Ain Shams University Concrete Technology (1)

Faculty of Engineering CES 251

iCHEP Engineering Programs Fall 2021

Assignment (02)
Aggregates for Concrete

1. What is meant by “Aggregate”?

2. What is the importance of using aggregates in concrete?
3. Classify aggregates according to size, shape, surface texture and unit weight.
4. What is meant by “Flaky aggregate” and “Elongated aggregate”?
5. Define bone-dry, air-dry, saturated surface-dry and moist conditions of aggregates,
and state how you can calculate absorption and free moisture of aggregates?
6. What is meant by “Bulking of Fine Aggregates”? state its negative effect on the
concrete properties.
7. How is the fine materials defined? and how does its presence in the aggregate
affect the concrete properties?
8. What is meant by “Sieve Analysis of Aggregates”?
9. Draw a graph to show the cumulative percent passing through the sieve versus
sieve size for well-graded, gap-graded, open-graded, and one-sized aggregates; all
on the same graph.
10. A sample of fine aggregate has the following properties:
Wet weight = 520 gm
Dry weight = 490 gm
Absorption = 2.5%
Determine: (a) total moisture content, and (b) free moisture content.
11. Sample of coarse aggregate from a stockpile was brought to the laboratory for
determination of specific gravity. The following weights were found:
Weight of moist aggregate sample = 5298 gm
Weight of oven dried aggregate sample = 5216 gm
Weight of aggregate sample submerged in water = 3295 gm
Weight of SSD (Saturated Surface Dry) aggregate sample = 5227 gm
Find the following for the tested aggregate sample:
a. The aggregate dry bulk specific gravity
b. The aggregate apparent specific gravity
c. The free moisture content of aggregate
d. Absorption (report as percent).
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Ain Shams University Concrete Technology (1)

Faculty of Engineering CES 251

iCHEP Engineering Programs Fall 2021

Assignment (02)
Aggregates for Concrete
12. Coarse aggregate was placed in a rigid bucket and rodded with a tamping rod to
determine its bulk unit weight. The following data were obtained:
Volume of bucket = 14160 cm3
Weight of empty bucket = 9.5 kg
Weight of bucket filled with dry rodded coarse aggregate = 32 kg
Calculate:
a. The dry-rodded bulk unit weight
b. If the bulk dry specific gravity of the aggregate is 2.62, calculate the
percent voids between aggregate particles.
13. A sieve analysis test was performed on all-in aggregate sample, and the following
results were recorded:
Sieve Size (mm) 37.5 19.0 9.5 4.75 2.36 1.18 0.60 0.30 0.15 Pan
Weight Retained (gm) 100 400 4300 3000 600 500 500 400 150 50

▪ Draw the grading curve for the tested aggregate sample.

▪ Determine the NMS of the tested aggregate sample.
14. Three aggregates are to be mixed together in the following ratio:
Aggregate A 20%
Aggregate B 45%
Aggregate C 35%
For each aggregate, the percent passing a set of five sieves is shown in the
following table:
Sieve Size (mm) % Passing Agg. (A) % Passing Agg. (B) % Passing Agg. (C)
4.75 95 100 100
2.36 85 50 40
1.18 70 35 30
0.60 35 20 5
0.30 25 13 1
0.15 17 7 0
▪ Determine the percent passing each sieve for the blended aggregate and then
draw the grading curve.

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Ain Shams University Concrete Technology (1)

Faculty of Engineering CES 251

iCHEP Engineering Programs Fall 2021

Assignment (02)
Aggregates for Concrete
15. Sieve analysis test was conducted on samples of crushed stone and sand
aggregates and the following data were recorded.
Volumetric
Agg. Specific
Weight
Type Gravity Sieve 37.5 28 20 10 5 -
(kg/m3)
C.S. (1) 1578 2.63 % 96 80 55 25 3 -
C.S. (2) 1602 2.67 Passing 100 100 100 98 - -

Sieve 5 2.36 1.18 0.60 0.30 0.15

Sand )1( 1625 2.60 % 100 98 85 70 30 15

Sand )2( 1651 2.54 Passing 95 70 58 25 15 -
▪ Find the value of NMS for the tested crushed stones C.S. (1) and C.S. (2).
▪ Which type of fine and coarse aggregates should be used in a slab with
thickness 1000 mm and the clear distance between reinforcement is 80 mm?
Why?
▪ Calculate the mix ratio between C.S. (1) and sand (1) which gives percentage of
voids in the mix equals to 25%.
16. Sieve analysis test was conducted on samples of gravel and sand and the
following data were recorded.
Agg. Volumetric Specific
Sieve Analysis
Type Weight (t/m3) Gravity
Sieve size
37.5 20 14 10 5.0 -
Gravel 1.602 2.67 (mm)
% Passing 95.0 45.0 30.0 15.0 5.0 -
Sieve size
5.0 2.36 1.18 0.60 0.30 0.15
Sand 1.651 2.54 (mm)
% Passing 100.0 85.0 75.0 45.0 15.0 5.0
▪ Find the blending ratio between gravel and sand to satisfy each one of the
following:
a. Specific surface area = 25 cm2/gm
b. The maximum bulk unit weight.

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