Name: JENEZA ALMA D.

BALOGO Date Performed: May 18, 2022

Course & Year: BSCE 3-C
Group No. SOGOD – GROUP 1

Experiment No. 3

SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF COARSE AGGREGATES

PURPOSE

To be able to calculate the specific gravity in dry and SSD conditions, apparent
specific gravity, and absorption.

RELATED STANDARDS: ASTM C127

SAMPLE

A minimum of 4000 grams test sample for aggregate of maximum size 1 inch and
the sample should not have particles of size less than 0.187 in

EQUIPMENT

Balance, wire basket (3.35mm or finer mesh), water tank, absorbent cloth, oven

DEFINITIONS

Specific gravity – is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density (mass
of the same unit volume) of a reference substance.

Bulk Specific Gravity – is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
aggregate, including the weight of water within the voids filled to the extent
achieved by submerging in water for approximately 24 hours, to the weight in air
of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.

Apparent Specific Gravity - is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
the impermeable portion of aggregate (does not include the permeable pores in
aggregate) to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at
the stated temperature.

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 Absorption - is the increase in weight due to water contained in the pores of the
material.

PROCEDURE

1. The sample was weighed.

2. The aggregate was immersed in water at room temperature for 24 hours.
3. The sample was removed from the water. It was rolled in a large absorbent cloth
until all visible films of water are removed. The sample is now is in saturated
surface dry (SSD) condition.
4. The sample was weighed and its saturated surface dry weight was obtained.
5. The SSD sample was placed in the wire basket and its weight in water was
determined. The wire basket was immersed in the water to a depth sufficient to
cover it and the test sample during weighing.
6. The sample was removed from the wire basket.
7. The sample was dried to a constant temperature of 100°±5°C and it was
weighed.
8. The following was to be calculated:

A. Bulk specific gravity, dry.

B. Bulk specific gravity, SSD.
C. Apparent specific gravity.
D. Absorption.

DOCUMENTATION

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COMPUTATIONS

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 A. Bulk Specific Gravity (also known as Bulk Dry Specific Gravity)

The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate at a stated temperature to
the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.
This unit volume of aggregate is composed of the solid particle, permeable voids, and
impermeable voids.

B. Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD)

The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate, including the weight of
water within the voids filled to the extent achieved by submerging in water for
approximately 24 hours, to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled
water at the stated temperature.

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 C. Apparent Specific Gravity

The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of the impermeable portion of
aggregate (does not include the permeable pores in aggregate) to the weight in air of an
equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.

D. Absorption

The increase in weight due to water contained in the pores of the material.

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REPORT

Experiment number 3 is all about calculating the specific gravity and absorption of
coarse aggregates. The equipment we used was oven, cloth and weighing scale. We
were able to calculate the specific gravity in dry and SSD conditions, apparent specific
gravity and absorption by simply following the procedures. The first thing we did was to
collect a sample (coarse aggregate) that doesn’t have particle size less than 0.187 in.
Second, we weighed the sample in a weighing scale. Third, we thoroughly washed the
sample to remove finer particles and dust before we immersed it in distilled water at
room temperature for 24 hours. Fourth, we removed the aggregate from water and
rolled in a large absorbent cloth where the sample is in saturated surface dry condition
(SSD). Fifth, we weighed it again and recorded it in our data sheet. Sixth, we weighed
the sample in water and immersed the basket in water to a sufficient depth were the
weight is determined. After that, we removed the sample from the basket and placed it
in an oven at a constant temperature of 100° ± 5°C. Lastly, after 10 minutes we took out
the sample from the oven and recorded its weight.

CONCLUSION

In this experiment I have learned that specific gravity and water absorption test of
coarse aggregates are the two of the most significant tests to do. These two aggregate
parameters play a vital role in concrete mix design because aggregate makes roughly
70 to 80 percent of the volume of concrete, evaluating it before use is very important.
For the identification of aggregates the specific gravity of aggregates is commonly used
because it usually indicates its strength and quality. And for water absorption test, is it
used to determine the aggregates’ water retaining ability.

I have observed in our data that the bulk specific gravity (dry) have the lowest value
since the volume calculated includes voids permeable to water. Then, the bulk specific
gravity (SSD) has the intermediate value. While the apparent specific gravity have the
highest value since the volume calculated includes only the solid aggregate particle and
does not include those voids permeable to water.

I have proved in this experiment that the mass of aggregates increases if you
immersed it in water for a specified temperature and period of time.