UNIVERSITY OF CEBU

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
S.Y. 2018-2019

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

CE 41D (7:31-9:31PM) MWF

Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregates

(Laboratory Exercise No.10)

(THE SPARTANS GROUP)

MEMBERS:
BORINAGA, ALAHNE C.
DAYON, GIAN
GONZALES, QUEENIE ROSE
NARVASA, JESSAH
JIMENEZ, MARSHA GAE
SETENTA, VINCENT

ENGR. BOB SABIJON

INSTRUCTOR
OBJECTIVE:

• This method of test is intented for use in making determinations of bulk specific gravity and
absorption of fine aggregates. The bulk specific gravity is the value generally desired for the
calculations in connection with Portland cement concrete.

THEORY:

• Bulk Volume (of an Aggregate) – the volume of water displaced by aggregate in a SSD condition, and
includes both the volume of the impermeable portion of the aggregate particles and the volume of
the permeable voids in the particles.

• Saturated Surface-Dry- the condition of the aggregate when all permeable pores of each particle are
completely saturated with water and its surface has no free moisture.

• Saturated Surface-Dry Specific Gravity –the ratio of the mass of SSD aggregate to the mass of an
equal volume of water.

• Absorption Moisture Content – the moisture content at saturated surface-dry condition in contrast
to its oven-dry condition.

APPARATUS:

• The apparatus shall consist the following.

1.) Balance – A balance having a capacity of 1 kg or more and sensitive to 0.10 grams or less.
2.) Flask – Pycnometer or a volumetric flask of 500 ml capacity, calibrated to 0.15 at 20 degrèes.
3.) Conical Mold – A conical mold 1 ½ inc top diameter, 3 ½ inch bottom diameter and 2 7/8 in high.
4.) Tamping Rod – A metal tamping rod weighing 12 oz. with a flat circular tamping face 1 inch in
diameter.
5.) Wire Basket – A wire basket made of no.4 mesh, approximately 8 inches high.
6.) Water Bucket

Sample Preparation:

• Approximately 1000 grams of fine aggregates selected from the sample by method of quartering.
 PROCEDURE:

• Prior to the test, the weight of the pycnometer filled with water should be obtained. The air
should be expelled by rolling on side or by boiling. After that, the following shall be observed:

1.) Soak the sample, weighing about 1000 grams in water for 24 hours.
2.) Spread the sample on a flat surface, exposed to a gently moving warm air, and stirred
frequently to secure uniform drying. This operation shall be continued until the fine
aggregates approach the following condition.
3.) Place the sample loosely in the conical mold, tamp surface lightly for 25 times with a metal
rod, and lift mold vertically.

• If free moisture is present, the cone of fine aggregates will retain its shape. Drying with constant
stirring shall be continued and test made at frequent intervals, until the cone of fine aggregates
slumps upon removal of the mold. This indicates that the fine aggregates have reached a surface-
dry condition.

4.) Weigh 500 grams of the surface-dry sample and place it in the pycnometer.
5.) Fill pycnometer with water and roll on a flat surface to remove the air bubbles. Then place it in
a water bath maintained at 20 degrees for about an hour.
6.) Fill the pycnometer to 500 ml mark, and weigh.
7.) Remove sample from pycnometer and dry to constant weight.
8.) Get oven-dry weight.

FORMULAS:

• S.G., bulk saturated surface-dry = W1 / W1 + W2 – W3

• % Absorption = (W1 – Wo / Wo) x 100

Where:

Wo = weight in air of oven-dry sample

W1 = weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample

W2 = weight of pycnometer filled with water, and

W3 = weight of pycnometer + water + sample in bottle

DATA:
 Weight of sample ( ORIGINAL) = 1000 grams

EXPERIMENT DAY 1 (August 10, 2018)

After oven dry of sample (1 hr. at 200 Degrees Celsius)

 Weight of Steel Pan = 800 g

 Weight of sample + steel pan = 1300 g

Solutions:

(Getting the weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample)

 1300 g – 800 g = 500 g

EXPERIMENT DAY 2 (August 13, 2018)

After oven dry sample (1 hr & 19 minutes at 200 Degrees Celsius)

 Weight of Pan = 355 g

 Weight of sample + pan = 850 g

Solutions:

(Getting the weight of oven dry sample)

 850 g – 355 g = 495 g

COMPUTATIONS:

S.G., Bulk Saturated Surface-Dry = W1 / W1 + W2 –W3

= 500 g / 500 g + 1300 g – 1600 g

= 500 g / 200 g

= 2.5

Absorption (%) = (W1 –Wo / Wo) x 100

= (500 g – 495 g / 495 g) x 100

= (0.01) x 100

= 1.01 %

RECORDING RESULTS:
a.) Weight of sample, oven dry in air, grams: 495 g
b.) Weight of sample, SSD in air, grams: 500 g
c.) Weight of the pycnometer + water, grams: 1300 g
d.) Weight of pycnometer + water + sample, grams: 1600 g
e.) Specific Gravity (SSD): 2.5
f.) Absorption (%): 1.01%
THE END!