UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

Department of Civil Engineering

LABORATORY REPORT

NAME : MAPINGURE ALOUIS T

REG NUMBER : R164386N

LEVEL : 3.2

PRACTICAL TITLE : DETERMINATION OF THE

FLAKINESS INDEX

COURSE : CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

LECTURER : ENG S. SHUMBA

LAB TECHNICIAN : MS KUNAKA

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 02 NOVEMBER 2018

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this test procedure is to determine the percentage flaky particles in a sample
of coarse aggregate. The test is not applicable to material less than 6,7mm in size.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The particle shape of aggregates is determined by the percentages of flaky and elongation
particles. Flaky particles are the particles whose least dimension is less than 0.6 times the
mean size dimensions. The Flakiness Index is the percentage by weight of particles in a
sample of course aggregate, whose least dimension (thickness) is less than three-fifths of its
mean dimension[ CITATION Bam05 \l 12297 ]. It is the percentage by weight of flaky particles in
an aggregate sample. The purpose of the flakiness index is to obtain detail of aggregates, to
determine the suitability of the aggregates and to determine the suitability of aggregates for
highway construction[ CITATION Jon10 \l 12297 ]. 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.

Generally, this test is used to determine the particle shape being preferred under specific
conditions. The degree of packing of the particles of one size depend upon their shape Flaky
and elongated particles may have adverse effects on the concrete and bituminous mix. Due to
the high surface area to volume ratio, the flaky and elongated particles tend to lower the
workability of the concrete mix since their shape makes the aggregate very difficult to
compact. For a bituminous mix, flaky particles are liable to break up and disintegrate the
pavement during the rolling process. Flaky and elongated particle are considered undesirable
for base construction as they may cause weakness and possibilities of braking down under
heavy loads[ CITATION Wal03 \l 12297 ].

There are several usual shapes of particles which are rounded (river gravel), flaky (laminated
rock), elongated and angular (crushed rock). Rounded aggregates are preferred in cement
concrete roads (rigid pavements) as the workability of concrete increases due to the less
friction between the surfaces. Angular shaped particles are desirable in granular base coarse
(flexible pavement) due to better interlocking and increased stability. Flaky and elongated
particles are considered as a source of weakness. Flaky and elongated particles are to be
avoided in flexible pavements because they cause weakness and breakdown under heavy
traffic loads. In concrete pavements, flaky aggregates reduce the workability and also the
durability of the pavement. When the shape of aggregates deviates more from the spherical
shape, as in the case of angular, flaky and elongation aggregate, the void content increases
and hence the grain size distribution of the aggregates has to be suitably altered in order to
obtain minimum voids in the dry mix on the maximum dry density[ CITATION Geo12 \l 12297 ].

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. The Flakiness index is
calculated from;

∑ mass of particles passing gauge

Flakiness Index = × 100
∑ Massof 200 particles

APPARATUS

i) A series of BS sieves as follows:

19,0mm; 13,2mm; 9,5mm; 6,7mm1

ii) Coarse aggregate, quarry stones

ii) A balance of approximately 3kg capacity, accurate to 1g.

iii) A balance of approximately 1kg capacity, accurate to 0,1g.

iv) An assortment of pans.

v) A flakiness gauge
PROCEDURE

Preparation of test sample

1. A15kg mass of course aggregate sample was weighed.

2. The sample was sieved on the 6,7mm BS test sieve, and the material passing that
sieve was discarded.
3. The material retained on the 6,7mm sieve was dry sieved through the series of sieves
(37.5 mm; 26.5mm; 19.0mm; 13.2mm; 9.5mm; 6.7mm).
4. The samples of the individual size fractions retained on the various sieves was stored
in separate trays marked with their size.
5. The results were recorded, i.e the masses retained on each sieve were recorded as m1,
m2, m3, m4 and m5.

Test Procedure

1. A representative specimen comprising of 200 particles was selected from each of the
five sizes was selected and the mass of each specimen was determined i.e. m6; m7; m8;
m9; m10.
2. Each individual particle of each specimen was tested on the flakiness gauge and the
mass of the portion of each specimen which passes through the gauge was
determined, i.e. m11; m12; m13; m14; m15.
3. These masses were recorded.

RESULTS

BS test sieve (mm) Mass Retained (g) % Retained

Passing 19,0 2521 51.2

13,2 1489 30.2

9,5 680 13.8

6,7 232 4.70

TOTAL 4931 100
 Graph of % passing vs sieve size
100

80
% passing

60

40

20

0
5
Sieve size

1   2 3 4 5 6
Mass
Percentage
Stone Size (mm) passing Product
Total flaky
through
Mass
Aggregate
(g) Flakiness (% (Columns
Passing Retained on each
gauge (g) Retained) 4x5)
size*
26,5 19,0 2521 666 26.42 22.84 603.43
19,0 13,2 1498 211 14.09 57.10 804.54
13,2 9,5 680 52 7.65 18.23 139.46
9,5 6,7 232 18 7.76 1.83 14.2
TOTAL       99.99 1561.63

CALCULATIONS
 Aggregate size (mm) Flakiness Index
Passing Retained
26,5 19,0 26.42

19,0 13,2 14.09

13,2 9,5 7.65

9,5 6,7 7.76

1561.63
Flakiness Index =
99.99

= 15.61

= 16

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The Flakiness Index 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 with for the
appropriate size fraction.

When the experiment was carried out, there is high probability of some experimental error
during the sieving of the course aggregates as some aggregates remained stuck in between the
sieves and some of the aggregates were lost during sieving as they fell out of the sieve.
Weighing of the aggregates could also be another source of error as the instrument may have
been poorly calibrated.

CONCLUSION
Aggregates are classified as flaky when they have a thickness (smallest dimension) of less
than 0.6 of their mean size. The Flakiness Index for the sample under investigation had a
Flakiness Index of 16%. Therefore the sample tested was flaky. Generally, the maximum
allowable flakiness for a coarse aggregate is 35%[ CITATION Bam05 \l 2057 ].

REFERENCES
Bambang, I., 2005. Workability and Resilient Modulus of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures
Containing Flaky Aggregates Shape. Journal of Eastern Asia Society for Transportation
Studies, Volume Vol 6, pp. 1302-1312.
George, H., 2012. Construction Quality Assurace (Introduction). s.l.:s.n.
Jones, J., 2010. Flakiness Index. Construction Quality Assurance.
Walter, P. H. & Daren, K. D., 2003. Highway Engineering. Seventh ed. s.l.:USA John Wiley
and Son.