Concrete Technology CIV - 371

DETERMINATION OF UNIT WEIGHT

OF FINE AGGREGATE

1.- OBJECTIVE.-
The purpose of this practice is to determine the relationship that
there is a relationship between the weight of a material and the volume it occupies expressed in g/cm3y
it is used for granular materials, in this case sand, gravel, and crushed stones at the
ambient temperature. There are two values for this relationship, depending on the system that is
employee to arrange the material, the designation that will be given to each of these
cases are: Loose Unit Weight and Compacted Unit Weight.

2.- THEORETICAL FOUNDATION .-

By definition, the unit specific weight is the ratio of
the mass of the aggregate that occupies a unit pattern volume relative to its magnitude,
including the volume of voids inherent in the aggregate, which must occupy part of it
standard unit volume.
In other words, the weight of a unit of volume
it is called 'Unit Weight', the units of 'Unit Weight' are forces over
unit of volume, while the units of density are mass per unit of
volume.

Dry Unit Weight: γd= ρd* g

Peso Unitario Total gamma = rho * g

Saturated Unit Weight: γSaturated= ρSaturated* g

Unit Weight of Water: γw = ρw* g
Submerged Unit Weight: γ´ = γSaturated* γw

Solid mass
Ρd Dry Density
Total Volume

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Total Mass
ρ (Total Density) =
Total Volume
(Gs+ e)
ρSaturatedSaturated Density
(1 + e) * ρw
ρwDensity of water
e = Relationship of voids
GsSpecific gravity
g = Acceleration due to gravity
The unit weight has the same definition as that of
unit weight, that is, the relationship between the weight and the volume of a given sample, the
the fundamental difference lies in that the volume used in this definition is the volume
apparent, that is to say, the one that includes the intergranular voids, where the weight is maintained
constant. This value represents a constant for each material, which is used to transform
pounds to volumes or vice versa, mainly its use is in the dosing of concrete.
It is necessary to keep in mind the definition of the two types.
Unitarians that exist, below their definitions.
Unit price Loose.
This value will be used unchangingly for the conversion of weight to
volume, that is, to know the consumption of aggregate per cubic meter of concrete.
Compacted Unit Weight.
This value will be used to understand the volume of
stacked materials that are subject to arrangements or settlements caused by the
transit over them or by the action of time is also of great importance for the calculation
of the percentage of voids in a material.
Material.
One of the most important materials used is the cylindrical container, its
dimensions will depend on the maximum size of the aggregates, this container must have handles
preferably, do not have perfectly smooth and rigid walls and backgrounds to maintain its
shape despite the blows it receives.
For aggregates whose particles have a maximum diameter of ½" or smaller, it will be used
a mold of 1/10 cubic feet.

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When the particles are between ½" and 1 ½", a ½" mold will be used.
cubic foot. If they have a maximum diameter greater than 1 ½”, a 1 cubic foot mold will be used.

Maximum size Measurement capacity

of the gravel Pie3 Liter

< = ½” 1/10´ 2.83

½" – 1 ½" ½´ 14.16
1 ½” one 28.32

Equipment calibration.
The mold used must be properly calibrated, for which it
You can use two methods, one of which consists of filling the mold with measurements of a
graduated cylinder to determine its capacity or volume, which is merely the
sum of the partial measurements of the probe.
Because the volume of the container is too large, it is used
another method, which consists of obtaining the weight of the container, the weight of the container filled with water

the total, through simple difference the weight of the water contained in the
container, which is divided by the unit weight of water at that temperature and the result is obtained
volume in a simpler and faster way.
Another verification can be carried out by obtaining the
mold dimensions and obtaining its capacity using the volume of a cylinder.

3.- REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.

The materials used in this practice are detailed in
continuation.
20 Kg capacity scale.
A quartering tool for fine and coarse samples.
A rod of 5/8" or 15.9 mm in diameter, and
approximately 60 cm long, having one of its
sides in a semicircular shape or in the shape of a bullet tip.

A game of cylindrical containers, one for the addition

fine and the other for the thick, of different dimensions and

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capacities, the size of the cylindrical mold that must be used

it depends on the maximum particle size.
Plates and cleaning equipment

4.- PROCEDURE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE .-

- The sample to be used in this test does not require a

special treatment, it should only be kept at ambient humidity and for no reason
it must be dried in the oven.
- The procedure to follow will depend on the test to be performed.
whether loose or compacted unit weight.
- In both cases, calibration must first be carried out.
mold with which one works, precisely
Loose unit weight.
The mold must be filled to overflowing by means of
of a spade or spoon, care should be taken to avoid the
segregation of particle size.
The material must be poured from a height.
approximately ten cm. it should be allowed for the particles to take their
position without forcing them.

The surface of the sample is leveled with a ruler,

so that the protrusions of the larger particles compensate for the
gaps, whether in the case of sand or gravel. In the
In the case of the fine ones, the rod can also be used as a leveling tool.
The mold plus the sample will be weighed.
These are repeated three times, in order to obtain the
mean and the deviation of these data.
Compacted unit weight.
The mold is filled to one third of its capacity.
leveling the aggregate with the hands, through the rod it
Evenly apply using 25 impacts, do not hit.
the bottom of the mold.

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The previous procedure is repeated until all three layers are completed.
fill the container, the surface particles must be leveled
with a ruler, using the edge of the mold as a guide.
The aggregates must be unloaded from a height no greater than
ten cm. above the top and at the center of the mold, both for the
loose weight for compacting thereby avoiding it
segregation of particles.
If it is about obtaining the unit weight of the total sample of
aggregates, it will continue the same procedure indicated
previously, but it must be determined through a curve of
compaction, the proportion of each aggregate that produces the
maximum unit weight of the mixture.
5.- GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION.-

6. - CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS.-

The calculations are carried out separately, for the
fine aggregate.

FINE AGGREGATE.

Loose unit weight:

Net weight loose (g)

Loose unit price =
Volume of the container (cm3)

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4821
Pus1= => Pus11.60700 g / cm3
3000
4867
Pus2= => Pus21.62233 g / cm3
3000
4862
Pus3= => Pus31.62067 g / cm3
3000
4844
Pus4= => Pus41.61467 g / cm3
3000
4843
Pus5= => Pus51.61433 g / cm3
3000

Pus1+ Pus2Pus3Pus4Pus5
PusTotal =
5

1.607 1.62233  1.62067 1.61467  1.61433

PusTotal =
5

8.079
PusTotal =
5

PusTotal1.6158 g / cm3

Compacted unit weight:

Net compacted weight (g)

Compacted unit weight =
Volume of the container ( cm3)

5236
Puc1= => Puc11.74533 g / cm3
3000
5202
Puc2= => Puc21.73400 g / cm3
3000
5261
Puc3= => Puc31.75367 g / cm3
3000
5226
Puc4= => Puc41.74200 g/cm3
3000
5276
Puc5= => Puc51.75867 g / cm3
3000

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Puc1+ Puc2+ Puc3+ Puc4+ Puc5

PucTotal =
5

1.74533 1.73400 1.75367 1.74200 1.75867

PucTotal =
5

8.73367
PucTotal =
5

PucTotal1.74673 g / cm3

7.- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

or the conclusions we reached at the end of the practice

The following are:
It can be mentioned that unit weight is a physical property of great importance in
the dosage of the aggregates within the concrete.
One of the difficulties initially encountered was related to the balance,
Well, the coarse aggregate tests are very heavy and the scale required weights.
additional.
For perfect leveling of the material in the mold, it is recommended to fill it.
leaving about five cm above it.
To avoid errors in weight readings, it is recommended to carry out all weighings.
on a single scale.
The bulk density is greater than the loose density, since in the
first enter a larger amount of material into the mold, due to the process of
compacted, which increases the weight and consequently the unit weight.
It should be avoided as much as possible to shake the mold or hit it at the moment of making the.
determination of the loose unit weight, as this causes a rearrangement of the
particles inside it and the spaces are reduced and greater weight enters.
It is always advisable to conduct several trials to be able to determine more accurately
precision and accuracy of the results, and establish from these an average value, which as it
and in our case it is practically acceptable.

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The fundamental difference between simple specific weight and unit weight is referred to
to the volume that is used in their tests, for the first, its determination is made
during the test, while the unit weight requires established volumes or
standardized.
The granulation and shape of the aggregates decisively influence the weight.
loose unit, then, with larger particles, the space will be occupied faster and
more empty spaces will remain and therefore the weight will be less, the smaller particles will weigh more

and they will fit better. The same happens if the aggregate is spherical, elongated or
crushed, its arrangement will depend on those conditions.
It can be mentioned that unit weight is a physical property of great importance in
the dosing of the aggregates within the concrete.
It can be mentioned that for the determination of the mold volume it was carried out
using the 1000 ml graduated cylinder, and it can be said that the cylinders are good
graduates, or they show very little variation which is almost zero therefore it does not tone in

count for the calculations.

One of the difficulties encountered initially was related to the balance,
Well, the tests for coarse aggregate are very heavy, and the scale needed to have weights.
additional, that is why the sample weighing was done in parts
For the perfect leveling of the material in the mold, it is recommended to fill it.
leaving about five centimeters above it.
To avoid errors in weight readings, it is recommended to carry out all weighings.
on a single scale, this is due to the calibration that different scales have.
The compacted unit weight is greater than the loose unit weight, since in the
first enter a larger amount of material into the mold, due to the process of
compacted with this, it is achieved that it has a lower amount of voids and consequently
greater amount of material (gravel or sand), which increases the weight and therefore
consequently the unit weight.
It should be avoided as much as possible to shake the mold or hit it at the moment of performing the
determination of the loose unit weight, as this causes a rearrangement of the
particles inside and the spaces are reduced and greater weight enters.
It is always advisable to conduct several trials to be able to determine more precisely
precision and accuracy of the results, and establish an average value from them and its

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deviation with respect to the same, which as we see in our case is practically
acceptable.
The fundamental difference between simple specific weight and unit weight is referred to
the volume used in their tests, for the first one its determination is made
during the trial, while the unit weight requires established volumes or
standardized.
The particle size and shape of the aggregates decisively influence the weight
loose unit, then, the larger the particles, the faster the space will be occupied and
more empties will remain and therefore the weight will be less, the smaller particles will weigh more

and they will fit better. The same happens if the aggregate is spherical, elongated, or
crushed, its arrangement will depend on those conditions.
At the end of the calculations of this practice, it was noticeable that the results obtained were
within the known parameters; A minimum compacted weight of 70lb/foot3
(1137kg/m31.137g/cm3) for dimensions less than 2 inches.
Finally, we want to emphasize that there is a big difference between unit weight and weight.
specifically, specific weight is the relationship according to its weight, whereas unit weight is
the relationship according to its volume.

Group: 8 of Civil Engineering