1

AGGREGATES
Aggregates 2

Occupies three-fourths of the

volume of concrete

Inert and inexpensive material

dispersed throughout the cement
paste
3
Aggregates 4

Affects:

Workability

Strength

Durability

Natural and Artificial

natural: sand, gravel, crushed rock
artificial: broken brick, slag,
sintered fly ash
Aggregates 5

Properties based from parent rock:

Chemical and mineral composition

Petrographic classification

Specific gravity

Hardness

Strength

Physical and chemical stability

Pore structure

Color
Aggregates 6

Properties that differ from parent rock:

Particle shape

Particle size

Surface texture

Absorption

Classified by type, size, shape, and texture

Classification by Size 7

Coarse aggregates > 5mm

Fine aggregates < 5mm but > 0.07mm

Maximum size:

1/5 narrowest form dimension

1/3 slab depth

3/4 clear distance between bars

Classification by Shape 8

Roundness measures the relative

sharpness or angularity of the edges
and corners of a particle

Affected by:

Strength and abrasion resistance

Amount of wear
Classification by Shape 9
Classification by Shape 10
Classification by Shape 11

Affects:

Void content

Bond area

Water requirement

Durability
Classification by Shape 12

Some claims about shape and texture:

- Round  smooth textured

- yields poor concrete
- lacks bond between smooth surface and
cement paste

- Angular
- exhibits a better interlocking effect  good for
use in roads and pavements
- higher bond strength due to larger surface area
- due to high surface area, it requires more water
for certain workability (thus high w/c)
Classification by Shape 13

Some claims about shape and texture:

- Crushed aggregates with cubical shapes

are ideal for high strength concrete
- Some specialized crusher are created for
this purpose (e.g. hydrocone crusher)
Classification by Texture 14

Depends on:

Hardness, grain size, and pore structure of

parent rock

Degree of weathering

Closely associated with shape (rounded –

smooth, angular – rough)
Classification by Texture 15
Mechanical Properties 16

Mechanical properties of aggregates are

listed below:

- Bond
- Strength
- Toughness (resistance to impact)
- Hardness (resistance to wear)
Mechanical Properties 17

BOND

Due to the interlocking of the aggregate

and the paste owing to the roughness and
area of the surface of the aggregate

No existing test method

Mechanical Properties 18

STRENGTH

Compressive strength of concrete cannot

significantly exceed that of the major part of
the aggregate contained therein
Mechanical Properties 19

STRENGTH

Tested indirectly

Crushing strength of rock samples and

bulk aggregates

Aggregate performance
Mechanical Properties 20

STRENGTH

- Tested indirectly 
aggregate
crushing value
- measures the resistance of
aggregate against a
gradually applied
compressive load
(allowed: 25% , 45%)
Mechanical Properties 21

Relating aggregate strength to concrete

strength:

- Concrete strength is not directly related to

aggregate strength
- Strong aggregate  strong concrete
- depends on strength quality of cement
paste and bond between paste and
aggregates
- Weak aggregates  weak concrete
Mechanical Properties 22

TOUGHNESS

Resistance to impact
HARDNESS

Resistance to wear

Los Angeles Test (ASTM C 131

AASHTO T 96) passing 1.7mm
Physical Properties 23

Physical properties of aggregates:

- Moisture content
- Absorption
- Specific gravity
- Bulk density
- Grading
- Porosity
- Soundness
- Alkali-aggregate reaction (ASR/ACR)
Physical Properties 24

MOISTURE CONTENT

The amount of moisture present in the

aggregate

Affects water requirement

ASTM C 566, ASTM C 70

 Physical Properties 25

ABSORPTION

- The ratio of the increase in weight of the

saturated sample to the weight of the oven-
dried sample
(increase in weight in an oven dry sample when
immersed in water for 24h. Some authors say
that absorption at time equal to final set is more
important)

Coarse aggregate: ASTM C 127

Fine aggregate: ASTM C 128
Physical Properties
26
Physical Properties 27

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Specific gravity (SSD)

Specific gravity (OD)

Apparent specific gravity

Coarse aggregates: ASTM C 127

Fine aggregates: ASTM C 128

Physical Properties 28

SGs = SG at SSD condition

SGd = SG at OD condition

SGa = Apparent SG

A = absorption (%)
Physical Properties 29

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

- Most useful in concrete design mix

- Allows for the conversion of volume into
weights or vice versa

Average specific gravity for rocks: 2.6 to 2.8

Average specific gravity for sand: 2.4 to 2.6
Physical Properties 30

BULK DENSITY (or unit weight)

- Bulk density is the ratio of the weight of
aggregate to its compacted volume. The
aggregate is dry, and the volume includes
the spaces in between particles.
- The unit used is kg/m3.
- Concrete mix proportioning uses bulk
density
- Together with specific gravity, void ratio of a
sample can be determined
Physical Properties 31

BULK DENSITY (or unit weight)

- Actual mass that will fit a container of known
volume or of a unit volume
- Shows how densely can aggregates be
packed in a filled standard volume
- ASTM C 29

Depends on:

Method and extent of compaction

Shape and size distribution of aggregates
Physical Properties 32

POROSITY

Affects:

Bond between constituents

Resistance to freezing and thawing

Chemical stability

Resistance to abrasion

Specific gravity
Physical Properties 33

POROSITY

- Affects w/c, thus, affecting workability

- Affects durability (when exposed to freezing
& thawing & under attack of chemically
aggressive fluids)
Physical Properties 34

SOUNDNESS
- Ability of aggregates to resist excessive
changes in volume as a result of changes in
physical conditions (freezing & thawing,
variation in temp, alternate wetting &
drying)
- ASTM C 88 (using sodium sulfate)

Effect:

Local scaling

Surface cracking

Disintegration
 Physical Properties 35

Alkali – Aggregate Reaction

Due to reactions of:

Alkali in cement + active silica

Alkali in cement + carbonate
Alkali in cement: sodium oxide, potassium oxide
Alkali in cement attacks the reactive siliceous
minerals in aggregates. This results to formation of
ALKALI SILICATE GEL which SWELLS unlimitedly..
Concrete failure due to ASR

AASHTO Innovative Highway Technologies AASHTO Innovative Highway Technologies

AASHTO Innovative Highway Technologies Georgia Tech School of CEE - Courtney Collins
Physical Properties 37

Alkali – Aggregate Reaction

Factors affecting AAR:

1. Reactive aggregates
2. High alkali content in cement
3. Availability of moisture
4. Optimum temperature conditions

A GOOD THESIS OPTION… ☺

Grading 38

Mortar – max. 55% aggregate by volume

Concrete – max. 85% aggregate by volume

Thus, grading has an important role in

concrete’s workability and its finishing
characteristics.

Considered to be among the most important

in producing workable concrete is
aggregate’s GRADATION (Grading)
Sieve Analysis 39

Basic method to determine GRADING

Simple orientation of dividing an aggregate

sample into fractions, each consisting of
particles of the same size

Each fraction must be within standard limits

Sieve Analysis 40

Sieves for CA: 40, 25, 20, 12.5, 10, 5, 2.5

Sieve Analysis 41

Sieves for FA: 10, 5, 2.5, 1.2, 0.6, 0.3, 0.15

Grading Curve 42

Graphical representations of the

results of sieve analysis

Grading affects workability more

than strength
Grading Curve 43

Gradation Curve for Coarse Aggregates

Sieves for CA: 40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5 mm

120

100
Percent Passing (%)

80

60

40

20

-20
100 10 1
Seive Size Opening (mm)

Coarse aggregate used ASTM C 33-03 Lower limit ASTM C 33-03Upper limit
Grading Curve 44

Gradation Curve for Fine Aggregates

Sieves for FA: 10, 5, 2.5, 1.2, 0.6, 0.3, 0.15 mm

120
Percent Passing (%)

100

80

60

40

20

0
10.0 1.0 0.1
Seive Size Opening (mm)

Sand used ASTM C 33-03 Lower limit ASTM C 33-03 Upper limit
45
46
 Fineness Modulus 47

Thesum of the cumulative percentages

retained on the sieves of the standard series

(40, 20, 10 mm) (Nos. 4, 8, 16, 30, 50, 100)
Sieves for FA: 10, 5, 2.5, 1.2, 0.6, 0.3, 0.15 mm
Sieves for CA: 40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5 mm

Sieve Analysis, Grading Curve, and Fineness

Modulus procedures are seen in ASTM C 136
Sieve Analysis & Fineness Modulus 48