University of Southeastern Philippines

College of Engineering

CE 412 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING LABORATORY REPORT

SECTION
CE 4-1 GRADE

LAB EXP. 4 SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE

ASTM AGGREGATES DATE
________

• SAMPLE SOURCE
Local Hardware

• APPARATUS USED
Sieve
Mold
Weighing scale
Volumetric Flask
Tamper
Oven

• THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
The fine aggregate specific gravity test is used to calculate the specific gravity of a
fine aggregate sample by determining the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate
to the weight of an equal volume of water. It is similar in nature to the coarse aggregate
specific gravity test.

Specific Gravity - defined as ratio of weight of solid to the weight of an equal

volume of free distilled water (no dissolved air/impurities) at a stated temperature.

Water Absorption - is the ratio of weight of water absorbed to the weight of dry
sample expressed as a percentage. It will not include the amount of water adhering to the
surface of the particles

Fine Aggregates - Any material which is passing BS sieve #4 (ASTM sieve 4.75mm)
is known as fine aggregate.

Saturated Surface Dry Condition (SSD) - it is the condition related with the
aggregate particles in which the permeable pores on the aggregate particles are filled with
water but without free water on the surface of the particles.

Oven Dried Specific Gravity - it is the ratio of the oven dried density of the
aggregate to the density of the gas tree distilled water at a standard temperature.

Saturated Surface Dry Specific Gravity - It is the ratio of the saturated surface dry
density of the aggregate to the density of the gas free distilled water at a standard
temperature.

Apparent Specific Gravity - It is the ratio of the apparent density of the aggregate to
the density of the gas free distilled water at a standard temperature (.e. 4 oC).

Using these three weights and their relationships, a sample's apparent specific gravity, bulk
specific gravity and bulk SSD specific gravity as well as absorption can be calculated. These
are;
• Oven-dry (no water in sample).
• Saturated surface dry (water fills the aggregate pores).
• Submerged in water (underwater).

• PROCEDURES
• Take approximately 1 kg fine aggregate.
• Wash the sample.
• Submerge the sample for at least 24 hours.
• Remove the sample from the water and spread the sample on a flat, non-absorbent
surface.
• Expose to a gently moving current of warm air.
• Stir frequently to a homogenous drying to achieve SSD condition.
• Use cone test for surface moisture.
• Place a portion of partially dried fine aggregate loosely in the mold by filling it to
over flowing.
• Lightly tamp the sand into the mold with 25 light drops of the tamper.
• Each drop should start about 5mm above the top surface of the sand.
• Lift the mold vertically. If the sand slumps slightly, it has reached SSD condition.
• Weigh 500g of the SSD sample.
• Put it into a volumetric flask and fill it with water up to its volume capacity.
• Remove all air bubbles.
• Take and record the weight for saturated condition.
• Dry the fine aggregates by placing it in the oven and waiting until completely
dried.
• Take and record the weight for oven-dried condition.

• ILLUSTRATION (DOCUMENTATION OF ACTUAL LAB

EXPERIMENT/PICTURES AND ILLUSTRATION)

• RESULTS (TABLE FORM) AND CALCULATION

SAMPL MASS MASS MASS MASS MASS OF

E OF OF OF OF SAMPLE +
SAMPL FLASK FLAS OVEN FLASK+WA
E (SSD) K+ DRY TER
WATE
R
1 500 g 195 g 690 g 388 g 926 g
2 500 g 195 g 690 g 387 g 929 g
3 500 g 195 g 690 g 377 g 924 g
A – dry weight
B – SSD weight
C – weight, flask filled w/ water
D – weight, flask w/ aggregates and water
E – oven-dried weight

BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY (DRY) = E/(C+B-D)

BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY (SSD) = B/(C+B-D)
APPARENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY = E/(C+E-D)
ABSORPTION =[(B-E)/E] x 100

FOR SAMPLE A:
A= BSG (DRY)= 388/(690+500-926) = 1.47
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) = 500/(690+500-
926) = 1.89 C= 690 g ASG =
388/(690+388-926) = 2.55
D= 926 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 28.87%
E= 388 g 388

FOR SAMPLE B:
A= BSG (DRY)= 387/(690+500-929) = 1.48
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) = 500/(690+500-
929) = 1.92 C= 690 g ASG =
387/(690+387-929) = 2.61
D= 929 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 29.19%
E= 387 g 387
FOR SAMPLE C:
A= BSG (DRY)= 377/(690+500-924) = 1.42
B= 500 g BSG (SSD) = 500/(690+500-
924) = 1.88 C= 690 g ASG =
377/(690+377-924) = 2.64
D= 924 g Absorption = (500-388) x 100 = 32.63%
E= 377 g 377

AVERAGE:
BSG (DRY) = (1.47+1.48+1.42)/3 =1.46
BSG (SSD) = (1.89+1.92+1.88)/3 =1.90
ASG = (2.55+2.61+2.64) /3 =2.60
ABSORPTION= (28.87+29.19+32.63)/3 = 30.23%

• OBSERVATION AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

We’ve wasted too much time waiting for the fine aggregates to be totally dry from the
oven.
• LESSONS LEARNED AND PERSONAL REFLECTION
The fine aggregate specific gravity test is used to calculate the specific
gravity of a fine aggregate sample by determining the ratio of the weight
of a given volume of aggregate to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Therefore, it is very important to dry and soaked long enough the
aggregates to attain the precise and accurate results.