AGGREGATES

AGGREGATES
• Aggregates are the materials which are basically used as a filler in the
production of mortar and concrete.

• Occupy 70-80% of the Volume.

• Affects the various properties of the concrete.

• They should be clean, hard ,Durable and graded in size to achieve

Economy.

• Coarse aggregates form main matrix and the Fine aggregates acts as
filler matrix.
 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• On the basis of Origin
1. Natural aggregates:
• Obtained by crushing form Quarries of Igneous, Sedimentary and
Metamorphic Rocks.
• Gravels which are reduced to small size also fall under this category.

2. Artificial aggregates:
• Aggregates which are produced Artificially.

• Broken Bricks called as Brick Bats fall under this category

• Not preferred for the R.C.C Works.

 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• On the basis of size
1. Coarse Aggregates:
• Retained on 4.75 mm sieve or greater than 4.75 mm.
• Max Size can be 80 mm
• For Economy the size of the aggregates should not be more than ¼ of the thickness
of member.
• Normally used 20 mm aggregates.
2. Fine Aggregates :
• Size less than 4.75 mm.
• Natural sand deposited by rivers, or crushed sand stone.
• Classified in four zones I to Zone IV as per IS 383.
 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• On the basis of Size

1. All in aggregates:
• Aggregates of Different fractions of fine and Coarse Size
• Almost all size particle are present.

2. Graded Aggregates:
• Most of which passes through the particular size of sieve.
• Graded size of 20 mm means most aggregates passes through 20 m sieve.
 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• On the basis of Shape
1. Rounded aggregates:
• Aggregates obtained through the river or sea shore.
• Produce minimum voids.(32%Voids)
• Poor interlocking.
2. Irregular Aggregates:
• Irregular in shape
• 36% voids
• Develop good bond due to irregular shape.
• Suitable for Ordinary Concrete.
 CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• On the basis of Shape
3. Angular aggregates
• Sharp, Angular and Rough particles

• Maximum Voids (40% Voids)

• Suitable for High strength Concrete.

Flaky Particles
4. Flaky Aggregates
• Least lateral dimension should be less than 0.6 times the mean dimension.

• Flaky particles align in one plane.

5. Elongated Aggregates
• Aggregates whose greater dimension is more than1.8 times the Mean size
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Important properties to be considered while selecting the Aggregates are

❑ Strength

❑ Bond Strength

❑ Specific Gravity

❑ Shape sand texture

❑ Bulk density's

❑ Voids

❑ Porosity

❑ Moisture content

❑ Bulking
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Strength
• It should be at least equal to that of concrete.

• Generally determined by the Compressive Strength Test of Aggregates

• Strength in terms of Impact Load

(a) Impact Value should not exceed 30 % -For aggregates used as Wearing Surface.
(b) Impact Value should not exceed 45%-- For other Concrete Works.
• Strength in terms of Abrasion Value

(a) Abrasion value is restricted to 30% for wearing Surface.

(b) Abrasion Value is restricted to 50% for Other works.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Bond Strength
• Due of the difference in the Coefficient of thermal Expansion of the paste and the
aggregates internal stresses develop in the concrete, without even the external load.

• Strength of the bond between the aggregate and the cement paste has an important influence
on the strength of the concrete.

• There is no standard test for testing the bond.

• Rougher is the surface texture of the aggregates, better is the bond.

 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Shape and Textures
• Round aggregates contribute more workability to the concrete.

• Round aggregates give low strength to concrete.

• Flaky aggregates require more cement paste and produce maximum voids
and thus are non workable.
• Angular shaped aggregates are the best suitable for the concrete
production.
• Angular aggregates have the better interlocking.

• The shape and texture of the Aggregates (Fine and Coarse) affects the
water requirements of the aggregates.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Specific Gravity
• In general its value lies in between 2.6 to 2.9.

• Specific gravity is the indicative of the quality of aggregates.

• Low specific gravity means High porosity and hence poor durability, thus
low strength.

Bulk Density
• Depends on the packing of the aggregates, shape, size etc.

• For coarse higher Bulk density indicates the less voids to be filled by the sand
and cement.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Voids /Void ratio (e)
• More are the Voids in the Concrete lower is the Strength.

• Void Ratio (e)= Vv/Vs (Volume of Voids/Volume of Solids)

• Other Formula for calculating the Void ratio

• Void Ratio (e) = 1- (Bulk density/Apparent Specific Gravity)

Porosity (ɳ)
• Affects the properties of the Concrete.
• More the pores, more is the Permeability and thus effects the bond between the
Aggregate and Cement paste.
• Porosity (ɳ)= Vv/V
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Bulking
• Increase in the Volume of given mass of the aggregates caused by the
presence of the water is called bulking.

• Water forms a thin layer over the aggregates, exerting a force of surface
tension, pushing them apart thus increasing the volume.

• Ordinary bulking of sand generally varies in between 15 – 30%.

• Bulking increases with the moisture content up to certain point 4 -6 %,

reaches maximum and after that film on the sand surface breaks and then
Volume decreases.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGATES
Fineness Modulus (F.M)
• Numerical Index which gives some idea about the mean size of the particles in
the aggregate.
• For Fine Aggregates its value is 2 to 3.5.

• For Coarse Aggregates its value is 5.5 to 8.

• Sieves of various sizes (80, 63, 40, 20, 12.5, 10, 4.75, 2.36, 1.18 mm and 600,
600, 150 µm) are placed one over the another and shake for 2 minutes.
• (F.M) = Sum of the Cumulative Percentage Retained on all sieves /100

• F.M of 3 means 3rd sieve is the mean size of aggregates

 SAMPLE TABLE FOR CALCULATION OF FINENESS MODULUS
Total Sample taken= 5000 g =5 kg

The average size of particle of given coarse aggregate sample is in

between 7th and 8th sieves, that is between 10 mm to 20 mm.
 Fine Aggregates
• They are granular form of Silica.

• Standard Sand (IS 650)

• Standard Sand of Ennore in Tamilnadu.

• It is Quartz, light grey or whitish and free from Silt.

• It should 100 % pass through 2mm sieve and retained on 90 micron sieve.
 Classification of Fine Aggregates
On the Basis of Source :
1. Natural Sand: Resulting from rock disintegration or river deposition.
2. Crushed Stone Sand: Formed by Crushing Stones.
On the Basis of Mineralogical Composition:
1. Quartz
2. Felspar
3. Carbonaceous Varieties
On the Basis of size
1. Coarse Sand (F.M– 2.90 to 3.20)
2. Medium Sand (F.M– 2.60 to 2.90)
3. Fine Sand (F.M– 2.20 to 2.60)
On the Basis of grading (I.S 383)

On the Basis of the grading it is divided in four Zones i.e Zone I,

Zone II, Zone III and Zone IV
 Size of Silt and Clay

S.No Fine Aggregates Size Variation

1 Coarse Sand 2-0.5 mm

2 Medium Sand 0.5- 0.25 mm

3 Fine Sand 0.25- 0.06 mm

4 Silt 0.06-0.002 mm

5 Clay <0.002
 Classification of Coarse Aggregates
Coarse Aggregates are Uncrushed ,Crushed, partially Crushed gravel or
stone which are Retained on 4.75 m sieve.
Desirable Qualities of Aggregates

Hard

Strong

Dense

Durable

Free from Coatings

Free from Alkali, Organic matter
etc.
 Alkali Silica Reaction
• Extensive Pop outs and Cracking in fairly Close patterns can be seen in
concrete after a year or more.

• This phenomena may lead to complete disintegration of concrete is called

alkali silica Reaction or Concrete Cancer.

• This Occurs mainly due to the alkali in cement and Silica in the aggregates.

• In some other cases alkali from cement and aggregates react with the
carbonate in aggregates , produce similar results.
Mechanism of Reaction
Caustic liquid
Reaction between In presence of attracts silica to Cracks Occurs
Stress Induced
Alkali from cement water, Caustic form ALKALI and With time
by growth of this
and Silica From Solute with alkali SILCA GEL Disintegration of
gel
Aggregates is formed (Swelling Concrete
Character)
 Soundness of Aggregates

• It is defined as the ability of the aggregates to resist the change

in Volume as result of change in physical Conditions.

• Conditions that affect this property are

1. Freezing and thawing action
2. Temperature change
3. Alternate wetting and Drying.

• Porous and weak aggregates containing undesirable matter

undergo volume changes in unfavorable Conditions.
Testing of Aggregates
IS 2386 (Part I) 1963
Size and Shape
IS 2386 (Part II) 1963
of deleterious materials and
IS 2386 (Part III) 1963
gravity, density, voids, absorption
IS 2386 (Part IV) 1963
properties
IS 2386 (Part V) 1963
IS 2386 (Part VI) 1963
Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete, Part I: Particle
Methods of test for aggregates for concrete, Part II: Estimation
organic impurities
Methods of test for aggregates for concrete, Part 3: Specific
and bulking
Methods of test for aggregates for concrete, Part 4: Mechanical
Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete, Part V: Soundness
Methods of test for aggregates for concrete, Part 6: Measuring
 Particle Size Distribution Test
• IS 2386 (III):1963 is followed.

Procedure :

• Sample of Coarse ,Fine or all in aggregates are taken in

sufficient Quantities.

• Sieves are placed one over the another with largest on the top
and Shake for 2 minutes.

• Curve is plotted with the sieve size on abscissa (X-Axis) and

Percentage of aggregate passing on ordinate (Y-Axis) .
Sieved and Collected RCA – 20mm Size Aggregate
29
 Flakiness Index Test
• Flaky Aggregates :The aggregates whose least lateral dimension is
less than 0.6 times the mean size dimensions.

• IS 2386 (I) :1963 is followed for Testing.

• Flakiness Index (%) is the ratio of weight of aggregates passing

through thickness gauge to the total weight of the aggregates
taken.

• Flakiness Index is measured by Thickness Gauge.

Aggregates passing
through 63 mm and
retained on 50 mm

Thickness gauge
 ELONGATION INDEX

• Elongated Aggregates :The aggregates whose largest dimension

(i.e. length) is greater than 1.8 times its mean dimension.

• IS 2386 (I) :1963 is followed for Testing.

• Elongation Index (%) is the ratio of weight of aggregates

retained on length gauge to the total weight of the aggregates
taken.

• Elongation Index is measured by Length Gauge.

Length gauge
 DETERMINATION OF CLAY LUMPS
•

S.No Size of Particle making up the Min Weight of Sample Size of Sieve for
sample Sieving
1 Retained on 1.18 mm sieve 100 g 850 micron
2 Over 4.75 to 10 1000g 2.36 mm
3 Over 10 to 20 2000g 4.75 mm

4 Over 20 to 40 3000 g 4.75 mm

 SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
For Aggregates larger than 10mm
• Sample of 2000g is taken and washed to remove the dust particles.

• Aggregates are placed in wire basket.

• Basket and Aggregates are immersed in water (22-32 C) for a period of 24 hours,
and are weighted in water (weight A1).

• Now the weight of empty bucket is taken in water (weight A2).

• Aggregates which were take out from water are made surface dry with the help of
Dry cloth and weighted in air (weight B).

• Aggregates are now placed in oven at a temp. of 100-110 C for 24 hours and allowed
to cool in air tight Container and then weighted (weight C).
Refer next Slide
for Formulas
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
For Aggregates larger than 10mm
A=A2-A1
 SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
For Aggregates Smaller than 10 mm

• Sample of 1000g (Particle Size 10 -4.75 mm) or 500 g (Particle Size <4.75 mm)

• Sample immersed in water for 24 hours. Water is then drained off from the sample and
using filter paper, material retained on the Filter paper is again returned to sample.

• Gentle Current of warm air is passed through the sample and weight of saturated surface
dry sample is noted (Weight A).

• Aggregates are put in pycnometer ,which is filled with water and is weighted(Weight B).

• Pycnometer is filled with water only and Weighted (Weight C).

• Aggregate sample is then put in the Hot air Oven at 110 C for 24 hours and then weighted (D).
 Weighted Sample Sample immersed in water
for 24hrs

Weighing Sample+basket in water Sample under saturation

38
Oven Dry sample

40
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
For Aggregates Smaller than 10 mm

Pycnometer
Pycnometer
42
DETERMINATION OF BULK DENSITY AND VOIDS

Measure Used
BULKING TEST OF FINE AGGREGATES
AGGREGATE IMPACT VALUE TEST
Details of the Aggregate Testing machine Before Dropping After Dropping
Hammer Hammer
AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE TEST
AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE TEST
Abrasion test
Los Angeles machine - The Los Angeles abrasion
testing machine, conforming in all its essential
characteristics to the design shown in Fig, shall be
used. The machine shall consist of a hollow steel
cylinder, closed at both ends, having an inside
diameter of 700 mm and an inside length of 500
mm. The cylinder shall be mounted on stub shafts
attached to the ends of the cylinders but not
entering it, and shall be mounted in such a
manner that it may be rotated about its axis in a
horizontal position. An opening in the cylinder
The opening shall be closed dust-tight with a removable cover bolted in place. The cover shall be so designed as to
maintain the cylindrical contour of the interior surface unless the shelf is so located that the charge will not fall on
the cover, or come in contact with it during the test. A removable steel shelf, projecting radially 88 mm into the
cylinder and extending its full length, shall be mounted along one element of the interior surface of the cylinder.
The shelf shall be of such thickness and so mounted, by bolts or other approved means, as to be firm and rigid. The
position of the shelf shall be such that the distance from the shelf to the opening, measured along the
circumference of the cylinder in the direction of rotation, shall be not less than 1250 mm
Calculate Aggregate Abrasion Value
Difference between the original weight and the final weight of the test sample shall be
expressed as a percentage of the original weight of the test sample. This value shall be
reported as the percentage of wear.

Aggregate Abrasion Value = WA- WB / WA×100