DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING (LABORATORY)

COURSE & SECTION: BSCE - TV191
ROOM: F101

SCORE

EXPERIMENT NO. 5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE
AGGREGATES

GROUP NO. 1
SUBMITTED BY:
1. ARANAS, ERIC T. (LEADER)
2. CADDARAO , ISABEL MICAH A. .
3. MANGCUCANG, RONELLA MAE .
4. MENDIOLA, CHRISTINA D.
5. NATIVIDAD, JAN MICHAEL
6. ROMA, GEORGE S.

DATE PERFORMED: JANUARY 25, 2023

DATE SUBMITTED: JANUARY 30, 2023

CHECKED/APPROVED BY:

ENGR. ROSELITO J. EDUAVE, CE, RMP

INSTRUCTOR
EXPERIMENT 5: SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE AGGREGATES

5.1. Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Experiment

a. Ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data.
b. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.

5.2. Experiment’s intended Learning Outcomes (EILOs)

At the end of this experiment the student shall be able to:
a. Apply appropriate ASTM/AASHTO standard method in specific gravity and
absorption of coarse aggregates.
b. Calculate the bulk and apparent specific gravity as well as the absorption of coarse
aggregates.
c. Differentiate bulk from apparent specific gravity.
d. Interpret how the percentage of absorption affects concrete mix design.

5.3. Objectives of the Experiment

The objective of this experiment is to determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity
and absorption of fine aggregates.

5.4. Principle of the Experiment

Absorption is the increase in the mass of aggregates due to water in the pores of the
material, but not including water adhering to the outside surface of the particles,
expressed as a percentage of the dry mass. The aggregates is considered “dry” when it
has been maintained at a temperature of 110 ± 5℃ for sufficient time to remove all
uncombined water.

Specific Gravity is the ratio of the water (or weight in air) of a unit volume of a
material to the mass of the same volume of water at stated temperatures. Values are
dimensionless.

Apparent Specific Gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of the
imperable portions of aggregates at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal
volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.

Bulk Specific Gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregates
(including the permeable and impermeable voids in the particles, but not including the
voids bewtwwen particles) at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal
volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.
Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
aggregates including the mass of water within the voids filled to the extent achieved by
 submerging in water for apporimately 15 hours (but not including the voids between
particles) at a stated temperature, compared to the weight in air of an equal volume of
gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.

Where:

A = mass (weight) of oven dried sample in air

B = mass (weight) of pycnometer with water
C = mass (weight) of pynometer with specimen & water to calibration mark.

Note: Do not include the mass (weight) of the contained used in the computation

5.5. Materials / Procedure

Balance
Source of Heat (Oven / Stove)
Pycnometer
Container
Mold and Tamper
Scoop / Spatula
Gloves
Labelling Devices

5.6. Procedure
5.7. Preparation of Test Specimen
1. Obtain approximately 1kg of the fine aggregates (preferably fine aggregates used
in the previous experiment, Sieve Analysis of Coarse and Fine Aggregates, using
sample splitter.
2. Dry it in a suitable pan or vessel to constant weight at 110℃. Allow it to cool to a
comfortable handling temperature, cover with water by immersion and permit to
stand for 24 hours.
3. Decant excess water with care to avoid loss of fines, spead the sample on a flat
nonabsorbent surface exposed to a gently moving current of warm air.
4. Stir frequently to get homogeneous drying until achieving the saturated surface dry
condition. Use a cone test for surface moisture.
5. Hold the mold firmly on a smooth nonabsorbent surface with the large diameter
down. Place a portion of partially dried fine aggregates loosely in the mold by
filling it to over following and heaping additional materials above the top of the
mold.
6. Lightly tamp the sand into the mold with 25 light drops of the tamper. Each drop
should start about 5mm above the top surface of the sand. Permit the temple to fall
freely under gravitational attraction of each drop.
7. Adjust the surface, remove loose sand from the base and lift the mold vertically. If
the surface moisture is still present, the sand will retain the molded shape. When
the sand slumps slightly, it indicated that it has reached SSD condition.
5.8. Steps
1. Weigh 500 grams of theSSD sample.
2. Partially fill the pycnometer with water. Immediately put into the pycnometer 500
grams saturated surface dry aggregate.
3. Then filln with additional water to approximately 90% of capacity.
4. Roll; invert the pycometer to eliminate all air bubbles.
5. Adjust its temperature to 23 ± 1.7℃ by putting the pycnometer in a water bath for
an hour.
6. Bring the water level in the pycnometer to its calibrated capacity.
7. Determine the total weight of the pycnometer, specimen and water.
8. Remove the fine aggregates from the pycnometer, dry to constant weight at temp.
110 ± 5℃, cool in air temperature for one hour, and weight.
9. Determine the weight of the pycnometer filled to its capacity with water at 23℃

5.9. Activity Report Experiment No. 5

Course: CE0027L Section: TV191
Group No.:1 Date Performed: Jan 25, 2023
Group Members: Date Submitted: Jan 30, 2023
ARANAS, ERIC T. (Leader) Instructor: Engr. Roselito J. Eduave
CADDARAO, ISABEL MICAH A.
MANGCUCANG, RONELLA MAE P.
MENDIOLA, CHRISTINA D.
NATIVIDAD, JOHN MICHAEL S.
ROMA, GEORGE S.
5.10. Data and Results
Mass of the container = 160g
Mass of the pycnometer with water = 1003.1g
Mass of the Aggregate (SSD) = 500g
Mass of the Aggregate (Saturated) = 1315.3g
Mass of theAggregate (Oven Dried) = 614.0g

5.11. Calculations
5.12. Observations
In this experiment, the students aim to determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity and
absorption of fine aggregate. Absorption is defined as the increase in mass caused by water
content in voids while excluding water from the external surface. The materials that were used
to experiment are balance, oven, pycnometer, container, sand, mold, and tamper. The aggregate
used is fine, specifically sand. The sample is soaked in water for 30 minutes before getting the
weight of sand + water. The water is drained carefully to the sink to avoid spilling them. Using
a tamper, evenly distribute the wet sand until it is crumbly and can be molded into a cone.
However, the cone was only used for testing the sample. When the sand stays in its shape upon
removing the cone, it is then ready for testing. The pycnometer should contain the sand, fill it
with water and take its weight. Applying the principles and using the formulas provided, they
will be able to obtain the specific gravity and absorption of fine aggregate.

5.13. Conclusions
Overall, the experiment's objectives were achieved by the students, who were able to calculate
the bulk, apparent, and absorption specific gravities of fine aggregates. While the water
absorption test determines the fine aggregates' ability to hold water, the specific gravity test of
aggregates is used to gauge the material's strength or quality. These tests' primary objectives
are to examine the material's quality or strength and to find out how much water aggregates
can absorb.

In real life application, The percentage of voids and the solid volume of aggregates are
calculated in Portland Cement Concrete using the specific gravity of the aggregate. The net
water-cement ratio in the concrete mix is determined in large part by the absorption.
Construction of water filtration systems, slope stabilization projects, railway bedding, and
many more uses all depend on understanding the specific gravity of aggregates.

5.14. Documentation

Fig. 1: Measuring the container Fig 2. Getting 1kg of fine aggregates

Fig 3. Sieving 1kg of Fine Aggregates ( 5 minutes)

Fig 4. Measurements of each pan

Fig 5. Measurement of the fine aggregate

 Fig 6. Putting water and leave Fig 7. Result after 24 hours
it for 24 hours

ASTM C128, (1993). Standard Method of Test for Density, Relative Density, Specific gravity
and Absorption of Fine Aggregates. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.

Kourd, A., & Hammad, A. (2010). Building Materials Laboratory Manual. Retrieved July 11,
2016, from http://site.iugaza.edu.ps