CIVE 3623 Engineering Materials
Lab Experiment 07
Specific Gravity and Absorption Characteristics of Aggregates
Ahmadullah Attaie - AA
Chandler Beck - CB
Ace McClellan – AM
Abdul Rahman Hujailan - ARH
Performed on: 10/13/2023
Submitted on: 10/20/2023
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participants in the performing and preparation of this laboratory report and acknowledge
that the grade will be shared equally among all members, unless other allowances have
been made by the instructor. We also certify that no inappropriate assistance was
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Executive Summary:
In this lab exercise, two types of aggregates, river sand and crushed limestone,
are tested for their specific gravity, absorption, and unit weight properties. Aggregates
can absorb water; this can affect their weight. The specific gravity can be calculated
using the saturated surface dry (SSD) weight, air-dry weight, and water displacement.
Unit weight can be determined in loose or compacted conditions. The procedure
involves immersing the aggregate in water, drying to SSD condition, measuring volume,
and calculating specific gravity and absorption. These tests help assess the suitability of
aggregates for construction materials. These properties are essential in civil engineering
and construction as they can affect the performance and characteristics of concrete and
other construction materials.
Purpose:
This exper
Procedure:
In this experiment, the equipment used was:
1.) A hot air gun (hair dryer)
2.) A sand cone and tamper
3.) A small trowel
4.) A 500 ml volumetric flask
5.) A balance accurate to 0.1 g
6.) A pan
7.) An oven set at 110 + 5 ºC (230ºF)
8.) Squeeze bottle filled with water
Steps taken in lab for fine aggregates:
1.) Weigh a dry 500 ml flask.
2.) Obtain a sample of 500 grams of saturated sand.
3.) Dry the sample.
4.) Place the sand into the slump mold and perform the slump test.
5.) Weigh the pycnometer filled to the 1/3rd mark with water.
6.) Once sand reaches SSD condition, introduce 500g of SSD sand into the
pycnometer.
7.) Fill the pycnometer with water, incline, roll, and agitate to remove air bubbles. Adjust
the water temperature to 23 ± 1.7ºC.
8.) Add water to reach the calibrated capacity and dry the pycnometer's exterior.
9.) Weigh the pycnometer with sand and water at the calibration mark.
10.) Remove sand from the pycnometer to a pan and dry at 110 ± 5ºC. Ensure all sand
particles are collected.
11.) Fill the pycnometer to the calibration mark with water and weigh it.
Steps taken in lab for Coarse aggregate:
1.) Remove the test sample from the water, roll it in an absorbent cloth to remove
visible water films.
2.) Weigh the test sample immediately on a balance to determine its weight in air at
the SSD condition.
3.) After weighing in air, place the SSD sample in a wire basket suspended from a
balance hanging in a tank of water.
4.) Remove the container from the water tank and transfer the sample to a pan for
drying in the oven.
5.) Once the sample is dry record the weight.
Results:
Below are the results for
Analysis/Discussion:
According t
Conclusions:
The sc
Appendices:
Fine aggregates:
Table 1: Data (g)
Weight of Flask + 1/3rd Water 388.06
Weight of Flask +1/3rd Water + SSD Sand 654.69
Weight of Flask + SSD Sand + Water to
849.28
Calibration Mark
Weight of Drying Pan 236.5
Weight of Flask + Water to Calibration Mark 671.8
Weight of Pan + Oven-Dried Sand 501.92
Table 2: Calculations (g)
Weight of Oven-Dry Sand 265.42
Weight of SSD Sand 266.63
Gb (unitless) 2.977
Gbssd (unitless) 2.991
0.4559
Percent Absorption
%
Weight of Flask + 1/3rd Water (g) 388.06
Weight of Flask +1/3rd Water + SSD Sand (g) 654.69
Weight of Flask + SSD Sand + Water to
849.28
Calibration Mark (g)
Weight of Drying Pan (g) 236.5
Weight of Flask + Water to Calibration Mark
671.8
(g)
Weight of Pan + Oven-Dried Sand (g) 501.92
Weight of Oven-Dry Sand (g) 265.42
Weight of SSD Sand (g) 266.63
Gb 2.977
Gbssd 2.991
Percent Absorption 0.4559%
Coarse aggregates:
Table 3: Data (g)
Weight of Empty Pan 521.35
Weight of Saturated Surface-Dry Aggregate 2194.89
Weight of Aggregate in Water 1375
Weight of Pan + Oven-Dry Aggregate 2699.25
Table 4: Calculations (g)
Weight of Oven-Dry Sample in Air 2177.9
Weight of SSD Sample in Air 2194.89
Gb (unitless) 2.656
Gbssd (unitless) 2.677
0.7801
Percent Absorption
%
Weight of Empty Pan (g) 521.35
Weight of Sturated Surface-Dry Aggregate (g) 2194.89
Weight of Aggregate in Water (g) 1375
Weight of Pan + Oven-Dry Aggregate (g) 2699.25
Weight of Oven-Dry Sample in Air (g) 2177.9
Weight of SSD Sample in Air (g) 2194.89
Gb 2.656
Gbssd 2.677
Percent Absorption 0.7801%
Unit weight:
Dry-
Unit Weight and Voids Loose
Rodded
Weight of Unit Weight Measure (g) 1488.2 1488.2
Weight of Unit Weight Measure + Aggregate (g) 19550 21050
Volume of Unit Weight Measure (cm3) 11611.8 11611.8
Unit Weight and Voids (g/cm3) 1.555 1.6846
Unit Weight and Voids (pcf) 97.10 105.17
Voids in Aggregate 0.4142 0.3655
End of Report:
Group Member Member Name Contribution (0-100)
1 Ahmadullah Attaie 0
2 Ace McClellan 0
3 Chandler Beck 100
4 Abdul Rahman Hujailan 0
