DETERMINATION OF ELONGATION INDEX of

Course Aggregate
• Objective:
• To determine the elongation index of the given sample of Coarse
aggregate.

• Apparatus and Materials:

Tray
Trowel
Aggregate sample (Coarse aggregates dry)
Length gauge
Sieves [63, 50, 37.5, 28, 20, 14, 10 & 6.3mm]
Balance [0-10 kg]
LENGTH GAUGE
SPLITTER OR RIFFLE BOX
• The shape of the aggregate is an important property
since it affect the workability of the concrete
• The shape of the aggregate depends on the
characteristic of the parent rock, type of the crusher
used and the reduction ratio
• The elongation index of the aggregate is the
percentage by weight of the particles in it whose
greatest dimension (length) is greater than 1.8 times
of their mean dimension.
• Elongation index are not applicable to the aggregate
of sizes smaller than 6.3mm
• Elongation index should not exceed 15%
Size of Aggregate thickness

Passing through IS Sieve Retained on IS Sieve Thickness gauge Length Gauge in

(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)

63 50 33.9 ---

50 37.5 26.3 81

37.5 28 19.7 58.5

28 20 14.4 44

20 14 10.2 31.5

14 10 7.2 20.2

10 6.3 5.1 14.7

• Preparation sample
• Surface dry samples are used for the test. A minimum number of 200
pieces of any specified fraction is required to do the test.

• Procedure
• The sample is sieved through IS sieve specified in Table of IS:2386
(Part I)-1963.
• A minimum of 200 pieces of each fraction is taken and weighed and
recorded as (W1)g.
• In order to separate elongated materials, each fraction is then
retained individually for thickness on a elongation gauge.
• The total amount of elongated material retained by the thickness
gauge is weighed to an accuracy of 0.1% of the weight of sample and
recorded as (W2)g
Elongation Index = { W2 / (W1) } * 100
W2 = Total Weight aggregates retained
by length gauge.

W1 = Total weight of aggregates chosen

for test sample.
Sl. Trials
Description
No. 1 2 3 4

1 Total Weight of Aggregates retained the slots

(W2)g

2 Total Weight of the sample gauged. ( W1) g

3 Elongation Index (%)

(EI) % = { W2 / (W1) } *100

4 Average (%)