CE-02 LAB

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING WATER

CONTENT DETERMINATION

OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of water present in quality of sand/soil in terms of its
dry weight.

GENERAL DISCUSSION: Water content determination is a routine laboratory test to determine

the amount of water present in a quality of sand in terms of its dry
weight.

As definition:

𝑊𝑊
𝑊= × 100
𝑊𝑆

Where: 𝑊𝑊 = weight of water present in the sand mass

𝑊𝑆 = weight of sand solids

EQUIPMENTS: moisture cans (tin and aluminum), weighing scale, oven

PROCEDURE:

1. Weigh a tin or aluminum cup, including the cover.

2. Place a representative sample of wet sample in the cup and determine the weight wet
sample and cup.

3. After weighing the wet sample and cup, place the sample in the oven.

4. When the sample has dried to a content weight, obtain the weight of the cup and dry
sample. Be sure to use the same scales for weighing.

5. Compute the water content (W). The difference between the weight of the wet
sample and cup and the weight of the dry sample and cup is the weight of water ( 𝑊𝑊
) that was present in the sample. The difference between the weight of the dry sample
and cup and the weight of the cup is the weight of dry sample.
WW
W= ×100
WS

CE-02 LAB
 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

SIEVE ANALYSIS OF FINE AGGREGATES

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the test, the students must be able to:
a.) Find the grain size distribution of a sample.
b.) Produce a grain size distribution curve.

GENERAL DISCUSSION: The grain size test is an exercise in identifying the size of sand/soil
grains present. The sizes when plotted on a grain size curve will be a guide to the
integration of the different grain size & it can also be a source for the identification of the
original sand/soil. A characteristic of sand/soil that can be identified from the grain size
chart is whether the sand/soil is well graded or not.

MATERIALS: 1000- 1500 grams of oven dried sample.

APPARATUS: Scoop, short hand bristled brush, set of sieves, balance w/ 0.1 gram accuracy,
aluminum tray & oven w/ temperature control.

PROCEDURE:
1. Weigh original sample.
2. Oven dry sample.
3. Cool to room temperature.
4. Weigh oven dried sample materials & record.
5. Nests the sieve in order to size, the coarsest at the top & a receiver at the bottom.
6. Pour sample into top sieve & place the set on the shaker.
7. Set the shaker timer to 10 mins, or until a negligible quantity of the sample passes any
motion sieve. But in hand sieving, lateral & vertical motion of the size should be
accompanied.
8. Remove each size one at a time. Turn each sieve upside down on a tray & brush it
clean.
9. Weigh the sample retained on each individual sieve & record. Note that the sum of
the weight of the material retained on each sieve at the end of analysis must be equal
to the total weigh of the sample at the beginning. It is important that an accurate
record is kept of the weighs (to the nearest 0.1 gram) of all the materials and any
container used of all stages of the analysis.
10. Convert the result to give the percentage passing of each sieve. The percentage should
be of the original total mass of each size.

WORKSHEET FOR SIEVE ANALYSIS

 (FINE AGGREGATES)

Mass of the original sample:

Mass of oven dry:
Mass of wash-oven dry:
Moisture content:

Weight
Sieve Size Weight Gov Specs
Retained %Passing %Retained Remarks
(mm) Passing Passing
(grams)
9.5 (3/8") 100
4.75 (#4) 95-100
2.36 (#8)
1.18 (#16) 45-80
0.600 (#30)
0.300 (#50) 5 to 30
0.150(#100) 0-10
Pan

Testing of Impurities Calculation

( oven dry )− ( wash−oven dry ) grams−grams
×100= ×100
( wash−oven dry ) grams
¿%

Wash Passing
0.075 % 0 - 3.0 PASSED/FAILED

CE-02 LAB
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

SIEVE ANALYSIS OF COARSE AGGREGATES

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the test, the students must be able to:
a.) Find the grain size distribution of a sample.
b.) Produce a grain size distribution curve.
GENERAL DISCUSSION: The grain size test is an exercise in identifying the size of sand/soil
grains present. The sizes when plotted on a grain size curve will be a guide to the
integration of the different grain size & it can also be a source for the identification of the
original sand/soil. A characteristic of sand/soil that can be identified from the grain size
chart is whether the sand/soil is well graded or not.

MATERIALS: 1000- 1500 grams of oven dried sample.

APPARATUS: Scoop, short hand bristled brush, set of sieves, balance w/ 0.1 gram accuracy,
aluminum tray & oven w/ temperature control.

PROCEDURE:
1. Weigh original sample.
2. Oven dry sample.
3. Cool to room temperature.
4. Weigh oven dried sample materials & record.
5. Nests the sieve in order to size, the coarsest at the top & a receiver at the bottom.
6. Pour sample into top sieve & place the set on the shaker.
7. Set the shaker timer to 10 mins, or until a negligible quantity of the sample passes any
motion sieve. But in hand sieving, lateral & vertical motion of the size should be
accompanied.
8. Remove each size one at a time. Turn each sieve upside down on a tray & brush it
clean.
9. Weigh the sample retained on each individual sieve & record. Note that the sum of
the weight of the material retained on each sieve at the end of analysis must be equal
to the total weigh of the sample at the beginning. It is important that an accurate
record is kept of the weighs (to the nearest 0.1 gram) of all the materials and any
container used of all stages of the analysis.

WORKSHEET FOR SIEVE ANALYSIS

(COARSE AGGREGATES)

Mass of the original sample:

Mass of oven dry:
Mass of wash-oven dry:
Moisture content:
 Weight
Sieve Size Weight Gov Specs
Retained %Passing %Retained Remarks
(mm) Passing Passing
(grams)
63 100
50 90-100
37.5 35-70
25 5 to 15
19
12.5 0-5
Pan

Testing of Impurities Calculation

( oven dry )− ( wash−oven dry ) grams−grams
×100= ×100
( wash−oven dry ) grams
¿%

Wash Passing
0.075 % 0 – 1.5 PASSED/FAILED

CE-02 LAB
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE AGGREGATES

SIGNIFICANCE:
Values are used in the design of concrete and bituminous mixtures. A high value of absorption
may indicate a doubtful quality of the material.
APPARATUS:
1. Pycnometer or calibrated volumetric flask

2. Conical mood, 40 + 3mm inside top diameter 90+ 3mm inside bottom diameter 75+3mm high.

3. Tamping rod, weighing 340+15g with a flat circular tamping face 25+3mm diameter.
 4. Balance and weights.

PROCEDURE:
Prior to test, the weight or mass of pycnometer filled with water should be obtained. Air
should be expelled by rolling on side or boiling.
1. Soak about 1 kg of the sample obtained in accordance with standard procedure In Reducing
Field Samples of Aggregates to Testing. Size in water for 24 hours. Note: sample must pass no.
10 sieve.

2. Spread sample on a flat surface to stir frequently until it approaches a free-flowing condition.

3. Place sample in the conical mold, tamp surface25 times and lift mold vertically. Sample in the
cone will retained its shape in the presence of free moisture. If this condition exists, continue
drying and repeat the test until the sample slumps upon removal of the mold. This will indicate
surface dry condition.

4. Weight 0.5 kg of the surface-dry sample obtained in accordance with standard procedure in
reducing Filled Samples of Aggregates to Testing Size and place in the pycnometer.

5. Fill pycnometer with water and roll on a flat surface to remove air bubbles.

6. Fill pycnometer to 500mL mark and weigh.

7. Remove sample from pycnometer and dry to constant weight or mass.

8. Get oven-dry weight or mass.

CALCULATION OR WORKSHEET
Calculation for Fine Aggregates:
W1 ❑
S.G. , bulk saturated surface-dry = ❑
W 1 +W 3−W 4 ❑

W 1−W 2
Absorption, % = × 100
W2

Where:
W 1=¿weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample, kg
W 2 =¿weight in air of oven dried sample, kg
W 3 =¿weight of pycnometer bottle filled with water, kg
W 4=¿pycnometer bottle + water + sample in bottle, kg

FINE AGGREGATE SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 AVERAGE

1. Weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample, kg

2. Weight in air of oven dried sample, kg

3. Weight of pycnometer bottle filled with water, kg

4. Pycnometer bottle + water + sample in bottle, kg

W 1−W 2
5. Absorption, × 100
W2
W1
6. Specific Gravity, bulk (SSD),
W 1 +W 3−W 4
 CE-02 LAB
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF COARSE

AGGREGATES

SIGNIFICANCE:
Values are used in the design of concrete and bituminous mixtures. A high value of
absorption may indicate a doubtful quality of the material.
APPARATUS:
1. Wire basket of 4.75mm.

2. Water bucket

3. Balance and weights.

PROCEDURE:
1. Pass about 5kg. of the sample through a 9.5mm. sieve, reject portion passing.

2. Wash portion retained to remove dust or other coating and soak in water at 20°c for 24 hours

3. Remove sample from water and wipe all visible films of water with an absorbent cloth.

Sample is now in surface-dry condition.

4. Weigh surface-dry sample in air.

5. Place sample in wire basket and determine weight/mass in water.

6. Dry sample to constant weight/mass.

7. Get oven-dry weight/mass.

CALCULATION OR WORKSHEET
Calculation for Coarse Aggregates:
W1
S.G. bulk saturated surface-dry =
W 1−W 3
W 1−W 2
Absorption, % = × 100
W2
Where:
W 1=¿weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample, kg
W 2 =¿weight in air of oven dried sample, kg
W 3 =¿weight of sample in water, kg

COARSE AGGREGATE

1. Weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample, kg

2. Weight in air of oven-dried sample, kg

3. Weight of sample in water, kg

W 1−W 2
4. Absorption, × 100
W2

W1
5. Specific gravity, bulk (SSD),
W 1−W 3