Blending of aggregates by weight:

Determining the proportions of two or more aggregates to achieve a gradation within the
specification limits is largely a matter of trial and error.

Two methods available:

1. Graphical
2. Mathematical

Basic Equation:

P= Aa +Bb + Cc +….

Where,

P = the percentage of the combined aggregates passing a given sieve

A, B, C, = Percentage of material passing a given sieve for the individual aggregates.

a,b,c…. = Proportion of individual aggregates used in the combination where the total =1.00

Combining of two aggregates:

The Basic equation is: P=Aa +Bb

Since, a + b=1, then a = 1-b, substituting in above equation and solving for b

𝐏−𝐀
𝐛=
𝐁−𝐀

𝐏−𝐁
Similarly, 𝐚=
𝐀−𝐁

PERCENT PASSING:

19.00 12.5 9.5 4.75 2.36 600 300 150 75

mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
Sieve
¾” ½” 3/8” No.4 8 30 50 100 200

Specification 100 80-100 70-90 50-70 35-50 18-29 13-23 8-16 4-10

Aggr.A 100 90 59 16 3.2 1.1 0 0 0

Aggr.B 100 100 100 96 82 51 36 21 9.2

Grading specification and sieve analysis of aggregates

For 2.36 mm (no.8),

𝐏−𝐀 𝟒𝟐. 𝟓 − 𝟑. 𝟐
𝐛= = = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎
𝐁 − 𝐀 𝟖𝟐. 𝟑𝟐 − 𝟑. 𝟐

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚 = 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎

Sieve 19.00 12.5 9.5 4.75 2.36 600 300 150 75

mm mm mm mm mm um um um um

¾’’ ½” 3/8” No.4 8 30 50 100 200

.50 x A 50 45.0 29.5 8.0 1.6 0.6 18.0 10.5 4.6

.50 x B 50 50.0 50.0 48.0 41.0 25.0

Total 100 95.0 79.5 56.0 42.6 25.6 18.0 10.5 4.6

80-
Spec 100 70-90 50-70 35-50 18-29 13-23 8-16 4-10
100

Minus 75 um (no 200) low, increase to b to 0.55, a to 0.45

SECOND TRAIL COMBINATION

Sieve 19.00 12.5 9.5 4.75 2.36 600 300 150 75
mm mm mm mm mm um um um um
¾” ½” 3/8” No.4 8 30 50 100 200
.45 x A 45 40.5 26.6 7.2 1.4 0.5 19.8 11.5 5.1
.55 x B 55 55.0 55.0 52.8 45.1 28.0

Total 100 95.5 81.6 60.0 46.5 28.5 19.8 11.5 5.1

Spec 100 80- 70-90 50-70 35-50 18-29 13-23 8-16 4-10
100

Minus 600 um (no 30) high, let b=0.52, a=0.48

THIRD TRAIL COMBINATION

Sieve 19.00 12.5 9.5 4.75 2.36 600 300 150 75
mm mm mm mm mm um um um um
¾” ½” 3/8” No.4 8 30 50 100 200

.48 x A 48 43.2 28.3 7.7 1.5 0.5 0 0 0

.52 x B 52 52 52 49.9 42.6 26.5 18.7 10.9 4.8

Total 100 95.2 80.3 57.6 44.1 27.0 18.7 10.9 4.8

Spec. 100 80- 70-90 50-70 35-50 18-29 13-23 8-16 4-10
100