AGGREGATES

CMT- CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS AND TESTING
OVERVIEW OF AGGREGATES
• The term “aggregates” generally refers to
mineral particles which have rock as their
origin unless otherwise specified.
• Aggregate: the inert filler materials, such as
sand or gravel, used in making concrete
• Aggregates make up 60-75% of total volume
of concrete (normal/ordinary concrete) 90% of
asphalt pavements .
• Sand, gravel, boulders, stones or rock that
can be crushed into particles.
• By- product or waste material from industrial
process or mining operation.
Aggregates are the most fundamental civil engineering
materials used in
construction.
Two main purpose:
1. Underlying material in foundations and pavements
2. Ingredient in Portland Concrete and Asphalt Concrete
Aggregate Sources
Natural Aggregate
• Sand and Gravel Mine (Pit):
Aggregates that come from unconsolidated
sand and gravel deposits. Typically deposited
by streams (alluvium) or glaciers.
• Quarry:
Aggregates that come from bedrock deposits.
Bedrock, which is consolidated rock
includes: granite, basalt, quartzite, gabbro,
etc.
Contrived Aggregate
• Recycle:
Products that include crushed concrete,
bituminous, or demolition debris and in some
instances taconite tailings.
METHODS OF
EXTRACTION AND
PROCESSING
•Underwater Sources
1.Dragline Excavation
2.Dredging
•Land Sources
1.Track Drills
2.Blasting Bedrock
3.Crushers and Screens
 Rounded Aggregate
The rounded aggregates are completely shaped by
attrition and available in the form of seashore
gravel. Rounded aggregates result the minimum
Classification of Aggregates
percentage of voids (32 – 33%) hence gives more
Based on Shape workability. They require lesser amount of water-
1. Rounded aggregates cement ratio. They are not considered for high
2. Irregular or partly rounded strength concrete because of poor interlocking
aggregates behavior and weak bond strength.
3. Angular aggregates
4. Flaky aggregates
5. Elongated aggregates
6. Flaky and elongated
aggregates
Irregular Aggregates
The irregular or partly rounded aggregates are
partly shaped by attrition and these are
available in the form of pit sands and gravel.
Irregular aggregates may result 35- 37% of
voids. These will give lesser workability when
compared to rounded aggregates. The bond
strength is slightly higher than rounded
aggregates but not as required for high
strength concrete. Angular Aggregates
The angular aggregates consist well defined edges
formed at the intersection of roughly planar surfaces
and these are obtained by crushing the rocks. Angular
aggregates result maximum percentage of voids (38-
45%) hence gives less workability. They give 10-20%
more compressive strength due to development of
stronger aggregate-mortar bond. So, these are useful in
high strength concrete manufacturing.
Elongated Aggregates Flaky Aggregates
When the length of When the aggregate thickness is
aggregate is larger than the small when compared with width
other two dimensions then and length of that aggregate it is
it is called elongated said to be flaky aggregate. Or in
aggregate or the length of the other, when the least
aggregate is greater than dimension of aggregate is less
180% of its mean than the 60% of its mean
dimension. dimension then it is said to be
flaky aggregate.
Classification of Aggregates Based on Size
Aggregates are available in nature in different sizes. The size of
aggregate used may be related to the mix proportions, type of work etc.
the size distribution of aggregates is called grading of aggregates.
Following are the classification of aggregates based on size:
FINE AGGREGATES AND COARSE AGGREGATES

FINE AGGREGATES
• Sand and/or
crushed stone
• < 5 mm (0.2 in.)
• F.A. content usually
35% to 45% by
mass or volume of
total aggregate
 COARSE AGGREGATES

• Gravel and
crushed stone
• ≥ 5 mm (0.2 in.)
• typically between
9.5 and 37.5 mm
(3/8 and 1½ in.)
Rock and Mineral Constituents in
Aggregates

1. Minerals
2. Igneous rocks
3. Metamorphic rocks
4. Sedimentary rocks
Rock and Mineral Constituents in Aggregates
1. Minerals 2. Igneous rocks 3. Sedimentary rocks
•Silica • Granite • Conglomerate
– Quartz, Opal • Syenite • Sandstone
•Silicates • Diorite • Claystone, siltstone,
– Feldspar, Clay • Gabbro argillite, and shale
•Carbonate • Peridotite • Carbonates
– Calcite, Dolomite • Pegmatite • Chert
•Sulfate • Volcanic glass 4. Metamorphic rocks
– Gypsum, • Felsite • Marble Schist
Anhydrite • Basalt • Amphibolite
•Iron sulfide Metaquartzite
– Pyrite, Marcasite • Hornfels Gneiss
•Iron oxide • Slate Phyllite
– Magnetite, • Serpentinite
Hematite
Aggregate Property Test to be conducted
Strength Crushing Strength Test
ASTM C 39 (AASHTO T 22), ASTM C 78
(AASHTO T 97)
Hardness Abrasion Test ASTM C 131 (AASHTO T 96),
ASTM C 535, ASTM C 779
Impact Value Impact Test ASTM D5874-16
Resistance against Soundness Test ASTM C88-13
weathering
Shape of aggregate Shape Test ASTM C 295, ASTM D 3398
Bitumen Adhesion Bitumen Adhesion Test ASTM D5100 -
95a(2010)e1
Specific Gravity/ Relative Specific Gravity Test ASTM C 127 (AASHTO T
Density 85)—fine aggregate ASTM C 128 (AASHTO T
84)—coarse aggregate
Water Absorption Water Absorption Test ASTM C 70, ASTM C 127
(AASHTO T 85), ASTM C 128 (AASHTO T 84),
ASTM C 566 (AASHTO T 255)
Crushing Strength Test on Aggregates
Aggregate crushing value gives the
Crushing strength of aggregate up to
which it can bear the load without fail.

Abrasion Test on Aggregates

Hardness property of aggregate is
determined by conducting abrasion
test. Los Angeles abrasion testing
machine is used to conduct this test.
Impact Test on Aggregates
Impact value of aggregate
will give aggregate capability
against sudden loads or
forces.

Soundness Test on Aggregates

To determine the weathering
resistance of aggregate soundness
test is conducted. If the resistance
against weathering is good for
aggregate, then it will have high
durability.
Shape test on Aggregates
Shape of aggregate is also
important consideration for the
construction of pavement.
Aggregate should not contain
flaky and elongated particles in it.
If they contain this type of
particles, they will affect the
stability of mix.
Bitumen Adhesion test on Aggregates
Bitumen adhesion test will give the
stripping of bitumen from the aggregate. In
case of bitumen pavement, the bitumen
should be in pure contact with aggregate.
To attain this aggregate should be clean
and dry. To determine the stripping value
of bitumen static immersion test is
conducted on aggregates.
Specific gravity test on Aggregates
Specific gravity of an aggregate is the ratio of
its mass to that of an equal volume of distilled
water at specific temperature. The specific
gravity of aggregate is of two types. Bulk
specific gravity, in which total volume of
aggregates along with their void space is
considered. Apparent specific gravity, in
which the volume of aggregates without
considering void spaces is taken into account.

Bulk specific gravity G = {dry weight of

aggregate/total volume of aggregate}/ density
of water

Apparent specific gravity G= {dry weight of

aggregate/volume of aggregate without
void space}/ density of water
Water absorption test on
Aggregates
This test helps to determine the water
absorption value of aggregate.
Grading of Aggregate
―Grading is the particle-size
distribution of an aggregate as
determined by a sieve analysis
using wire mesh sieves with
square openings.

ASTM C 33
Fine aggregate―7 standard sieves with
openings from 150 μm to 9.5 mm
(No. 100 to 3/8 in.)
Coarse aggregate―13 sieves with
openings from 1.18 mm to 100 mm
(0.046 in. to 4 in.)
 Fine-Aggregate Grading Limits

Sieve size Percent passing by mass

9.5 mm (3/8 in.) 100

4.75 mm (No. 4) 95 to 100

2.36 mm (No. 8) 80 to 100
1.18 mm (No. 16) 50 to 85
600 μm (No. 30) 25 to 60
300 μm (No. 50) 5 to 30 (AASHTO 10 to
30)
150 μm (No. 100) 0 to 10 (AASHTO 2 to 10)
Coarse Aggregate Grading
Size No. 57
25 to 4.75 mm [1 in. to No. 4]

Sieve size Percent passing

by mass
37.5 mm (1½ in.) 100
25.0 mm (1 in.) 95 to 100
12.5 mm (½ in.) 25 to 60
4.75 mm (No. 4) 0 to 10
2.36 mm (No. 8) 0 to 5
Fineness Modulus (FM)
• Obtained by adding the sum of the cumulative
percentages by mass of a sample aggregate retained on
each of a specified series of sieves and dividing the sum
by 100.
• The specified sieves are: 150 μm (No. 100), 300 μm (No.
50), 600 μm (No. 30), 1.18 mm (No. 16), 2.36 mm (No. 8),
4.75 mm (No. 4), 9.5 mm (3/8 in.), 19.0 mm (3/4 in.), 37.5
mm (1½ in.), 75 mm (3 in.), and 150 mm (6 in.).
Sieve Analysis and FM of Sand

0+2+15+35+55+79+97
FM = = 2.83
100
ACTIVITY 1
Solve for the Fineness Modulus of the Sieve Analysis Data
Total Sample: 1380 grams
Sieve Analysis Sieve Size (mm) Retained Weight
(g)
3/8” 9.5 0
No. 4 4.75 23.9
No. 8 2.36 144.3
No. 16 1.18 214.0
No. 30 0.6 400.2
No. 50 0.3 403.3
No. 100 0.15 185.6
No. 200 0.08 1.5
Pan 4.7