Laboratory Exercise No.

3
Determination of Unit weight
(Bulk Density) of Course
Aggregate

Submitted by:
ANGEL P. DELSOCORA
BSCE – 2B

Submitted to:
ENGR. GILDA D. BORBON
Instructor

Group Members:
ANGGOLING, FAHAD O.
CASTILLO, MARIEL U.
DENOSTA, CLARK JAMES A.
DORDAS, KARREN GRACE I.
QUISTADIO, JORENN HANS P.
VILLAREAL, MICHELLE O.
 LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO. 4
Determination of Unit Weight (Bulk Density) of Coarse Aggregate
I. INTRODUCTION
Discussion:
The test covers the determination of bulk density ("unit weight") of aggregate in a
compacted or loose condition, and calculated voids between particles in fine, coarse, or
mixed aggregates based on the same determination.
Unit weight or bulk density is the weight of a given volume of material. Basically,
unit weight is measured by filling a container of known volume with a material and
weighing it. The degree of moisture and compaction will affect the unit weight.
Therefore, The ASTM has set standard oven-dry moisture content and a rodding method
or compaction. The maximum unit weight of a blend of two aggregates is about 40% fine
aggregate by weight. Therefore, this is the most economical concrete aggregate since it
will require the least amount of cement.
The bulk density of aggregate is a mass of a unit volume of bulk aggregate
material, in which the volume includes the volume of the individual particles and the
volume of voids between the particles and is expressed in lb/ft3 (kg/m3). Unit weight is a
weight (mass) per unit volume. Objective: To determine the unit weight (bulk density)
values that is necessary for use for several methods of selecting proportions for concrete
mixtures.

Referenced Documents:
ASTM (C 29, C 29M-97, C 127, C 702, C 136 AASHTO T 11)

Apparatus:
1. Balance, sensitive to 0.1 lb or 0.05 kg
2. Tamping rod, 5/8" (1 6 mm) diameter
3. Volume measure

II. PROCEDURE:

1. Obtain a representative sample of air-dry thoroughly mixed coarse aggregate and reduce
the sample by quartering method.
2. Fill the measure one-third full and level the surface with fingers.
3. Rod or tamp the layer 25 strokes of the tamping rod evenly distributed over the surface.
4. Fill the measure to two-thirds full and rod 25 times without penetrating the previous
layer.
5. Fill the measure to overflowing and 25 times. Level the surface with fingers or the rod
such that any slight projections of larger pieces of aggregate approximately balance the
larger voids in the surface below the top of the measure. Do not compress the aggregate.
6. Determine the weight (or mass) to the nearest 0.1 lb (0.05kg)
7. Calculate the unit weight.