University of Baghdad

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Dept.
Concrete laboratory

Aggregate Tests
Aggregate: is a granular and gradual material. it’s inert which does not
react with concrete and cement components , and it’s types are :

1- Gravel (Coarse aggregate):is the aggregate retained on (4.75 mm)

opening sieve
And it’s types are:
a- Uncrushed gravel: coarse aggregate resulting from the natural
erosion for different types of rocks.
b- Crushed gravel: coarse aggregate produced by crushing hard
rocks or gravel.
c- Partially crushed gravel: coarse aggregate produced from a
mixture of crushed and uncrushed gravel.
2- Sand (Fine aggregate): aggregate passing (4.75mm) opening sieve
and it’s types are:
a- Natural sand : fine aggregate produced from the natural erosion
of different types of rocks.
b- Crushed rock sand or crushed gravel sand : fine aggregate
results from the crush of hard rock or crush of gravel.
c- Partially crushed sand: fine aggregate produced from a mixture
of natural sand ,crushed gravel sand and crushed rock sand.
3- All– In aggregate: aggregate consisting of a mixture of coarse
aggregate and fine aggregate.

Quality requirements according to Iraqi specification limits (45/1984)

1. General: aggregate for concrete shall consist of any types of
coarse aggregate and /or any types of fine aggregate or of all-
in aggregate. Aggregate supplied as a mixture of different sizes
or types shall be proportioned and mixed in such a way and to
ensure a reasonable
consistency.

9
 2. Harmful materials:
a- Organic materials
b- Sulfate and chloride contents. Table (1) shows the Max.
SO3% in fine and coarse aggregate.

Table (1) shows the allowable limits for SO3% in fine and coarse
aggregate.
Structure part Max. SO3%
Coarse Fine Sulfate content in all
aggregate aggregate components
First group:
1. Reinforced concrete in 4.5% from cement
foundation weight if the cement
0.1 0.5
2. Structural parts touch with content in the mix
water 300Kg/m3 or more.
3. Priestess concrete
Second group : 4.5% from cement
1. All types of reinforced weight if the cement
and non-reinforced content in the mix
concrete. 300Kg/m3 or more.
2. Concrete flags and tiles. 5% from cement
3. Priestess concrete cured weight if the cement
0.1 0.75
by steam and not in touch content in the mix
with water. (250 Kg/m3 or more)
or less than 300
Kg/m3.
Third group:
1. Concrete for temporarily
buildings not more than
6% from cement
10 years age.
weight.
2. Concrete blocks
0.1 1.0
3. Cement mortar, cement
mortar used for masonry
units.

The main tests for aggregate are:

1- Grading of aggregate (sieve analysis).

2- Density of aggregate.
3- Specific Gravity of Coarse and fine aggregate.
4- Detecting the SO3 percentage.
5- Flakiness.
6- Elongation.

10
 Test No.1
Grading of Aggregate (sieve analysis) Test
Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.30/1981)
Test method
1. Take sample of aggregate (500gm sand, 5000gm gravel).
2. Put the samples on each its own set of sieves then vibrate them for
(2-3) minutes.

Sand sieves Gravel sieves

10 75
4.75 37.5
2.36 20
1.18 14
0.6 10
0.3 4.75
0.15 2.36

3. take the retained weight on each sieve and make the following
calculations:

𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒

𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑% = ∗ 100
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒

𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 % = ∗ 100
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔% = 100 − 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒%

Or
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡−𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒
𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔% = ∗ 100
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

∑ 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑛 %

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠 (𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) =
100
500 + ∑ 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑛 %
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠 (𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙) =
100

11
 Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.45/1984)
1- Gravel :
A. Single –size aggregate: coarse aggregate nominal size as shown in
Table (2).
B. Graded aggregate: coarse aggregate with graded size as shown in
Table (2).

Table (2) Specification limits for coarse aggregate

Sieve Percentage by mass passing sieve of nominal size
size Graded aggregate Single size
(mm) (5-40) (5-20) (5-14) 40mm 20mm 14mm 10mm
mm mm mm
75 100 ------- ------- 100 ------- ------- -------
37.5 95-100 100 ------- 85-100 100 ------- -------
20 35-70 95-100 100 0-25 85-100 100 -------
14 ------- ------- 90-100 ------- ------- 85-100 100
10 10-40 30-60 50-85 0-5 0-25 0-50 85-100
4.75 0-5 0-10 0-10 ------- 0-5 ------- 0-25
2.36 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 0-5

2- Sand :
Fine aggregate has a graded sieve classified according to the grading
zones as shown in Table (3).the total difference allowed must not be more
than (5%),this includes the underline percentages in Table(3).
Table (3) Specification limits for Fine aggregate
Sieve size Percentage by mass passing sieve
(mm) Zone (1) Zone (2) Zone (3) Zone (4)
10 100 100 100 100
4.75 90-100 90-100 90-100 95-100
2.36 60-95 75-100 85-100 95-100
1.18 30-70 55-90 75-100 90-100
0.6 15-34 35-59 60-79 80-100
0.3 5-20 8-30 12-40 15-50
0.15 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-15

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3- All- in aggregate :
The separation of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate specified
by sieve (4.75mm) .each type should be tested individually, as
shown in Table (4).

Table (4) Specification limits for all-in aggregate

Sieve size Percentage by mass passing sieve
(mm) Nominal size Nominal size Nominal size
(40mm) (20mm) (10mm)
75 100 ------ ------
37.5 95-100 100 ------
20 45-80 95-100 ------
14 ------ ------ 100
10 ------ ------ 95-100
4.75 25-50 35-55 30-65
2.36 ------ ------ 20-50
1.18 ------ ------ 15-40
0.6 8-30 10-35 10-30
0.3 ------ ------ 5-15
0.15 0-8 0-8 0-8

Note:

1. Sieve no.5 (4.75mm) is separate between sand and gravel.

2. To convert (mm=inch*25.4).

Test No.2
Density of Aggregate

Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.31/1981)

 Density: is the mass of material divided by its volume in specific
temperature.
 Apparent density: mass of material divided by its volume which
includes the volume of the impermeable voids only in aggregate.

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  Bulk density: mass of material divided by its volume which
includes the volume of permeable and impermeable voids only

Tools:

1. Tamping rod L=60cm, Φ=3/8".

2. Cylinder capacity=10 liter for gravel, 3 liter for sand

Note:

There are three method to find the bulk density for gravel
(compaction, free fall and shaking), while two methods are used to
find the density for sand (compaction and free fall).
To convert (m3=1000 liter)

Work Method

A) Compaction method:
1. Take the empty weight of cylinder then put the sample (sand or
gravel) in the cylinder with three layers, compact each layer25
beats, then settle the surface with the Tamping rod.
2. Record the filled weight of the cylinder and compute the bulk
density according to the following equation:

𝐾𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ( ) =
𝑚3 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

B) Free fall method:

1. Take the empty weight of cylinder then put the sample (sand or
gravel) in cylinder by pour it from the top of the cylinder (not more
than 50 mm)and let it fall freely, then settle the surface with the
Tamping rod.
2. Record the filled weight of cylinder and compute the bulk density
according to the following equation:

𝐾𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ( 3
)=
𝑚 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

14
 C) Shaking method:
1. Take the empty weight of cylinder then put the sample (gravel) in
the cylinder with three layers each layer shaking 50 times (25 in
each side) then settle the surface with the Tamping rod.
2. Record the filled weight of cylinder and compute the bulk density
according to the following equation:

𝐾𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ( ) =
𝑚3 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟

Note:
Shaking method established only for coarse aggregate because this
method gives the same result for compaction method when it used
for sand because of small particles.

Test No.3
Specific Gravity of Coarse Aggregate

Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.31/1981)

1. Specific gravity: is the weight of a specific volume of aggregate in
air divided by the weight of the same volume of water at specific
temperature.
2. Bulk specific gravity: is the ratio between weights of a specific
volume of aggregate in air to the weight of the same volume of water
without gases at same temperature includes the volume of permeable
and impermeable voids.
3. Apparent specific gravity: is the ratio between weights of specific
volume of aggregate in air to the weight of the same volume of water
without gases at same temperature include the volume of
impermeable voids only.

Water scale: it is a two hand scale, one of them has a suspended

basket of Φ15cm, 25 cm height and 3mm opening to be put inside
a cylinder filled with water and balanced the other hand by
weights.

15
Work Method

1. Neglect the passing aggregate after sieving an aggregate sample on

4.75mm sieve.
2. Dry the coarse aggregate in an oven at (100-110oC) till mass
process and let it cool to room temperature.
3. Immersed it in water for about 24 hours.
4. Raise the aggregate sample from the water and dry it by towel to
obtain saturated surface dry (S.S.D.)
5. Take 2Kg from (S.S.D.) aggregate and put it in suspended basket
and this represented (B).
6. Put the basket in the cylinder inside the Water scale and balance
the other hand with weights.
7. Record the weight of immersed aggregate and this represented (C).
8. Take the aggregate and put it in oven for 24 hours and then record
the dry weight and this represented (A).
A=dry weight of sample.
B=weight of saturated surface dry (S.S.D.).
C=immersed weight of sample.
Calculations:

𝐴
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦(𝑑𝑟𝑦) =
𝐵−𝐶

𝐵
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦(𝑆. 𝑆. 𝐷) =
𝐵−𝐶

𝐴
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝐴−𝐶

𝐵−𝐴
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 % = ∗ 100
𝐴

16
 Test No.4
Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate

Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.31/1981)

Tools:

1. Volumetric flask (500ml).

2. Semi cone mold its upper internal diameter (40+- 3) mm and its
base internal diameter (90+- 3) mm with (75+- 3) mm high and 0.8
mm metal thickness.
3. Compactor (tamping rod) weights around (340 +-15) gm. with a
section diameter of (25+-3) mm.

17
 4. Balance.
5. Air dryer.
6. Oven.

Work method:

1. Dry the sample (sand) 1000 gm in an oven at (100-110oC) till mass

process and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Put the sample in water for 24 hours.
3. Make the S.S.D. test for the sample as follows:
a. Take the sand from water and dry it by air dryer.
b. Put it into the cone and tamp gently with 25 beats.

c. Rise the cone and watch the collapse of sand:

 If the sand keeps the shape the sand is wet (continue

drying).
 If the sand fully collapsed the sand is dry (wet it again).
 If the sand collapse partially the sand is S.S.D.

18
4. Take 1000gm from (S.S.D.) and divided it two parts.
5. Take one part of sand (500gm) and put it in an oven at (100-110oC)
till mass process. The other part (500gm) of S.S.D. sand put it in
the volumetric flask and fill the flask with water to the mark. To
get rid of the air bubbles, role the volumetric flask on the table then
weight it, this weight represented C.
6. Filled the empty flask with water and weighted it and this weight
represented B.
7. Weighted the oven dry sand and this weight represented A.
A=dry weight of sample.
B=weight of flask and water.
C= weight of flask, water and sample.
Calculations

𝐴
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝐵 − (𝐶 − 500)

𝐴
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝐵 − (𝐶 − 𝐴)

500 − 𝐴
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 % = ∗ 100
𝐴

19
 Test No.5
Detecting the SO3 percentage
Tools:

1. Balance, baker, glass funnel.

2. Glass bottle.
3. Distilled water.
4. HCL.
5. BaCl2 base.
6. Electric oven.

Work method:

1. Dilute the HCL (100ml HCL+900ml water).

2. Added 3gm from sample (sand) to 100ml from HCL dilute and boil
it for 5 minutes.
3. Filter it on percolated paper No.1.
4. Prepare BaCl2 base (5gm base+100ml water).
5. Take 10 ml from this base and add it to percolated sample and heat
it for 5 minutes.
6. Percolate the resulted sample on percolate No.42.
7. Put the resulted sample in oven at 1000oC for 20 minutes.
8. Balance the resulted sample (salt) and use the following equation:

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑙 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑙

𝑆𝑂3 % = 𝑥34.3
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒

CaSO4 + BaCL2 → CaCL2 + BaSO4↓

Iraqi standard specification (I.Q.S. No.45/1984)

The I.Q.S. limits the SO3 in sand not exceeding 0.5% and for gravel
not exceeding 0.1%.

Example

Weight of sample and bowel =10 gm.

20
 Weight of empty bowel =8 gm.

University of Baghdad
College of Engineering CONCRETE LABORTARY
Civil Engineering Dept. 2ND CLASS / DATA SHEET
Concrete laboratory

Name: class: group:

Aggregate Test

1. Sieve Analysis
Date of test:
1. Sieve analysis for sand

Weight of sand=
Sieve no. Remaining weight Date and signature
(mm) (gm)
10
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.6
0.3
0.15

2. Sieve analysis for aggregate

Weight of gravel=
Sieve no. Remaining weight Date and signature
(mm) (gm)
50
37.5
20
14
10
4.75
2.36

21
University of Baghdad
College of Engineering CONCRETE LABORTARY
Civil Engineering Dept. 2ND CLASS / DATA SHEET
Concrete laboratory

Name: class: group:

Aggregate Test
2. Density of aggregate
Date of test:
1. Compaction method
Sand
Volume of cylinder=
Weight of empty cylinder for sand=
Weight of fill cylinder for sand=
Gravel
Volume of cylinder=
Weight of empty cylinder for gravel=
Weight of fill cylinder for gravel=
2.Free fall method
Sand
Volume of cylinder=
Weight of empty cylinder for sand=
Weight of fill cylinder for sand=
Gravel
Volume of cylinder=
Weight of empty cylinder for gravel=
Weight of fill cylinder for gravel=
3.Shaking method
Gravel
Volume of cylinder=
Weight of empty cylinder for gravel=
Weight of fill cylinder for gravel=

22
 Date and signature

University of Baghdad
College of Engineering CONCRETE LABORTARY
Civil Engineering Dept. 2ND CLASS / DATA SHEET
Concrete laboratory

Name: class: group:

Aggregate Test

3. Specific gravity of gravel

Date of test:

Dry weight of sample (A)=

Weight of saturated surface dry (S.S.D) (B)=
Weight of immersed weight of sample (C)=

Date and signature

4. Specific gravity of sand

Date of test:

Dry weight of sample (A)=

Weight of flask and water (B)=
Weight of flask, water and sample (C)=

Date and signature

23