CHAPTER 2 : AGGREGATES

2.1 Classification of Aggregates

2.2 Type of Aggregates

2.3 Physical Properties

2.4 Grading of Aggregates

2.5 Particle Shape and Surface

Texture of Aggregate

2.6 Alkali-Aggregate Reaction

INTRODUCTION
2.1 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
Aggregate can be classified according to their density/unit weight.

A. Light Weight Aggregate (LWA)

Particle density  2000 kg/m3
Dry loose bulk density 1200 kg/m3
Water absorption High
Type of LWA Pumice, expanded shale, expanded clay
Workability of concrete i. Quick stiff.
ii. Aggregate require wetting before mixing in the mixer.
Concrete mixing Water and aggregates are usually premixed
operation prior to addition of cement
Others (concrete using i. coarse surface texture
LWA) ii. lower tensile strength
iii. lower Modulus of Elasticity
iv. Higher creep and shrinkage
Clay

Pumice Shale
 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
B. Heavy Weight Aggregate (HWA)
Specific Gravity 2.8 to 2.9
Unit Weight 2800 to 2900 kg/m3
Type of HWA Magnetite, heamatite, limonite and barites
Compressive strength (in concrete) 20 to 21 N/mm2
Others i. Produce dense and crack free concrete.
ii. Not suitably graded and difficult to have
adequate workability without segregation.

Magnetite Heamatite Barites Limonite

 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
C. Normal Aggregate (NA)
Specific gravity 2.5 to 3.0
Bulk density 1450 to 1750 kg/m3
MS 29: 1995 Classify according to size:
i. Coarse aggregate
ii. Fine aggregate (sand)
iii. All-in aggregate
Grading limit in percentages by weight for
coarse aggregate
BS 812: Part 103: 1985 Determination of particle size distribution
i. Coarse Aggregate Retain on 5 mm (3/16 inch) BS 410 test sieve Shale Clay Pumice
a) Uncrushed Gravel or Uncrushed Stone
Coarse aggregate resulting from natural disintegration of rock.
b) Crushed Stone or Crushed Gravel
Coarse aggregate produced by crushing hard stone and gravel
respectively.
c) Partially Crushed Gravel or Stone
A product of blending of uncrushed and crushed gravel or
blending stone.
 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
C. Normal Aggregate (NA)
ii. Fine Aggregate Pass through 5 mm (3/16 inch) BS 410 test sieve.
Sand - Lower size limit of about 0.07mm
Silt - size limit between 0.06 to 0.002mm
Clay - smaller particles
a) Natural Sand
Fine aggregate resulting from natural disintegration.
b) Crushed Stone Sand or Crushing Gravel Sand
Fine aggregate produced by crushing hard stone or natural
gravel respectively.
MS 29: 1995; The coarseness or fineness is indicated by the
zone in which the grading falls.
Higher zone number indicates a finer material.
iii. All-In Aggregate Compose of a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate.
Not graded.
Used in unimportant work.
 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES

Bulk Density
Bulk density is a property of particulate materials.

It is the mass of particles of the material divided by the volume they occupy.

The volume includes the space between particles as well as the space inside
the pores of individual particles

Specific Gravity (SG)

Specific gravity is a special case of relative density defined as the ratio of the density of
a given substance, to the density of water.

Substances with a specific gravity greater than 1 are heavier than water, and those
with a specific gravity of less than 1 are lighter than water.
2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
Grading Limit for Coarse Aggregates
(Derived from BS 882)
2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
Grading Limits for Fine Aggregate
(Derived from BS 882)
 2.2 TYPES OF AGGREGATES
Typical Grading Curves for A Zone 2 Fine Aggregate and A Graded 20
mm Coarse Aggregate
 2.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. STRENGTH
Aggregate cannot transmit tensile force from one particle to another, but very well in
resisting compressive forces.
In real practice the application of aggregate such as concrete, foundation and etc. in
terms of random arrangement of particles contribute to spreading of concentrated
loading effectively.
However, the aggregate should be compacted for significant contact between particles
in distributing of loading and reducing settlement.

The advantage of angular particles and rough aggregates can create better interlocking
system and tendency to resist forces from developed friction compare to rounded
particles with smooth surface contributes to less frictions resistance and easy to slide.

High compressive strength of aggregate is useful to enhance the capability in resisting

compressive force especially for composite materials such as concrete, asphalt concrete
and etc.

Example:
Concrete Strength Aggregate Strength
20 N/mm2 to 50 N/mm2 70 N/mm2 to 350 N/mm2
 2.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Igneous rocks are much stronger than sedimentary or metamorphic rock
in selection of aggregate types.

Igneous Rock Sedimentary Rock Metamorphic Rock

Definition Rocks formed by Rocks formed Rocks are created

solidification of from sediments of by changes induced
cooled magma by the earth’s at high temperature
crystallizing into land area. and/or high
a mosaic of pressure.
materials.
Environment Underground: and Deposition basin: Mostly deep inside
as lava flows. mainly sea. mountains chains.
Rock strength Uniform high Variable low Variable high
strength
Major types Granite (90 MPa), Sandstone Schist, slate
with basalt (160Mpa) (40Mpa),
compressive limestone, clay
strength
 2.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Test to measuring strength of aggregate

Aggregate crushing value

Aggregate impact test

Ten percent fines value

 2.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
2. HARDNESS
Hardness is defined as the ability of aggregates to resist the damaging effect of load or
applied pressure. This hardness aggregate is depending on the type of parent rock.

The hardness of aggregate can be tested by using abrasion test as described in BS 812:
Part 113: 1990 or ASTM C 131: C535.

This test is conducted by placing the blended aggregates in a large drum with standard
sized of steel balls. About 500 revolutions of drum rotation are carried out, and the
aggregates will pass through the sieve.

Satisfactory aggregate  30% value of abrasion (use for wearing surface)

 50% value of abrasion (use for non wearing surface)
 2.4 GRADING OF AGGREGATES
Sieve analysis test is used in grading of aggregate. Sieve analysis consists of
determining the proportionate amounts of particles retained or passing through
each of a set of sieves arranged in decreasing sizes. It is expressed in terms of
percentages.
GRADING LIMITS FOR COARSE AGGREGATE (GRADED
AGGREGATE) OF NOMINAL SIZE

40 mm 20 mm 16 mm 12.5 mm
Sieve Size
(mm) (Percentage of Passing)

80 100 – – –
63 – – – –
40 95 to 100 100 – –
20 30 to 70 95 to 100 100 100
16 – – 90 to 100 –
12.5 – – – 90 to 100
10 10 to 35 25 to 55 30 to 70 40 to 85
4.75 0 to 5 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to 10
2.36 – – – –
 GRADING LIMITS FOR FINE AGGREGATES
Percentage of Passing For
Sieve Size Grading Grading Grading Grading
Zone-I Zone-II Zone-III Zone-IV
10 mm 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm 90 – 100 90 – 100 90 – 100 95 – 100
2.36 mm 60 – 95 75 – 100 85 – 100 95 – 100

1.18 mm 30 – 70 55 – 90 75 – 100 90 – 100

600
15 – 34 35 – 59 60 – 79 80 – 100
micron
300
5 – 20 8 – 30 12 – 40 15 – 50
micron
150
0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 15
micron

IMPORTANT NOTES
•Since the values for 600 micron size are not overlapping for different zones, it is used for confirming the
zone of a sample of fine aggregate.
•Zone-I represents the coarse sand and zone-IV represents the finer sand in all the four zones.
•Fine aggregate belonging to zone-IV should not be used in RCC work unless tests have been made for
suitability of mix proportion.
 1. Plot a graph for COARSE aggregate. 2. Plot a graph for FINE aggregate.
Dry weight for used material=2000g Dry weight for used material=500g

Sieve Size Mass retain (g) Sieve Size Mass retain (g)
according BS (mm) according BS (mm)
37.5 0 10.0 0
20.0 120 5.0 16
14.0 500 2.36 90.5
10.0 543 1.18 255.5
5.0 705 0.6 66
Pan 130 0.3 34.5
TOTAL 0.15 32
0.075 4
Pan 1
TOTAL
Sieve Size Mass Percentage Cumulative Cumulative
according retain (g) retained (%) percentage percentage
BS (mm) retained passing
37.5 0
20.0 120
14.0 500
10.0 543
5.0 705
Pan 130
TOTAL 1998
Sieve Size Mass Percentage Cumulative Cumulative
according retain (g) retained (%) percentage percentage
BS (mm) retained passing
37.5 0 0 0 100
20.0 120 6 6 94
14.0 500 25 31 69
10.0 543 27.2 58.2 41.8
5.0 705 35.3 93.5 6.5
Pan 130 6.5 100 0
TOTAL 1998 100
 Sieve Size Mass retain Percentage Cumulative Cumulative
according BS (g) retained (%) percentage percentage
(mm) retained passing

10.0 0
5.0 16
2.36 90.5
1.18 255.5
0.6 66
0.3 34.5
0.15 32
0.075 4
Pan 1
TOTAL 499.5
 Sieve Size Mass retain Percentage Cumulative Cumulative
according BS (g) retained (%) percentage percentage
(mm) retained passing

10.0 0 0 0 99.9
5.0 16 3.2 3.2 96.7
2.36 90.5 18.1 21.3 78.6
1.18 255.5 51.5 72.4 27.5
0.6 66 13.2 85.6 14.3
0.3 34.5 6.9 92.5 7.4
0.15 32 6.4 98.9 1.0
0.075 4 0.8 99.7 0.2
Pan 1 0.2 99.9 0
TOTAL 499.5
2.5 Particle Shape and Surface Texture of Aggregate
Particle Shape of Aggregate

Rounded
Full water-worn or completely shaped by attrition or abrasion.
Example: river or sea shore gravel.
Irregular
Naturally irregular or partly shaped by attrition and having rounded
edges. Example: Other gravel land or dug flint.
Angular
Processing well defined edges formed at the intersection or roughly
planes faces. Example: Crushed rocks of all types.
Flaky
A material of which the thickness is small relative
to other two dimensions. E.g. Laminated rock
Elongated
The aggregate is usually angular, is shape, and the length is considerably
larger than the other two dimensions.
Flaky and Elongated
Material having the length which is considerably
larger than the width, and the width is considerably
larger than the thickness
Surface Texture of Aggregate
SIX types of surface texture:
i. Glassy
ii. Smooth
iii. Granular
iv. Rough
v. Crystalline
vi. Honeycombed

An aggregate with rough and porous texture

may increase the aggregate-cement bond up
to 1.75 times, in which may increase the
compressive and flexural strength of concrete
up to 20%.
 2.6 Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR)
In most concrete, aggregates are more or less chemically inert. However, some aggregates
react with the alkali hydroxides in concrete, causing expansion and cracking over a period of
many years. This alkali-aggregate reaction has two forms: alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and
alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR)
Alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR) is observed
with certain dolomitic rocks. Dedolomitization,
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is of more the breaking down of dolomite, is normally
concern because aggregates containing associated with expansion. This reaction and
reactive silica materials are more common. subsequent crystallization of brucite may cause
In ASR, aggregates containing certain considerable expansion. The deterioration
forms of silica will react with alkali caused by alkali-carbonate reactions is similar
hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that to that caused by ASR; however, ACR is
swells as it adsorbs water from the relatively rare because aggregates susceptible
surrounding cement paste or the to this phenomenon are less common and are
environment. These gels can induce usually unsuitable for use in concrete for other
enough expansive pressure to damage reasons. Unlike ACR, the use of supplementary
concrete. cementing materials does not prevent
Typical indicators of ASR are random map deleterious expansion due to ACR. It is
cracking and, in advanced cases, closed recommended that ACR susceptible aggregates
joints and attendant spalled concrete. not be used in concrete.
 TUTORIAL 2

1. Why is gradation of aggregates is important in concrete properties? Explain.

2. What is the meaning of saturated, surface dry and dry conditions for aggregates?
Explain the meaning of absorption and moisture content

3. Explain the difference between the apparent specific gravity and bulk specific gravity
of aggregates.

4. How can the maximum size of aggregates will affect the workability of the concrete
with a set of certain amount of water.

5. Calculate:
i) apparent specific gravity
ii) bulk specific gravity
iii) apparent particle density
iv) bulk particle density
Based on data given:
Dry weight = 480g
Dry weight (SSD) = 490g
weinght of pycnometer with water = 1400g
weight of pycnometer filled with aggregate and water = 1695g