materials, Apparatus, & Method of Testing

Apparatus

For Coarse Aggregate: For Fine Aggregate:

Balance, sensitive to 0.01 lb or gram Balance, sensitive to 0.01 lb or gram

Wire mesh basket 500 ml Chapman Flask
Drying oven Dryer
3/8” sieve Drying oven
Water Tank

Preparation of Sample (for Coarse Aggregate)

1. Thoroughly mix the sample aggregate and reduce it to the approximate quantity needed
using quartering or mechanical sieve shaker method.

2. Reject all materials passing at 4.75 mm (No.4) sieve sieving and thoroughly washing to
remove dust or other coatings from the surface.

3. The minimum weight of test sample to be used is given below:

Procedure:

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For Coarse Aggregate

1. Dry the test sample to constant weight at a temperature of 110 ± 5ºC (230 ± 9ºF).

2. Cool in air at room temperature 1 to 3 hours, or until the aggregate has cooled to a
temperature that is comfortable to handle (approximately 50ºC) and weigh.

3. Soak aggregate under water for 24± 4 hours.

4. Obtain approximately 5 kg of saturated coarse aggregate (retained on 3/8” sieve

preferably).

5. Trowel the aggregate to a saturated surface-dry condition (SSD). A moving steam may
be used to assist drying operation. Take care to avoid evaporation of water from
aggregate pores during the surface-dry operation.

6. Measure SSD weight (B) of aggregate in air to the nearest 1 gm. Do this quickly to
prevent evaporation.

7. Place the sample in the wire mesh basket, and determine its weight in water © at 23 ±
1.7 ºC (73.4 ± 3ºF). Take care to remove all entrapped air before weighing by shaking
the container while immersed. Be sure to subtract the submerged weight of the basket
from the total.

8. Place wet aggregate in oven, and dry to constant weight at a temperature of 110 ± 5ºC
(230 ± 9ºF) (leave the aggregate in oven overnight). Cool the aggregate in air at room
temperature 1 to 3 hours, or until the aggregate has cooled to a temperature that is
comfortable to handle (approximately 50ºC) and weigh (A).

9. From the above data (i.e., A, B and C) calculate the three types of specific gravity and
absorption as defined below:
𝐴
(1)Bulk Specific Gravity (Dry) =
𝐵−𝐶

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 𝐵
(2)Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) =
𝐵−𝐶

𝐴
(3)Apparent Specific Gravity =
𝐴−𝐶

𝐵−𝐴
(4)Absorption = 𝑥 100
𝐴

A = weight of oven-dry test sample, g,m

B = weight of saturated surface-dry sample in air, gm
C = weight of test sample in water, gm

For Fine Aggregate

1. Obtain approximately 4 kg air-dry fine aggregate ( all groups working together).

2. Bring fine aggregate to SSD condition as explained by the instructor.

3. Each group takes approximately 500 gm of the SSD aggregate. Record exact weight of
SSD sample (D).

4. Fill Chapman Flask to 450 ml mark and record weight of water and flask in grams (B).
The water temperature should be about 23 ± 1.5ºC (73 ± 3ºF).

5. Empty water in flask to about 200 ml and mark and add SSD aggregate to flask. Fill flask
to almost 450-ml mark with additional water.

6. “Roll” Flask on flat surface to eliminate air bubbles. Then fill the flask with water up to
450-ml. Record total weight (in gm) of flask plus the water plus aggregate (C).

7. Pour entire contents of flask into pan and place in oven. Additional tap water may be
used as necessary to wash all aggregate out of the flask. Return after 24 hours or as
long as it takes for the aggregate to dry and record weight of oven-dry aggregates (A).

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 8. From the data above, calculate specific gravities and absorption defined below:

𝐴
(1)Apparent Specific Gravity =
𝐵+ 𝐴− 𝐶

𝐴
(2)Bulk Specific Gravity =
𝐵+𝐷 − 𝐶

𝐷
(3)Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) =
𝐵− 𝐷−𝐶

𝐷−𝐴
(4)Absorption = 𝑥 100%
𝐴

For Fine Aggregates

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For Coarse Aggregates

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III. Summary of Test Results

FINE AGGREGATE

ITEM WEIGHT
SSD Weight in Air (D) 0.52kg
Weight of Pyc. +Water (B) 0.70kg
Weight of Pyc. + Water + Sample (C) 1.20kg
Oven Dry Weight (A) 0.435kg

COARSE AGGREGATE

ITEM WEIGHT
SSD Weight in Air (B) 0.54kg
Weight in Water (C) 3.20kg
Oven Dry Weight (A) 0.515kg

RESULTS

COARSE FINE
Apparent Specific Gravity 0.19 6.69
Bulk Specific Gravity (Dry) 0.19 21.75
Bulk Specific Gravity 0.20 26
Absorption 4.85% 19.54%

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IV. Discussion of Findings

V. Appendix

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For Coarse Aggregate:

𝐴 0.515
Bulk Specific Gravity (Dry) = = = 0.19
𝐵−𝐶 0.54−3.20

𝐵 0.54
Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD)= = = 0.20
𝐵−𝐶 0.54−3.20

𝐴 0.515
Apparent Specific Gravity = = = 0.19
𝐴−𝐶 0.515−3.20

𝐵−𝐴 0.54−0.515
Absorption = 𝑥100 = 𝑥100 = 4.85%
𝐴 0.515

For Fine Aggregate:

𝐴 0.435
Apparent Specific Gravity= = = 6.69
𝐵+𝐴−𝐶 0.70+0.435−1.20

𝐴 0.435
Bulk Specific Gravity= = = 21.75
𝐵+𝐷−𝐶 0.70+0.52−1.20

𝐷 0.52
Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD)= = = 26
𝐵+𝐷−𝐶 0.70+0.52−1.20

𝐷−𝐴 0.52−0.435
Absorption= 𝑥100 = 𝑥100 = 19.54%
𝐴 0.435

VI. References

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Laboratory Manual in Construction Materials and Testing, Gepulango

ASTM (C 127, C 136, C 70, C 702)

AASHTO T 85

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