California Test 224
STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AGENCY March 2000
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING SERVICE CENTER
Transportation Laboratory
5900 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, California 95819-4612
METHOD OF TEST FOR BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY (S.S.D.) OF
COARSE AGGREGATE BY THE DISPLACEMENT METHOD
(FIELD METHOD)
CAUTION: Prior to handling test materials, performing equipment setups, and/or conducting this method, testers are
required to read SAFETY AND HEALTH in Section F of this method. It is the responsibility of the
user of this method to consult and use departmental safety and health practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations before any testing is performed.
A. SCOPE inserting the pail into the water container. Make an
opening in the bench to permit suspending the
This test method, which is a modification of AASHTO hooked rod from the center of the balance pan. See
Designation: T 85, describes a rapid procedure used in Figure 1 for a suitable arrangement.
the field for determining the bulk specific gravity of
coarse aggregate in a saturated surface-dry (SSD) 6. A spoon, rod or other suitable device for stirring and
condition. The bulk specific gravity is the value desired removing trapped air from the sample when it is
for calculations in connection with portland cement inundated in the pail. (The hand may be used if
concrete. desired.)
B. APPARATUS C. PREPARATION OF SAMPLE
The apparatus shall consist of the following: Select a representative sample of the coarse aggregate
weighing approximately 8 kg. If the sample is not visibly
1. A balance having a capacity of 20 kg and sensitive wet, immerse it in water at room temperature overnight.
to 1 g.
D. TEST PROCEDURE
2. A galvanized water pail of 11 to 13 L size.
1. Make all weighings to the nearest gram.
3. A suitable container for the immersion of the pail and
sample in water. A 500 mm diameter container 2. Weigh the empty pail and record as tare mass of
600 mm high may be used. pail, (M1).
4. A brass or galvanized rod about 5 mm in diameter 3. Submerge the pail, as shown in Figure 1, and
with open hooks on each end. The rod should exercise care when immersing to see that no air is
preferably be made in two detachable sections; the trapped under the pail. Adjust the water level in the
upper section is attached to the center of the scale container to intersect the straight portion of the lower
pan and becomes part of the tare mass. This upper section of the hook-ended rod. Place a reference
section is of such length that its lower end remains mark at this intersection of the rod with the water
above the surface of the water in the container, and surface or insert an overflow spout through the side
it is in a convenient position for attaching and of the water container at this level. Adjust to this
removing the lower section from which the pail is same water level within 25 mm for all future in
suspended when weighing in water. water weighings. Weigh the pail and rod in water
and record as mass, M2. Remove the pail from the
5. A bench or table to support the balance over the water container and invert it to dry, as it will be used
water container with sufficient clearance to permit
California Test 224
March 2000
later as a container for the sample when weighed in F. SAFETY AND HEALTH
air.
Prior to handling, testing or disposing of any waste
4. Roll the wet sample in a large absorbent cloth until materials, testers are required to read: Part A (Section
all excess water is removed, although the surfaces 5.0), Part B (Sections: 5.0, 6.0 and 10.0) and Part C
of the particles still appear to be damp. The larger (Section 1.0) of Caltrans Laboratory Safety Manual.
fragments or particles may be individually wiped. Users of this method do so at their own risk.
Exercise care to avoid evaporation of absorbed
water during the operation of surface drying. REFERENCE:
AASHTO Designation: T 85
5. Immediately after it has reached a saturated surface-
dry (SSD) condition place the sample in the dry pail End of Text (California Test 224 contains 2 pages)
and weigh in air. Record this mass, M3.
6. Remove the pail and sample from the balance and
add enough water to the pail to completely inundate
the sample. Stir the inundated sample with the
spoon, rod or hand in order to remove any entrapped
air.
7. Add enough water to almost fill the pail and attach
the pail to the balance by means of the hook-ended
rod. Lower and immerse the pail and sample to
within 25 mm of the same level where the pail was
when filled with water only (see Paragraph 3 under
D). Exercise care when immersing to see that no air
is trapped under the pail. Weigh the pail, rod and
sample in water and record as mass, M4.
E. CALCULATIONS
1. The mass of the sample in water, Mw, is equal to the
mass of the pail, rod and sample in water minus the
mass of the pail and rod in water Mw = M4 - M2.
FIGURE 1
The mass of the sample in saturated SSD condition in air,
Ma, is equal to the mass of the SSD sample and dry
pail in air minus the mass is the dry empty pail:
Ma = M3 - M 1
3. Calculate the bulk specific gravity (SSD) from the
following formula:
Bulk Sp. Gr. (SSD) = Ma /(Ma - Mw)
4. Duplicate determinations should check to within
0.02.
