Why Aggregates have an Important Role in

Concrete?
The significant reality is that some of 70-80% of the amount of concrete volume is
taken by the aggregates itself. It is therefore significantly important to obtain the right
types and quality of aggregates at the site.

Aggregate’s impact on different characteristics and properties of concrete is certainly

huge. Properties of concrete include workability, durability, strength, weight and
shrinkage. An aggregate provides body i.e. volume/mass of the concrete, reduces
shrinkage and also help to achieve economy.

Aggregate is cheaper than cement and it is, therefore, economical to put such a huge
amount of aggregate in concrete. But the economy is not the only reason for using
aggregate.

Its higher volume stability and better durability than the hydrated cement paste alone,
make it used worldwide.

To know more about the concrete, it is very essential that one should know more
about the aggregates which constitute the major volume in concrete.

In other words, the aggregates are used to improve the economy, but more
importantly do contribute significantly to the final properties of any concrete mixture.

1
 Method of Determination of Specific Gravity of Aggregate

Weight of sample in water = (A 1 – A2) = A

Weight of saturated surface dry in air sample = B

Weight of oven dry sample = C

(a) Specific gravity = [C/ (B – A)]

(b) Apparent specific gravity = [C/(C – A)]

(c) Water absorption = 100 (B – C)

(d) Bulk density = Net weight of the aggregate in kg/capacity or the

container in liters.

Example:

Find the Value of;

i. Specific Gravity
ii. Apparent Specific Gravity
iii. Apparent Particle Density
iv. Bulk Particle Density

Given:
Mass of oven dry sample C = 480 gram

Mass of saturated surface dried sample in air B = 490 gram

Weight of vessel with water = 1400 gram

Weight of vessel + water + sample = 1695 gram.

2
Solution:

i. Specific gravity = Mass of oven dry sample

(Mass of saturated surface sample – Sample weight in water)

= [C/ (B – A)]
= [480/ (490-295)] = 480/195
= 2.50

ii. Apparent specific gravity = [C/(C – A)]

= [480/(480 – 295)]
= 480/185
= 2.59

iii. Apparent particle density = Apparent specific gravity x 1000

= 2.59 x 1000
= 2590 kg/m3

iv. Bulk particle density = Bulk specific gravity x 1000

= 2.50 x 1000
= 2500 kg/m3