Concrete laboratory CEL508

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF FINE AGGREGATE

Aim: To determine the specific gravity of the fine aggregate.

Apparatus:

1. Balance,

2. Pycnometer

3. Metal tray,

4. Conical mould.

Theory:

Specific gravity of an aggregate is defined as ratio of the mass of a given volume of a sample to the mass
of a equal volume of water at the same temperature. The specific gravity of fine aggregate is generally
required for calculations related to concrete mix designs, for determination of moisture content and for
calculations of volume yield of concrete. The specific gravity also gives information on quality and
properties of aggregates.

Specific gravity also indicates the change in shape and grading of aggregates used in mix design

Procedure:

• Take the empty weight of the pycnometer, let the weight be W1

• Take the sample of fine aggregate for which the specific gravity has to be found out (note: the
sample must be saturated and surface dry i.e. free from surface moisture) and transfer that to
the empty flask and then it is weighed let the weight be W2

• The pycnometer with the sample is filled with water up to a mark (made on the flask) and its
weight is taken .The flask should be completely dry on the outer surface W3

• fill the flask with water to the top cone, Roll the flask in an inclined position to eliminate the air
bubble and replace with water by means of wash bottleW4.

• Calculate the specific gravity of the fine aggregate by using the formula

𝐷𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒

Specific gravity=
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

Observation and calculation

Mass of empty pycnometer W1 ________gm

1
Mass of Pycnometer + 3 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒W2 ________gm

1 2
Mass of pycnometer+ 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒W2 + 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 W3 ________gm
3 3

Mass of pycnometer+ full of water W4_____________ gm

𝑊2−𝑊1
i.e., Specific Gravity=
(𝑊4−𝑊1)−(𝑊3−𝑊2)

Result: The Specific Gravity of given Fine Aggregate is_______

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

BULKING OF FINE AGGREGATES

Aim: To determine the bulking of fine aggregates and to draw curve between water content and
bulking.

Apparatus: Balance, Cylindrical container, graduated cylinder, Beaker, Metal tray, Steel rule and Oven

Theory and scope:

In concrete mix design, the quantity of fine aggregates used in each batch should be related to know the
volume of cement. The difficulty with measurement of fine aggregate by volume is the tendency of sand
to vary s in bulk according to moisture content. The extent of this variation is given by this test.

If sand is measured by volume and no allowance is made for bulking the mix will be richer than
specified because for given mass, moist sand occupies a considerable larger volume than the same mass
of dry sand, as the particles are less closely packed when the sand is moist. If as usual the sand is
measured by loose volume, it is necessary in such a case to increase the measured volume of the sand,
in order that the amount of sand put into concrete may be the amount intended for the nominal mix
used ( based on the dry sand). It will be necessary to increase the volume of sand by the best, but a
correction of the right order can easily be determined and should be applied in order to keep the
concrete uniform.

This experiment is intended to cover the field method of determining the necessary adjustment
for bulking of the aggregate.

Procedure:

 Put sufficient of the oven dry sand loosely into the container until it is about two third full. Level
off the top of sand and weigh the container. Calculate the mass of sand by deducting the mass
of container.

 Push a steel rule vertically down through the sand at the middle to the bottom and measure the
height of the sand. Let it beV1mm3

 Empty the sand out into a clean metal tray without any loss.

 Add 1 percent of water by mass of sand. Mix the sand and water thoroughly by hand ( 1)

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

 Put the wet sand loosely into the container without tamping it.

 Smooth and level the top surface of the moist sand and measure its depth at the middle with
the steel rule. Let it beV2 mm (2)

 Repeat the steps (1) and ( 2) of the above procedure with 1% of water by mass .

Go on increasing the percentage by one till bulking is maximum and a start falling down
ultimately bulking is Zero. i.e. saturated sand occupies the same volume as dry sand

𝑽𝟐−𝑽𝟏
Percentage Bulking= 𝑽𝟏
𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎

Observations and calculations

Mass of sand % of water Initial Volume Final volume % Bulking =

added (V1) 𝑉2−𝑉1
𝑉1
100
( ml) ( V2)

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

Result .

Bulking of fine aggregate = ___________________%

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

SIEVE ANALYSIS: FINENESS MODULES OF FINE AGGREGATE.

Aim: To determine fineness modulus and grain size distribution of the given fine aggregates

Apparatus : I.S. Sieve Set (4.75mm,2.36mm,1.18mm.600mm,300mm,150mm),Sieve Shaker., Balance

Theory:

The sieve analysis is a simple test consisting of sieving a measured quantity of material through
successively smaller sieves. The weight retained on each sieve is expressed as a percentage of the total
sample. The sedimentation principle has been used for finding the grain size distribution of fine soil
fraction: two methods are commonly used.viz, Pipette method and Hydrometer method of distribution
of soil particles. Most of the methods for soil identification and classification are based on certain
physical properties of the aggregate. The commonly used properties for classification are the grain size
distribution. Grain size analysis also known as mechanical analysis .It determines the percentages of
individual grain size present in the sample. The result of the test is of great value in soil classification. In
mechanical stabilization of soil and for designing soil aggregate mixture the result of the gradation tests
are used. Conclusions have also been made between the grain size distribution of soil and the general
soil behaviors as sub grade material and the performance such as susceptibility to frost action. Pumping
of rigid pavements etc. Sand is the fine aggregate used in mortar. Coarse aggregate that is the broken
stone or gravel and the mixed aggregate which is the combination of coarse and fine aggregates are
used in concrete. The coarse aggregate unless mixed with fine aggregates does not produce good quality
concrete for construction works.

Fineness Modulus

Fineness modulus is only a numerical index of finess giving some idea of the mean size of particles in the
entire body of aggregate

Table 1

Type of Aggregate Max size of aggregate in mm Finess Modulus

Min Max

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

Fine aggregate 4.75 2.00 3.5

The object of finding the fineness modulus is to grade the given aggregate for obtaining a Most
economical and workable mix.

Procedure:

1 Take 1Kg of sand in a clean dry plate. from a sample of 10Kg, by quartering & breaking clay
lamps if any

2 Arrange the sieves in order of IS Sieve No: 4.75mm, 2.36mm, 1.18mm, 600micron,
300mm,150micron.Fix them in a Sieve Shaking machine with a pan at the bottom &Cover at the
top.

3 Keep the sand in the top Sieve Carry out the Sieving in the set of Sieves as arranged before for
not less than 10minutes.

4 Find mass retained on each Sieve & tabulate the reading in the observation sheet.

5 The grain size greater than 75 micron is determined by sieving set of sieves of decreasing order.
Sieve opening place one below the other and separating out the different size ranges. Two
methods of sieve analysis are as follows

 Wet sieving applicable to soil and

 Dry sieving applicable only to soil which has negligible proportion of clay
and silt.

Observation:

Weight of fine aggregates for sieving = _____________gms

Formula :∑C = ∑C

100

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Concrete laboratory CEL508

SL Sieve Weight of Weight of % weight % weight Cumulati

.N size sand retained sand of Sand of Sand ve%
O passing retained Passing weight
of Sand
retained
1 4.75mm
2 2.36mm
3 1.18mm
4 600μm
5 425 μm
6 250 μm
7 150 μm
8 75 μm
9 Pan

RESULT: Fineness Modules of fine aggregate (Sand) =

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