TECHNICALLY SPEAKING|s Specific Gravity-Everything is Relative learned years ago, specific gravity is a numerical value showing the number times heavier aggregate particles are when compared to an equal volume of water. Generally we discuss the weight of an aggregate sample compared to the volume it displaces in water—or the volume it occupies in Portland Cement Con- crete or Hot Mix Asphalt mixtures. PCC aggregates are batched wet, so they are tested with water absorbed in the particles’ permeable voids (saturated-surface- dry basis, SSD). For HMA, values are needed on a dry basis. Accurate specific gravity values for both fine and coarse aggregates are critical to mixture design and quality control for HMA, PCC and many other aggregate applications. Now the standards writers insist on more scientifically correct terminology. “Specific gravity” is being phased out, and “weight” now becomes “mass” in grams orkilograms. “Density” is the term for mass per unit volume, and “relative density” is the term when comparing aggregate particle density to water density. But determining coarse aggregate values is fairly straightforward. Weigh a ‘coarse aggregate sample both oven dry and SSD and determine the volume of water displaced by the SSD sample. SSD is produced in the laboratory by oven drying, soaking overnight, and then drying the surface water from the coarse ag- sgregate with a towel until the water sheen is just gone. The SSD material is then weighed both in air and immersed in water. The difference in grams is the mass of the displaced water. And since the density of water is 1 gram per milliliter, the difference also isthe volume of the aggregate particles in the sample. The aggre- gate absorption is the mass of absorbed water in the particles (SSD minus dry) expressed as a percent of the dry mass. Fine aggregate's relative density and absorption is more difficult to measure. Substantial differences between technicians and laboratories are common, which affects the technical control for HMA and PCC. In ASTM and AASHTO, a fine aggregate sample is oven dried and then stored in a moist condition overnight to allow water to absorb into particle voids. Next isthe critical operation of drying the sample to just the SSD condition. Most use currents of warm air to gradually dry the fine aggregate until it ust reaches a free-flowing condition, indicating there is ‘no more tension due to surface moisture. ‘The transition to the free-flowing condition is verified by running frequent mini-slump tests. The problem is that SSD angular fine aggregate and those with higher amounts of minus No, 200 often do not shump in the test. Better standard methods are needed. or HMA, inaccuracies in fine aggregate’ relative density values can cause the voids from the Fine Aggregate Angularity test to be inaccurate. That affects fine aggregate acceptance and rejection. It can cause inaccuracies in the calculated Voids in the Mineral Aggregate, thus throwing off the selection of an effective grading ora proper asphalt content. In PCC, inaccuracies in relative density will affect design mixture volume and conerete batch yield. Also, gravimettic air con- tents calculated from concrete unit weight tests could be inaccurate. Users of specific gravity (relative density) should consider variability in the quarry or source, and variability caused by changes in the aggregate production process. Some sources are more variable and should be tested more often. Also, look at the precision estimates given at the end of the test methods. These values come from reference aggregate samples sent to more than 100 laboratories by the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory. In many cases itis unreasonable to-expect values for relative density to be more precise than hundredths (0.01) or for values of percent absorption to be more accurate than tenths (0.1%). Rock Prooucrs | February 2004 worm rockproducts.com ‘byRICHARD C. MEININGER “Substantial differences between technicians and laboratories are common.” RIcHARO MEININGER, PE has been active in develop- ing aggregate standards for decades. He is past vice president of engineering for both the former National /Aggregates Association and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.Copyright 2004 by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright of Access Control & Security Systems Integration is the property of Primedia Business Magazines & Media Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.