CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

LAB TEST MANUAL

Practical No: 1 Date: 10/9/2021

Sieve analysis

Aim: To determine the particle size distribution of coarse aggregates by sieving.

1.1 Reference code:

IS:2386- Part 1: 1963 (reaffirmed in 2002) -Methods of tests for aggregates for concrete.
IS:383: 2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete.0

1.2 Apparatus:
Balance, Oven, Sieves of size 40mm, 31.5mm, 25mm, 20 mm, 16 mm, 12.5 mm, 10 mm, 6.3
mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm.

1.3 Sampling and selection of test specimens:

The sample shall be brought to an air-dry condition before weighing and sieving.
This may be achieved either by drying at room temperature or by heating at a temperature of
100°C to 110°C.
The air-dry sample shall be weighed about 3000g (Kapchi).

1.4 Procedure:

STEP 1: Sample of 3 kg of Kapchi. s

STEP 2: Sample is sieved with variety of motions in the sieve set.

STEP 3: Separate the sieve set carefully, to avoid any lose of sample.

STEP 4: Measure the retained weight in each sieve.

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1.5 Observation table:

IS sieve size Weight retained Cumulative Cumulative % Cumulative %

(gm) weight retained weight retained weight passed
25 24.66 24.66 2.14 97.86
20 404.68 429.34 37.29 62.71
16 381.41 810.75 70.43 29.57
12.5 279.21 1089.96 94.65 5.35
10 57.93 1147.89 99.71 0.29
6.3 3.25 1151.14 100 0
4.75 - - - -
Pan - - - -
Total 1151.4

Cumulative retained weight (%) = Cumulative weight / Weight of the Sample x 100
Cumulative Passing weight = 100 –Cumulative retained weight (%)
Fineness modulus = Σ of % cumulative weight retained up to 4.75 mm / 10

1.6 Significance:
The total possesses a large portion of the volume of the substantial. It is the stuff that the
concrete glue coats and ties together. The composition, shape & size of the aggregate all have
significant impact on the workability, durability, strength, weight & shrinkage of the concrete.
Aggregates can also influence the appearance of the cast surfaces.

1.7 Conclusion:
By looking at this test the aggregates passes through 25 mm to 6.3 mm sieves, whereas
aggregates don’t passess through 4.75 mm sieves. The main observation of doing this test was
to determine that the Kapchi is poorly graded.

Practical No: 2 Date: 10/9/2021

Bulk density

Aim: To determine the bulk density of aggregates.

1.1 Reference IS Code:

IS:2386- Part 1: 1963 (reaffirmed in 2002) -Methods of tests for aggregates for concrete.
IS:383: 2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete.

1.2 Apparatus:
Balance, Cylindrical metal measure, Measure, Tamping rod

1.3 Procedure:

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LAB TEST MANUAL

STEP 1: The test shall normally be carried out on dry material when determining the voids, but
when bulking tests are required material with a given percentage of moisture may be used.

STEP 2: The Metal cylinder must be weighed first.

STEP 3: Sample is delivered to the cylinder to the pinnacle and leveled to the pinnacle aspect
with a tamping rod. It is measured then.

STEP 4: The cylinder is emptied and one-third is filled with sand. 25 blows are given with a
taming rod. This is continued until the cylinder is filled. The sand is then levelled with the top
edge and measured.

STEP 5: Similar procedure is done for another fresh sample.

1.4 Observation table:

Particulars Unit Value

Volume of container Litres 15
weight of empty mould Kg 12.67
Weight of mould+ loose Kg 37.07
aggregates
Weight of mould+ Kg 38.13
compacted aggregates
Loose wt. of aggregates Kg 24.4
Compacted wt. of Kg 25.53
aggregates

Loose bulk density = B/A

Compacted bulk density = C/A

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1.5 Result:
Loose bulk density of Kapchi is 1.626 Kg/ltr.
Compacted bulk density of Kapchi is 1.702 Kg/ltr.

1.6 Significance:
The bulk density test is carried out to determine the volume or weight of the aggregates if
known; This is essentially used for dosing concrete to convert weight batches to volume
batches or vice versa.

1.7 Conclusion:
From the previous result, we can conclude that the voids in the loose coarse grain are more
than in the compacted coarse aggregate. Higher bulk density would result into fewer voids in
the aggregates.

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LAB TEST MANUAL

Practical No: 3 Date: 10/9/2021

Flakiness Index

Aim: To determine the combined flakiness index of coarse aggregates.

1.1 Reference IS Code:

IS:2386- Part 1: 1963 (reaffirmed in 2002) -Methods of tests for aggregates for concrete.
IS:383: 2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete.

1.2 Apparatus:
Balance, Metal gauge, Sieves (As shown in specification)

1.3 Procedure:

STEP 1. 200 Pieces of 16mm, 12.5mm, and 10mm are retained (only 20 pieces of each taken
as lack of sample and time constrain).

STEP 2. 200 pieces retained by sieve size of 16, 12.5 and 10 mm are taken as sample.

STEP 3. The pieces are passed through thickness gauge and the appropriate dimensions is
noted.

STEP 4. The retained weight and passed weight are noted.

1.4 Observation table:

IS sieve size Weight Cumulative Cumulative % Cumulative %

retained(gm) weight retained weight retained weight passed
16 mm 106 71 66.9 33.1
12.5 mm 49.5 28.5 57.57 42.43
10 mm 25 12 48 52

Flakiness Index = ∑ Z =42.51

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LAB TEST MANUAL

1.5 Results:
The sample has high percentage of flaky pieces this could be due to lack of sample.

1.6 Significance:
Flakiness index helps to find physical properties of coarse aggregates that have an effect on the
standard of concrete mixes.

1.7 Conclusion:
The sample is not making up to the standards therefore, the sample can’t be use for concrete.
The presence of flaky aggregates on the far side sure limits decreases compressive strength and
causes extreme harshness in concrete mixes. Flaky particles tend to lower the workability of
concrete mix which can impair the semipermanent durability.

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LAB TEST MANUAL

Practical No: 4 Date: 10/9/2021

Elongation Index

Aim: To determine the combined elongation index of coarse aggregates.

1.1 Reference IS Code

IS:2386- Part 1: 1963 (reaffirmed in 2002) -Methods of tests for aggregates for concrete.
IS:383: 2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete.

1.2 Apparatus:
Balance, Metal gauge, Sieves (As shown in specification)

1.3 Procedure:

STEP 1. 200 pieces retained by sieve size of 16,12.5 and 10 mm are taken as sample.

STEP 2. The pieces are passed through thickness gauge and the appropriate dimensions is
noted.

STEP 3. The retained weight and passed weight are noted.

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LAB TEST MANUAL

Practical No: 5 Date: 10/9/2021

Water absorption & specific gravity

Aim: To determine specific gravity & water absorption of fine aggregates.

1.1 Reference code:

IS:2386- Part 3: 1963 (reaffirmed in 2002) -Methods of test for aggregates for concrete, Part 3:
Specific gravity, density, voids, absorption and bulking [CED 2: Cement and Concrete].
IS:383: 2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete.

1.2 Apparatus:
Balance, Oven, Wire basket and stout water tight container, kapchi and water.

1.3 Procedure:
Sampling and selection of test specimen:
Kapchi samples should be properly washed with water, after cleaning, the sample should be
kept in water for 24 hours and then dried in the saturated sun.
STEP 1: Measure 2000 g of S.S.D kapchi sample
STEP 2: Fill the bucket with water and put wire basket in it and measure the weight without
sample
STEP 3: Add the sample in wire basket
STEP 4: Dunk the wire basket in the bucket for 25 times and put the basket in the bucket.
STEP 5: Weight the sample with water and remove the sample and put it in oven for 24 hours.
STEP 6: Take the weight of the oven dried sample.

1.4 Observation table:

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Particulars Value (g)

Weight of sample in saturated surface- dry conditions (A) 2000

Weight of wire basket fill with distilled water (B) 2135

Weight of wire basket contain sample & filled with distilled water (C) 802.5

Weight of oven dried sample (D) 1934

1.5 Calculation:

Specific gravity, water absorption shall be calculated as follow:

Specific gravity= D/A-(B-C)
Water absorption (% of dry weight)= 100(A-D)/D

1.6 Result:

Specific gravity= 2.92

Water absorption= 3.41

1.6 Significance:
This test helps to measure strength of the material, the strength of concrete depends on the ratio
of mass of water and the cement material. The ratio controls the volume and size of pores. It
determines the durability and the resistance both.

1.7 Conclusion:
The capacity of concrete depends on the strength of the aggregates, 70% of concrete is
occupied by the coarse aggregates. The maximum strength is the specified aggregate sample.
This aggregate are then used in construction to with stand crushing strong enough.

Practical No: 6 Date: 10/9/2021

Water absorption & specific gravity

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LAB TEST MANUAL

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