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Structure
3.1 Introduction
Objectives
3.2 Properties of Aggregates
3.2.1 Classification of Aggregates
3.2.2 Density and Specific Gravity
3.2.3 Water Absorption and Surface Moisture
3.2.4 Bulking of Sand
3.2.5 Soundness of Aggregate
3.3 Flakiness and Elongation Index
3.3.1 Flakiness Index
3.3.2 Elongation Index
3.4 Sieve Analysis, Fineness Modulus and Grading
3.4.1 Sieve Analysis
3.4.2 Fineness Modulus
3.4.3 Grading
3.5 Mechanical Properties of Aggregates
3.5.1 Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV)
3.5.2 Aggregate Ten Percent Fine Value (TPFV)
3.5.3 Aggregate Abrasion Value (AAV)
3.5.4 Aggregate Impact Value (AIV)
3.6 Effect of Aggregate Properties on Strength of Concrete
3.6.1 Maximum Size of Aggregate
3.6.2 Shape/Texture of Aggregate
3.6.3 Soundness of Aggregate
3.7 Summary
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Aggregates are very important ingredients of concrete due to the following
reasons :
(a) They provide body and strength to the concrete (role of aggregates is
similar to that of bones in human body).
(b) They occupy about 75% volume of concrete and being comparatively
cheaper as compared to the other ingredients, they govern economy of
concrete.
(c) Not only the strength of concrete but also other properties are
governed by aggregates such as durability, workability, shrinkage,
volume, stability, etc.
Earlier it was believed that aggregates are inert material but later on it was
established that some of the aggregates (depending upon their chemical
composition) are chemically active. Therefore, it is necessary to study each and
every property of aggregates namely, size, shape, grading, surface texture, specific
gravity, density, impact and crushing strength, abrasion value, soundness and
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Concrete Technology chemical composition.
Aggregates, used in concrete, can be natural or artificial type and are broadly
classified as coarse aggregates (size > 4.75 mm) and fine aggregates
(size < 4.75 mm). The coarse aggregates, locally known as ‘gitti’, are generally
available in 80, 40, 20, 10 and 4.75 mm sizes. The fine aggregates (i.e. sand)
popularly known as ‘ret’ or ‘bajri’ can be conveniently grouped into coarse,
medium and fine sand.
Objectives
After studying this module, you would be able to
explain the importance of various properties of aggregates in
manufacturing the concrete.
get acquainted with some of the related technical terms in defining
these properties of aggregates like, bulking of sand, saturated surface
dry (SSD) condition, flakiness and elongation index, fineness
modulus, alkali-aggregate reaction, etc., and
determine these properties in laboratories or at site.
[Note : However, for actually carrying out these tests, you are advised to go
through the test procedures and other related details/recommendations by
referring to the relevant IS code.]
The chemical and other properties of such aggregates are mainly governed
by the properties of their parent rocks.
Comments
Generally, people prefer the locally available aggregates for normal
concrete works because transportation cost of the aggregate matters a
lot. Igneous rocks are widely available on the face of the earth and are
hard, tough and dense. They could be acidic or basic in nature
depending upon the percentage of silica content. Highly laminated
sedimentary rocks may lead to flaky or elongated aggregates.
Size of Aggregate
Based on the size, the aggregates can be classified as coarse aggregates and
fine aggregates (i.e. sand). The aggregates of size > 4.75 mm are called as
coarse aggregates and are available in 80, 40, 20, 10, 4.75 mm sizes.
The fine aggregates are those which are having particles of sizes < 4.75 mm.
Depending upon the fineness modulus (discussed further in this unit) the
fine aggregates are categorized as coarse, medium and fine sand.
Comments
Using large size aggregates in concrete will result into reduction of
cement and water requirement and will also reduce the degree of
shrinkage of concrete. Smaller size of coarse aggregates is preferred
for the concrete used for thin members, heavily reinforced member
and for high strength concrete. The concrete with large size of coarse
aggregates is preferred for mass concrete.
Shape of Aggregate
Based on the shape, the aggregates are classified as Rounded, Angular,
Flaky and Elongated aggregates. The rounded aggregates are without edges
or corners and are smooth as compared to angular aggregates, which can be
identified by their well-defined edges and corners. The surface area of
rounded aggregates is comparatively smaller. Flaky aggregate is that whose
least dimension (i.e. thickness) is reasonably small relative to its other two
dimensions (i.e. width and/or length), whereas elongated aggregate is that
whose greatest dimension (i.e. length) is reasonably large relative to its
mean dimension. Flaky and elongated aggregates are explained in detail
later.
Comments
Rounded aggregates provide good workability, as they require less
amount of cement for the same w/c ratio but they lead to weak bond
with the cement paste as compared to angular aggregates. Angular
aggregates give better durability, better bond and higher strength but
to achieve desired workability these aggregates require more cement
paste. The presence or use of flaky and elongated aggregates should
be discouraged as they adversely effect the workability, cement
requirement, strength and durability, which finally lead to poor quality
concrete.
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Concrete Technology Unit Weight of Aggregate
On the basis of unit weight (i.e. density) the aggregates are classified as
normal-weight, lightweight and heavyweight aggregates. The criteria for
classifying them into these categories is shown in Table below.
Type of Aggregate Unit Weight Example
3
Normal-weight 1520-1680 kg/m Most of the natural
aggregates
Light-weight < 1120 kg/m3 Synthetic aggregates
3
Heavy-weight > 2080 kg/m Aggregates obtained from
barium-minerals, iron and
titanium ores etc.
30
Fine Sand Medium
Sand
20
Coarse Sand
10
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21
Moisture Content (Percent of Weight)
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Concrete Technology
These Sizes Marked on Gauge
12.5 to 10
15 to 12.5
20 to 15
25 to 20
40 to 25
6.75
50 to 40
63 to 50
8.55
10.8
13.5
19.5 4.83
25
27.0
16.95
70
33.9
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Passing of Sieve 10 12.5 15 20 25 40 50
Retained 6.3 10 12.5 14 20 45 40
on Sieve
6Ф
45
25
All Dimensions in mm
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Concrete Technology
Table 3.2 gives a sample calculation of sieve analysis to determine various related
parameters. After sieving the aggregate sample (1000 gm) through the set of
sieves in standard manner, the material retained on each sieve is measured by
weight and tabulated in Column 2 of the table. The weight retained on each sieve
represents the size-range of particles. For example, weight retained on 2.36 mm
sieve (i.e. 120 gm) indicates that this particular fraction of aggregate is having the
particles of size > 2.36 mm and < 4.75 mm.
In Column 3 of the table, the percentage weight retained on each sieve is
calculated as below. It indicates the percentage of that particular fraction present
in the aggregate sample. For a particular sieve size, say Sx,
Weight retained on the sieve S x
% weight retained on the sieve S x 100
Total weight of the aggregate sample
For example, percentage weight retained on 2.36 mm sieve is calculated as below
120
100 12% .
1000
Table 3.2 : Typical Example of the Sieve Analysis
IS Sieve Weight % Weight Cumulative Cumulative
Size Retained Retained % Retained % Passing
(gms)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
10.00 mm 0 0 0 100
4.75 mm 030 03 03 97
2.36 mm 120 12 15 85
1.18 mm 150 15 30 70
600 μm 200 20 50 50
300 μm 320 32 82 18
150 μm 150 15 97 03
Pan 30 ∑ (4) = 277
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In Column 4 of the table, the cumulative percentage retained on each sieve is
calculated, which, for sieve Sx, will be equal to the cumulative sum of the
percentage weight retained on each sieve (given in Column 3) above and
including that on the sieve Sx. The cumulative percentage retained on the sieve Sx
indicates that this much percentage of particles in that sample of aggregate is
coarser than sieve size Sx. For example, cumulative percentage retained on 2.36
mm sieve will be 3 + 12 = 15 %. It indicates that 15 % of particles in the given
sample of aggregate are coarser than 2.36 mm.
In Column 5 of the table, the cumulative percentage passing on each sieve is
obtained (100 cumulative percentage retained.) The cumulative percentage
passing through the sieve Sx indicates that this much percentage of particles in that
sample of aggregate is finer than sieve size Sx. For example, cumulative
percentage passing from 2.36 mm sieve will be 100 – 15 = 85%. It indicates that
85% of particles in the given sample of aggregate are finer than 2.36 mm.
Comments
The observations of the sieve analysis, put in tabular form, are used for
drawing the grading curve, defining the grading of aggregate and for
determining the fineness modulus as explained in subsequent paragraphs.
Also, by comparing the results of sieve analysis of fine aggregates with the
standard table given in IS 383: 1970 (reproduced in Table 3.3) the zone of
sand (I, II, III or IV) can be identified. The Zone I, indicates coarse sand and
Zone IV represents fine sand. This information is useful in performing the
concrete mix design. It is recommended that use of the fine aggregates,
conforming to Zone IV, should be avoided in reinforced concrete unless the
suitability of using such aggregates is ascertained through tests.
Fineness Modulus
(Cumulative percentage retained on each sieve)
100
In the above example (Table 3.2), the fineness modulus = (277)/100 = 2.77. It can
be viewed as weighted average size of a sieve on which particles are retained. The
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Concrete Technology sieve being counted from the finest sieve as one. So, fineness modulus of 2.77
indicates that average size of particles is between 300-600 μm sieve and more
precisely, close to 600 μm.
The value of fineness modulus is higher for coarser aggregates and lower for finer
aggregates. For the aggregates commonly used, the range of fineness modulus is
as below :
Fine Aggregate 2.0 to 3.5
Coarse Aggregate 5.5 to 8.0
All-in-aggregate 3.5 to 6.5
Further, the range of fineness modulus for various categories of sand is as below:
Fine Sand 2.0 to 2.6
Medium Sand 2.6 to 2.9
Coarse Sand 2.9 to 3.5
Generally, the sand with fineness modulus ranging between 2.2 to 3.2 is
considered suitable for making concrete.
Comments
The fineness modulus is useful in grading the given aggregate for designing
the mix economically for the given strength and workability with the
minimum amount of cement paste. Aggregates with higher fineness
modulus produce harsh concrete and with the lower fineness modulus will
give uneconomical mix. The fineness modulus is also used to provide a
rough check on the batch-to-batch variation in the grading of aggregates
obtained from the same source.
3.4.3 Grading
The particle size distribution in a given sample of aggregate is termed as grading
of the aggregate. The grading of aggregates can be conveniently defined with the
help of grading curves. Grading Curve is a curve showing variation of cumulative
percentage of passing (on Y-axis) over the different size of sieves (on X-axis in
log scale).
The grading curve for the data, obtained in Table 3.2, is shown in Figure 3.4. The
steep slope of the grading curve, which is from A to B (i.e. between 300-600 μm
size), indicates the greater proportion of these size particles in the sample. The
uniform slope of the grading curve, which in this case is from B to D (i.e. between
600 μm-2.36 mm), indicates the continuous grading, i.e. particles of all sizes
(between 600 μm-2.36 mm size) are present in the sample. Flat slope of the
grading curve, which is from D to E (i.e. between 2.36-4.75 mm), indicates
lesser/negligible contribution of the particles of that size. Horizontal portion of
grading curve, which in this case is between E to F (i.e. between 4.75-10.00 mm),
indicates that the particles of this size (i.e. 4.75-10 mm) are almost absent in the
sample.
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F
100
E
D
80
Percentage Passing
C
60
B
40
A
20
0
150 300 600 1.18 2.36 4.75 10
μm μm μm mm mm mm mm
Sieve Size
Figure 3.4 : Grading Curve for Table 3.2
F
100
E
80
Percentage Passing
60
C D
B
40
A
20
0
150 300 600 1.18 2.36 4.75 10
μm μm μm mm mm mm mm
Sieve Size
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test is repeated with another load. Two such tests are conducted and the load
required for ten percent fines [TPFV] is obtained by :
14 X
TPFV
Y 4
3.7 SUMMARY
In this module, the importance of aggregate for concrete has been discussed in
detail. A brief classification of aggregates on the basis of their source, shape, size
and unit weight has been explained. The important parameters associated with the
aggregates such as bulk density, apparent specific gravity, water absorption, etc.
have been discussed and the normal range of these parameters has been given.
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The importance of the various properties of aggregate (i.e. physical as well as
mechanical properties) on the performance and quality of concrete has been
separately discussed in details under the comments. Further, a brief description of
various test procedures to determine these properties of aggregates has been
provided. The importance of sieve analysis and that of the associated terms such
as fineness modulus, grading curve, sand zones, etc. have been explained. Finally,
the effect of various properties of aggregate on the strength of concrete has been
discussed.
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