AGGREGATE

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING SURVEYING

UiTM PERAK
Aggregate
 Aggregate which do not react
chemically with cement and water
 It make up approximately 66-78 percent
of the concrete volume
 Aggregate range from fine sand to rocks
½ inc (38mm) in diameter
Standard weight aggregate

 Sand and gravel directly taken from river

banks or gravel deposit
 Natural aggregate frequently are mixed
with dirt or other foreign substances. It
need to be removed before used.
 The surface is very porous and affords a
good bond with cement
Lightweight Aggregate
 Certain material can be processed by
heat to produce a lightweight aggregate.
 During the heating process the gas that
forms inside the material expands it into
lightweight, porous form
 This material is crushed and graded to size
either before or after expansion.
Function of Aggregate

 The main function of aggregates as follows:

a) Reduce cost of concrete – easy process, handling,
transport to the site.
b) Well graded aggregate produces workable, cohesive
concrete
c) Reduce heat of hydration of concrete since they are
normally chemical inert and act as a heat sink for
hydrating cement.
d) Reduce the shrinkage of concrete since most
aggregates are not affected by water and they restrain
shrinkage of the hydrating cement.
e) Control of surface hardness.
Grading Aggregate

 Aggregates are generally designated as

fine or coarse.
 The size range are from ¼ inch (6.4mm)-
sand or less in diameter or 3/8 inch
(9.5mm)- coarse or larger in diameter.
 Aggregates are graded by a process
called SIEVE ANALYSIS
Sieve Analysis

 A sample of aggregate is poured through a

stack, or nest or vibrating sieves which have
square holes of decreasing size
 The particles retained in each sieve are then
weighed and tabulated
 A sample of aggregate can be graded
according to the percentage of small,
medium and large particles.
 Each sieve is numbered according to the size
of opening in the screen.
Sieve Analysis (cntd..)
THANK YOU
Reference
1.A.M. Neville (2008) Concrete Technology, Pearson
2.David S. Watt (1999) Material in Construction
Principles and Practices