EXPERIMENT NO.

4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF AGGREGATES

OBJECTIVES
To determine the specific gravity and absorption of aggregates in accordance
with ASTM C127 and C128.

DISCUSSION OF PRINCIPLES
An aggregate refers to any crushed rock product, plus some naturally
fragmented materials such as river gravel and sand. Coarse aggregates is that
which is larger than about 5 mm, and fine aggregate comprises particles from 5 mm
down to 0.075 mm. Particles finer than 0.075 mm are referred to as filler, binder, or
dust.
The purpose of aggregates testing is to provide a basis for comparison with
satisfactory or failed materials used in the past and also to ensure compliance with
specification.
Aggregate specific gravity test and absorption is a common test used to
calculate the volume the aggregate particles (absolute volume) occupy in concrete in
mixture proportioning.

PROCEDURES
Tick each step if it has been performed
A. Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregates
____1.1 Soak 1000 g of the sample in water for 2 hours. (Or test in the moist
condition that it will be used in concrete.)
____1.2 Spread sample on a flat surface.
____1.3 Pour the excess water and bring the aggregate to a saturated surface dry
condition by using forced air and a heat lamp.

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____1.4 Test for surface moisture of aggregates using the cone test for surface
moisture.
____1.4.1 Fill the cone fully with partially dry aggregate to overflowing
in the cone
____1.4.2 Lightly tamp in the aggregate with 25 drops of the tamper.
____1.4.3 Remove the loose sand from the base.
____1.4.4 Lift the cone.
Note: Saturated surface dry condition is reached when the sample just
slumps on removing the cone.
____1.5 Weigh 500 g of the surface dry aggregates.
____1.6 Partially fill the pycnometer with 100 mL of water.
____1.7 Bring in the sand into the pycnometer.
____1.8 Roll on the pycnometer with aggregates in a flat surface to remove its
bubbles.
____1.9 Place the pycnometer with aggregates in a water bath maintained at 20 C
for about 1 hour.
____1.10 Fill the pycnometer with water to 500 mL.
____1.11 Mark and weigh the pycnometer.
____1.12 Remove sample from pycnometer.
____1.13 Dry to constant weight.
____1.14 Determine the oven dry weight.
Calculations (fine aggregates)
bulk specific gravity ( dry )=

Wo
W 1+W 2+ W 3

bulk specific gravity ( SSD )=

W1
W 1 +W 2W 3

apparent specific gravity ( SSD )=

Wo
W o +W 2W 3
2

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absorption=

W 1W o
Wo

Where:
Wo = weight in air of oven-dry sample
W1 = weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample
W2 = weight of pycnometer filled with water to 500 mL
W3 = weight of pycnometer-water-sample in bottle
B. Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates
____2.1 Pass 5 kg of the sample through a 3/8 sieve, reject portion passing
____2.2 Wash portion retained to remove dust or other coating
____2.3 Soak in water at 20 C for 24 hours (or use in the moist condition that it will
be used in concrete)
Note: The sample you will use in this test have been dried and weighed. You
will be provided with the oven dry weight. Be extremely careful not to lose any of the
sample while determining the specific gravity.
____2.4 Be sure the bucket of water below the scale is filled to overflowing.
____2.5 Check the water temperature. It should be 73.4 +/- 3 F
____2.6 Tare the scale with empty wire basket hanging in water.
____2.7 Remove samples from water
____2.8 Wipe all visible films of water with an absorbent cloth.
Note: Sample is now in surface-dry condition.
____2.9 Weigh surface-dry sample in air.
____2.10 Place the sample in the wire basket.
____2.11 Determine its weight in water.
Note: Shake the container before weighing to ensure that all air has been
removed.
____2.12 Record the weight on your data sheet.

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Calculations (coarse aggregates)

bulk specific gravity ( dry )=

Wo
W 1+W 2W 3

bulk specific gravity ( SSD )=

W1
W 1 +W 2W 3

apparent specific gravity ( SSD )=

absorption=

Wo
W 1+W 2W 3

W 1W o
Wo

Where:
Wo = weight in air of oven-dry sample
W1 = weight in air of saturated surface-dry sample
W2 = weight of flask filled with water to 500 mL
W3 = weight of sample in wire basket in water
APPARATUS
1. Pycnometer or volumetric flask
2. Conical mold, 1-1/2 in. top diameter, 3-1/2 in. bottom diameter, 2-7/8 in
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

height.
Tamping rod, weighing 12 oz. with a flat circular tamping face 1 in. diameter
Wire basket of no. 4 mesh
Water bath
Thermometer
Balance beam and set of weights

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SET UP OF APPARATUS

1 Tamping Rod
2 Volumetric Flask
3 Fine Aggregates

Fig. 4-1 Set up for determining the Specific Volume of Fine Aggregates

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Engineering Materials and Testing Laboratory

Experiment No. 4
Specific Gravity and Absorption of Aggregates
Preliminary Data Sheet
Name: Festin, Daniel Joshua N. Date: May 26, 2015
Section: B3
Group No.: 2
Fine Aggregates
Trial Number
1
Weigh in air of oven-dry sample
wo
939
Weight in air of saturated surface-dry
w1
1184
sample
Weight of pycnometer filled with H2O
w2
835
to 500 mL
Weight of pycnometer-H2O-sample in
w3
1835
bottle
Bulk specific gravity (dry)
5.1033
Bulk specific gravity (SSD)
6.4348
Apparent specific gravity (SSD)
-15.3934
% absorption
26.0916
Coarse Aggregates
Trial Number
1
Weigh in air of oven-dry sample
wo
992
Weight in air of saturated surface-dry
w1
1019
sample
Weight of flask with H2Ofilled to 500
w2
835
mL
Weight of sample in wire basket in
w3
1835
water
Bulk specific gravity (dry)
52.2105
Bulk specific gravity (SSD)
53.1579
Apparent specific gravity (SSD)
-124
% absorption
27.2177
Assisted by:

2
939
1150
835
1835
6.26
7.6667
-15.3934
22.4707
2
994
1031
835
1835
32.0645
33.2581
-171.8333
3.7223

Approved by:

Vergel S. Rodriguez
ME-UTM Engineer

Engr. F. Galera
Instructor

QUESTIONS
6

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1. Define Aggregates.

2. What is a fine aggregates?

3. What is a coarse aggregates?

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4. What are the main functions of aggregates in concrete mixtures?

5. How important is the high absorption quality of the aggregates particularly in

the design of concrete mix?

6. What is purpose of determining the specific gravity of the aggregates used in

the concrete mixtures?

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SAMPLE COMPUTATION (use another sheet of paper; engineering

lettering)

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DISCUSSION (use another sheet of paper; engineering lettering)

10

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CONCLUSION (use another sheet of paper; engineering lettering)

11

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RECOMMENDATION (use another sheet of paper; engineering lettering)

12

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REFERENCES (use another sheet of paper; engineering lettering)

13

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