Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

EXPERIMENT NO.
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: ELONGATION INDEX TEST
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: To determine the Elongation Index of the given
sample of coarse aggregate.
TEST DESCRIPTION:
In order to calculate the elongation index of the entire sample of
aggregates, first the weight of each fraction of aggregate passing and
retained on the specified set of sieves is noted. Each piece of these are
tried to be passed through specified length of the gauge length with its
longest side and those elongated pieces which do not pass the gauge are
separated and then the elongated index is the total weight of the material
retained on the various length gauges, expressed as a percentage of the
total weight of the sample gauged.
APPARATUS REQUIRED FOR THE TEST:

A balance which is having accuracy in measuring of 0.1% of the

weight of the sample.

Metal Gauge: The metal gauge shall be of the pattern shown in Fig.1
Sieves: IS Sieves of sizes 25 mm, 20 mm, 16 mm, 12.5 mm, 10 mm
and 6.3 mm.

Fig.1: Length gauge sketch

Fig.2:

Length

gauge
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Transportation Engineering Laboratory, IITG

RELEVANT CODES:
ASTM 4791-10: Standard Test Method for Flat Particles, Elongated Particles
or Flat and Elongated Particles in Coarse Aggregate, American Society for
Testing and Materials
IS 2386 (Part I)-1963 Methods of Test for aggregates for Concrete; Particle
size and shape; Bureau of Indian Standards
PROCEDURE:
1. The sample of aggregates to be tested is sieved through a set of sieves and separated
into specified size ranges.
2. Minimum 200 pieces of any fraction to be tested are taken and weighed properly.
3. The aggregates from each of the size range are then individually passed through the
appropriate gauge of the length gauge with the longest side in order to separate the
elongated particles.
4. The gauge length will be 1.8 times the main size of the aggregate.
5. The portion of elongated aggregate having length greater than the specified gauge from
each range is weighed.
6. This weight is then divided by the total weight of sample taken from different size
ranges and the ratio is expressed in percentage which is the required elongation index.

PRECAUTIONS:
Use safety shoes, mask & aprons at the time of test.
Thoroughly clean & dry the gauge before testing.
Special care should be taken that no outer air enters when using the
balance.
All parts of the equipment should always be kept clean.
After the end of the test sieve should be clean by smooth brush.

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