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Determination of Bulk Density of Aggregates

This document describes a procedure to determine the bulk density of aggregates according to ASTM C-29/C-29M. Bulk density is important for concrete mix design and indicates the percentage of voids in aggregates, which affects grading and strength. The procedure involves filling a container with aggregates in loose, compacted, and gigged states then calculating bulk density based on weight and volume measurements. The results show bulk density increases from loose to compacted to gigged states due to better particle packing.

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Bashir Ahmad
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77 views

Determination of Bulk Density of Aggregates

This document describes a procedure to determine the bulk density of aggregates according to ASTM C-29/C-29M. Bulk density is important for concrete mix design and indicates the percentage of voids in aggregates, which affects grading and strength. The procedure involves filling a container with aggregates in loose, compacted, and gigged states then calculating bulk density based on weight and volume measurements. The results show bulk density increases from loose to compacted to gigged states due to better particle packing.

Uploaded by

Bashir Ahmad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab 5:

Determination of bulk density of aggregates:


(ASTM C-29/C-29M)
Significance:
 This test method is used to determine the bulk density of the given specimen.
 During the concrete mix design, when the aggregate is to be batched by volume or by
weight, then it becomes necessary to know the mass of the aggregates that will fill the
container of unit volume. If we know the bulk density of the aggregate material then
we can easily determine the mass required to fill a unit volume container.
 Bulk density also indicates the percentage of voids present in the aggregate material.
This percentage of voids affects the grading of the aggregates which is important in
high strength concrete.
 Bulk density also indicates the compactive effort required to compact the concrete.
 More is the density more will be the well graded material

Apparatus:

1. Weighing Balance
2. Temping rod
3. Measuring Cylinders
4. Shovel or Scoop
5. Fine and coarse aggregate

Related theory:

Bulk density:

“It is the mass of the unit volume of bulk aggregate material”.


The term volume includes the volume of the individual particles and the volume of the
voids between the particles.
Bulk density is used in weight and volume batching.
Voids:

“It is the space between the individual particles in a unit volume of the aggregate mass
and is not occupied by the solid mineral matter”.
Voids within the particles, either permeable or impermeable are not included in the
voids for the determination of bulk density by this method.
Absolute density:

“It is the mass per unit volume of the individual particles only”.
Facts about bulk density

Bulk density depends upon how densely the aggregate is packed. It also depends upon
the size, distribution and shape of the particles. If the particles are of the same size, then it can
be packed to a limited extent but when the smaller particles are added, the voids get filled with
them and thus the bulk density increases.
For a coarse aggregate, a higher bulk density means that there are few voids which are
to be filled by the fine aggregate and cement. Thus, bulk density also depends upon the degree
of packing.

Procedure:

 Note down the dimensions and empty weight of the measuring container and compute
its volume.
 For the determination of the loose bulk density, fill the container with the aggregate
material by means of a shovel and level its top surface. Discharge the aggregate from
height not greater than 2 inch.
Weigh the container filled with the aggregate and note down its reading. Then the loose
bulk density of the aggregate material can be computed by using the
relation;

(Weight of container  Loose aggregate)  (Weight of empty container )


Loose Bulk Density ( M loose ) 
Volume of the container

 For the determination of the compacted bulk density, the only difference is in filling
the container. In this case, the container is filled in three equal layers. Fill the container
about one-third full and level the surface with the fingers. Rod the layer of the aggregate
with 25 strokes of the temping rod evenly distributed over the surface. Next fill the
container two-third full and again rod it with 25 strokes of the temping rod. Finally, fill
the container to overflowing and rod again in the manner previously mentioned.
Now level the top surface and weigh the container. Calculate the compacted bulk
density by using the relation;
(Weight of container  Compacted aggregate)  (Weight of empty container )
Compacted Bulk Density ( M comp ) 
Volume of the container

 For the determination of the gigging bulk density, the container is filled in three
equal layers. Give 25 number of jerks on each side to each layer.
Now level the top surface and weigh the container. Calculate the gigging bulk density
by using the relation;
(Weight of container  Gigged aggregate)  (Weight of empty container )
Gigging Bulk Density ( M gigg . ) 
Volume of the container
Observations & Calculations

Description Values fps units Values SI units


Weight of container for coarse aggregate 16.25 lbs 7.37 kg
Volume of container for coarse aggregate 0.5 ft3 0.0142 m3
Weight of container for fine aggregate 5.75 lbs 2.60 kg
Volume of container for fine aggregate 0.1 ft3 0.0028 m3

Sample Weight of State Weight of Volume of Bulk density


cylinder + aggregate container
aggregate
lbs kg lbs kg m3 ft3 kg/m3 lb/ft3
Coarse aggregate loose 61.25 27.8 45 20.4 0.0142 0.5 1441.9 90
Coarse aggregate compact 66.5 30.2 50.25 22.8 0.0142 0.5 1610.2 100.5
Coarse aggregate jigging 68.25 31.0 52 23.6 0.0142 0.5 1666.3 104
Fine aggregate loose 15.25 6.9 9.5 4.3 0.0028 0.1 1522.1 95
Fine aggregate compact 16.25 7.4 10.5 4.8 0.0028 0.1 1682.3 105
Fine aggregate jigging 16.5 7.5 10.75 4.9 0.0028 0.1 1722.3 107.5

Comparison of Densities of Coarse Aggregate


1700

1650
Bulk density kg/m3

1600

1550

1500

1450

1400

1350

1300

loose compacted giggled


Comparison of Densities of Fine Aggregate
1750

1700

Bulk density kg/m3


1650

1600

1550

1500

1450

1400

loose compacted giggled

Comments:
From the experiment performed we came to know that the bulk-density of a material in gigging
form is greater than the bulk-density of a material in loose form and in rodded form.

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