Experiment no# 1

Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Coarse

Aggregates from Different Sources.
Scope:
Sieve analysis commonly known as the "Gradation Test" consists of determining the particle size
distribution of fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, and mixtures of fine and coarse aggregates.
This is accomplished by pouring an aggregate sample through a series of decreasing size sieves
and weighing the amount of material retained on each sieve.

Sieve Analysis:
It is the operation of dividing the aggregate into various fractions, each consisting of particles
of same size.
OR
It is the operation of determining the particle size distribution of the given specimen.
The standard approach is to designate the sieve sizes by nominal aperture sizes in mm or µm
(micron)

Apparatus:
 Balance
 Sieves mounted on frame
 Mechanical sieve shaker

Procedure:
 Clean the sieves of sieve shaker using cleaning brush if any particles are struck in the
openings.
 Record the weight of each sieve and receiving pan.
 Dry the specimen in oven for 3-4 minutes to get the dried specimen (ignore, if the
specimen is already dried).
 Weigh the specimen and record its weight.
 Arrange the sieves in order as the smaller openings sieve to the last and larger openings
sieve to the top. (Simply, arrange them to the ascending order of sieve numbers – No.4
sieve on top and no.200 sieve at bottom)- Sieve numbers and the particle sizes are
provided below in a chart for further understanding.
 Keep the weight recorded specimen on the top sieve and then keep
the complete sieve stack on the sieve shaker (Don’t forget to keep the
lid and receiving pan).
 Allow the shaker to work 10-5 minutes – use the clock here.
 Remove the sieve stack from the shaker and record the weight of each
sieve and receiving pan separately.
Coarse aggregate:
Sieve Retained Retained Commulative Commulative
Aperture % Retained % Passing %

Fine

aggregates:
Sieve Retained Retained % Commulative Commulative
Aperture Retained % Passing %
EXPERIMENT NO#2
Determination of the Aggregate Impact Value of Different Coarse
Aggregate Samples.
Code: BS 812

Aim and theory:

Determination of Aggregate Impact Value – Impact Test on Aggregates is done to carry out to:

 Determine the impact value of the road aggregates,

 Assess their suitability in road construction on the basis of impact value.

Scope:
The property of a material to resist impact is known as toughness. Due to movement of vehicles
on the road the aggregates are subjected to impact resulting in their breaking down into smaller
pieces.

The aggregates should therefore have sufficient toughness to resist their disintegration due to
impact. This characteristic is measured by impact value test.

Apparatus:

 Impact testing machine

 Weighing balance
 Sieve 14 mm,10 mm, and 2.36 mm.

Procedure:

The test sample consists of aggregates sized 10.0 mm 12.5 mm. Aggregates may be dried by
heating at 100-110° C for a period of 4 hours and cooled.
(i) Sieve the material through 12.5 mm and 10.0mm IS sieves. The aggregates passing through
12.5mm sieve and retained on 10.0mm sieve comprises the test material.

(ii) Pour the aggregates to fill about just 1/3 rd depth of measuring cylinder.

(iii) Compact the material by giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded end of the tamping rod.

(iv) Add two more layers in similar manner, so that cylinder is full.

(v) Strike off the surplus aggregates.

(vi) Determine the net weight of the aggregates to the nearest gram(W)

(vii) Bring the impact machine to rest without wedging or packing up on the level plate, block or
floor, so that it is rigid and the hammer guide columns are vertical.

(viii) Fix the cup firmly in position on the base of machine and place whole of the test sample in
it and compact by giving 25 gentle strokes with tamping rod.

(ix) Raise the hammer until its lower face is 380 mm above the surface of aggregate sample in
the cup and allow it to fall freely on the aggregate sample. Give 15 such blows at an interval of
not less than one second between successive falls.

(x) Remove the crushed aggregate from the cup and sieve it through 2.36 mm IS sieves until no
further significant amount passes in one minute. Weigh the fraction passing the sieve to an
accuracy of 1 gm. Also, weigh the fraction retained in the sieve.

Compute the aggregate impact value. The mean of two observations, rounded to nearest whole
number is reported as the Aggregate Impact Value.
 Precaution:
1. Place the plunger centrally so that it falls directly on the aggregate sample and does not
touch the wall of the cylinder in order to ensure that the entire load is transmitted on the
aggregates.
2. In the operation of sieving the aggregates through 2.36 mm sieve, the sum of weights of
fractions retained and passing the sieve should not differ from the original weight of the
specimen by more than 1 gm.
3. The tamping is to be done properly by gently dropping the tamping rod and not by
hammering action. Also, the tamping should be uniform over the surface of the aggregate
taking care taking care that the tamping rod does not frequently strike against the wall of the
mold.
Observations of Impact Test
Observations Sample 1 Sample 2

Total weight of dry sample (W1 gm)

Weight of portion passing 2.36 mm sieve (W2 gm)

Aggregate Impact Value (percent) = W2 / W1 X 100

Mean =
Result of Impact Test
Aggregate Impact Value =

Recommended Aggregate Impact Test Values

Classification of aggregates using Aggregate Impact Value is as given below:

Aggregate Impact Value Classification

<20% Exceptionally Strong

10 – 20% Strong

20-30% Satisfactory for road surfacing

>35% Weak for road surfacing

EXPERIMENT NO#3

Standard method of test for determination of particle shape.

Flakiness Index and Elongation Index Test on Coarse Aggregates

DESIGNATION:

ASTM C 535 & AASHTO T-96

Scope:

The particle shape of aggregates is determined by the percentages of flaky and elongated
particles contained in it. For base course and construction of bituminous and cement concrete
types, the presence of flaky and elongated particles are considered undesirable as these cause
inherent weakness with possibilities of breaking down under heavy loads.

Theory:

The Flakiness index of aggregates is the percentage by weight of particles whose least dimension
(thickness) is less than three- fifths (0.6times) of their mean dimension. This test is not
applicable to sizes smaller than 6.3mm

Elongation index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest

dimension (length) is greater than one and four-fifth times (1.8 times or 9/5 times) their mean
dimension. It is measured on particles passing through mesh size of 63mm and retained on mesh
size of 6.3mm.

Apparatus:
  Balance
 Metal
 Sieves

Procedure:
1. Sieve the sample through the IS sieves (as specified in the table).
2. Take a minimum of 200 pieces of each fraction to be tested and weigh them.
3. To separate the flaky materials, gauge each fraction for thickness on a thickness gauge.
The width of the slot used should be of the dimensions specified in column (4) of the
table for the appropriate size of the material.
4. Weigh the flaky material passing the gauge to an accuracy of at least 0.1 per cent of the
test sample.
5. To separate the elongated materials, gauge each fraction for length on a length gauge.
The width of the slot used should be of the dimensions specified in column (6) of the
table for the appropriate size of the material.
6. Weigh the elongated material retained on the gauge to an accuracy of at least 0.1 per cent
of the test sample.

Calculation of Shape Test:

Flakiness Index = (X1+ X2+…..) / (W1 + W2 + ….) X 100
Elongation Index = (Y1 + Y2 + …) / (W1 + W2 + ….) X 10

Results:
1. Flakiness Index =
2. Elongation Index =
Elongation Index Limits:
For pavements either bituminous or Non-bituminous, Elongation index of coarse aggregate
should not be more than 15%. Report the Elongation index in percentage rounded off to the
nearest whole number.

Flakiness index limits:

For Bituminous carpet it should not more than 30% and for Bituminous / Asphaltic concrete,
Bituminous Penetration macadam, Bituminous surface dressing (single coat, two coats &
precoated) and Built up spray grout it should not more than 25%.
Experiment no#4
Standard test method for the determination of relative density (i.e.
specific gravity) and water absorption of the coarse aggregates
Code: ASTM C-127/128
6.1 Scope & Significance:
 To determine the relative density (i.e. specific gravity).s
 To determine the water absorption of the coarse aggregates.
 The information obtained from specific gravity is helpful in the following ways;
The knowledge of the specific gravity is important for the concrete technologist to determine
the properties of concrete made from such aggregates.
 It is used for the calculation of the volume occupied by the aggregates in various
mixtures.
 The pores at the surface of the particles affect the bond between the aggregate and the
cement paste and thus influence the concrete strength.
Normally it is assumed that at the time of setting of concrete, the aggregate is in the
saturated and surface dry condition. If the aggregate is to be batched in the dry
condition, then it is assumed that sufficient amount of water will be absorbed from the
mix to bring the aggregate in the saturated condition. If an additional amount of water
is not added as a cover for the absorbed water, the loss of workability is resulted.

Theory:

The main objective of these test is to.

1. To measure the strength or quality of the material.

2. To determine the water absorption of aggregates.

Specific Gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate to the weight of an

equal volume of water. It is the measure of strength or quality of the specific material.
Aggregates having low specific gravity are generally weaker than those with higher specific
gravity values.

Apparatus:
1. A balance
2. oven to maintain temperature at 100-110° C.
3. A wire basket
4. A container for filling water and suspending the basket
5. An air tight container of capacity similar to that of the basket
6. A shallow tray and two absorbent clothes
Procedure:
1. About 2 kg of aggregate sample is washed thoroughly to remove fines, drained and
placed in wire basket and immersed in distilled water at a temperature between 22- 32º C
and a cover of at least 5cm of water above the top of basket.
2. Immediately after immersion the entrapped air is removed from the sample by lifting the
basket containing it 25 mm above the base of the tank and allowing it to drop at the rate
of about one drop per second. The basket and aggregate should remain completely
immersed in water for a period of 24 hour afterwards.
3. The basket and the sample are weighed while suspended in water at a temperature of 22°
– 32°C. The weight while suspended in water is noted = W1g.
4. The basket and aggregates are removed from water and allowed to drain for a few
minutes, after which the aggregates are transferred to the dry absorbent clothes. The
empty basket is then returned to the tank of water jolted 25 times and weighed in
water= W2 g.
5. The aggregates placed on the absorbent clothes are surface dried till no further moisture
could be removed by this cloth. Then the aggregates are transferred to the second dry
cloth spread in single layer and allowed to dry for at least 10 minutes until the aggregates
are completely surface dry. The surface dried aggregate is then weighed = W3 g
6. The aggregate is placed in a shallow tray and kept in an oven maintained at a temperature
of 110° C for 24 hrs. It is then removed from the oven, cooled in an air tight container
and weighted=W4 g.

Observations:
Weight of saturated aggregate suspended in water with basket = W1g
Weight of basket suspended in water = W2 g
Weight of saturated surface dry aggregate in air = W3g
Weight of oven dry aggregate = W4 g
Weight of saturated aggregate in water = W1 – W2 g
Weight of water equal to the volume of the aggregate = W3– (W1–W2) g

Formulas:
(1) Specific gravity = W3 / (W3– (W1– W2))
(2) Apparent specific gravity = W4/ (W4– (W11– W2))
(3) Water Absorption = ((W3 – W4) / W4) X 100
The size of the aggregate and whether it has been artificially heated should be indicated.
Though high specific gravity is considered as an indication of high strength, it is not possible to
judge the suitability of a sample aggregate without finding the mechanical properties such as
aggregate crushing, impact and abrasion values.

Recommended value of specific gravity and water absorption for

coarse aggregate:
The specific gravity of aggregates normally used in road construction ranges from about 2.5 to
3.0 with an average of about 2.68.
Water absorption shall not be more than 0.6 per unit by weight.