AGGREGATES SHAPE TEST (FLAKINESS INDEX AND ELONGATION

INDEX)
1.0

INTRODUCTION
The particle shape of aggregates is determined by the percentages

of flaky and elongation particles. Flaky and elongation particles are

considered undesirable as they cause weakness of the pavement.
Rounded aggregates are preferred in cement concrete pavements as the
workability of concrete improves. Regular shapes of particles are desirable
for granular base course due to increased stability desired from better
interlocking.
When the shape of aggregates deviates more from the spherical
shape, as in the case of angular, flaky and elongation aggregate the void
content increase and hence the grain size distribution of the aggregates
has to be suitable altered in order to obtain minimum voids in the dry mix
on the maximum density.
There has long been question as to the effect of shape on the
character and use of aggregates. Water deposited gravels are well
rounded while crushed aggregates are of concerning flat, elongated or
otherwise deleterious material. The assumption being that flat and
elongated particles are detrimental in some way to mixing, compaction,
stability or other characteristics of paving material.
An economic factor must be consider in the sorting of particles
shapes to meet whatever content is ideal could well be expensive. Studies
to control the shape of crusher products cannot be justified unless the
shape of particles is proven of importance. There are long recognized
crushing principles used in or reduction that could make shape control
possible. Types of crusher and reduction factor affect both cost and shape
of product. For some crushes a reduction in the size reduction factor

sharply lower the percentages of both flat and elongated pieces and may
be accompanied by a decrease on production cost.

2.0

OBJECTIVE
To determine the flakiness and elongation indices of the given

aggregate sample.
3.0

FLAKINESS INDEX
Aggregate particles are classified as flaky when they have a

thickness (smallest dimension) of less than 0.6 of their mean sieve size.
The flakiness index of an aggregate sample is found by separating the
flaky particles and expressing their mass as a percentage of the mass of
the sample tested. This test is not applicable to aggregate passing
6.30mm sieve and retained as 63.0 mm sieve.

3.1

APPARATUS

1
Thickness gauge

2
Test sieve balance

3
Aggregates

3.2

PROCEDURE

1. The aggregate sample was sieved to the appropriate sizes. The

weighed of each sized aggregate was synchronized with the
given weight.

2. Each of
fractions

the individual size

retained on the sieve,

other than the 63.0 mm sieve were weighed and stored in

separate trays marked with their sizes.

3. Each fraction from the respective slots in the thickness was

gauged.

4.0

ELONGATION INDEX
Aggregate particles are classified as elongation when they
have a length (greatest dimension) of more than 1.8 of their mean
sieve size. The elongation index is found by separating the
elongation particles and expressing their mess as a percentage of
the mass of sample tested. The test is not applicable to material
passing 6.30 mm sieve or retained on 50 mm sieve.

4.1

APPARATUS

1
Length Gauge

2
Test sieve balance

3
Aggregates

4.2

PROCEDURE
1. The aggregate sample was sieved to the appropriate sizes. The
weighed of each sized aggregate was synchronized with the
given weight.
2. Each of the individual size fractions retained on the sieve, other
than the 63.0 mm sieve were weighed and stored in separate
trays marked with their sizes.

3. Each fraction from the respective slots in the thickness was

gauged.

RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS

i).

FLAKINESS INDEX
Passing
sieve
(mm)

Retained
sieve
(mm)

28

20

20

Sample
(gm)

5000

14

14

2000

10

10

1000

6.3

500

Passing
(gm)

832.5

206.7

92.7

65.7

Retaine
d (gm)

4167.5

Flakiness
Index

832.5
100
5000

1793.3

= 16.65
206.7

100
2000

907.3

= 10.34
92.7

100
1000

434.3

= 9.27
65.7

100
500
= 1.31

TOTAL

8500

1197.6

x1 x 2 x3 .....
100
w1 w2 w3 ......

Flakiness Index

832.5+ 206.7+92.7+65.7
100
5000+2000+1000+500

=14.09%

ii).

ELONGATION INDEX

Passing
sieve
(mm)

Retaine
d sieve
(mm)

Sample
(gm)

Passing
(gm)

Retaine
d (gm)

28

20

5000

1040.1

3959.9

20

14

10

14

2000

10

1000

6.3

500

120.0

940.0

440.2

Flakiness
Index

3959.9
100
5000

1880

= 79.20
1880

100
2000

60.0

= 94.00
60.0

100
1000

59.8

=6
59.8

100
500
= 11.96

TOTAL

8500

5959.7
y1 y 2 y 3 .....
100
w1 w2 w3 ......

Elongation Index

3959.9+1880+ 60.0+59.8
100
5000+2000+ 1000+ 500

=70.11%

5.0 DISCUSSION
The Elongation Index Test is used to determine the quantity of
aggregate particles that are elongated instead of cubicle in shape. While
Flakiness Index Test is the mass of particles in that aggregate expressed
as a percentage of the total mass of that aggregate which will pass the
slot or slots of specified width for the appropriate size fraction. The
particles are classified as flaky or elongated particles according to the
rather arbitrary assumption that are particles is flaky if its flaky is loss
than 0.6 times the sieve size and that a particle is elongated if its long is
greater than 1.8 times the sieve size.
In this experiment, flakiness index was used as independent variables
and other properties such as gradation are kept constant as far as their
properties met the specification required for the asphalt mixture.
According to British Standard Institution (BSI-812, 1975) classifies
aggregate into six classes that are rounded, irregular, angular, flaky and
elongated and elongated. The rounded, irregular and angular for special
purpose are group into the category an equidimensional or cuboidal. The
aggregate are flaky and elongated or equal dimension are determined by
the ratio of the shortest, the largest and average diameter of the particles.
From the experiment, firstly we separate aggregate sample by sieving
into different size fraction, each falling within a narrow size function is
essentially a single-size aggregate. The sieve size range are (28-20)mm,

(20 -14) mm, (14 -10) mm and (10 - 6.3) mm. From the experiment, we
made the calculation and discussed by the all group member. When this
experiment is doing, we make some discussion where an error might be
happen during sieving process is being take place. For examples, the
aggregate may not trough sieve by machine and some of aggregate we
shake manually by hand. Besides, the error do occur when the weighing
the amount of aggregate that we need. The careless attitudes that we
gauge the particles separating by hand. Maybe we pass the particles to
the wrong gauge. It is because we have separate too many particles in the
short time.

6.0 CONCLUSION
The objective of this experiment is to identify the flakiness and
elongation index of the given aggregate samples, from this experiment we
get the value for the flakiness index is 14.09% and for the elongation
index is 70.11%. Based on British standard, we get the sample a not
accepted because the elongation index exceed the limit index.t We get so
much different compare both of the two values. These percentage for
elongation index show that the aggregate are not suitable to use in
parameter design. This will cause the increase of void in the mix. Flaky and
elongated particles may have adverse effects on concrete and bituminous mix. For instance,
flaky and elongated particles tend to lower the workability of concrete mix which may impair
the long-term durability. For bituminous mix, flaky particles are liable to break up and
disintegrate during the pavement rolling process.