Mindanao State University – Main Campus

Civil Engineering Department

CVE171 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Lecture 2
Materials for Making Concrete I:
Aggregates
Engr. Nhour R. Dibangkitun
Instructor
 DEFINITION

Aggregates
are the materials basically used as filler with binding material in
the production of mortar and concrete. They occupy 70-80 per
cent of the volume and have considerable influence on the
properties of the concrete. It is therefore significantly important
to obtain right type and quality of aggregates at site.

They should be clean, hard, strong, durable and graded in size to

achieve utmost economy from the paste.
 Introduction

There are two main uses of aggregates in civil

engineering:
(1) as an underlying material for foundations and
pavements, and
(2) as ingredients in portland cement and asphalt
concretes.
 Classification of Aggregates by Size
(1) Course aggregates: aggregate particles that are
retained on a 4.75 mm sieve (No.4). [A 4.75 mm sieve
has openings equal to 4.75 mm between the sieve wires. A No. 4
sieve has four openings per linear inch. The 4.75 mm sieve is the
metric equivalent to a No. 4 sieve.]

(2) Fine aggregates: aggregate particles that pass a

4.75 mm sieve (No. 4).
Classification of Aggregates by Size
Aggregate
Sources
 Aggregate Sources
Natural sources for aggregates include (1) gravel pits,
(2) river run deposits, and (3) rock quarries.

Generally, gravel comes from pits and river deposits,

whereas crushed stones are the result of processing
rocks from quarries.
Aggregate Stockpiling
 Aggregate Sources
Manufactured aggregates can use slag waste from
iron and steel mills and expanded shale and clays to
produce lightweight aggregates.

Heavyweight concrete, used for radiation shields, can

use steel slag and bearings for the aggregate.

Natural lightweight aggregates include pumice, scoria,

volcanic cinders, tuff, and diatomite.
Geological
Classification
 Geological Classification

All natural aggregates result from the breakdown of

large rock masses.

Geologists classify rocks into three basic types:

igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Are you familiar with the rock cycle?

The Rock
Cycle
 Geological Classification

Igneous rocks are classified based on grain size and

composition. Coarse grains are larger than 2 mm and
fine grains are less than 0.2 mm.

Sedimentary rocks coalesce from deposits of

disintegrated existing rocks or inorganic remains of
marine animals. [Wind, water, glaciers, or direct chemical
precipitation transport and deposit layers of material that become
sedimentary rocks, resulting in a stratified structure.]
 Geological Classification

Metamorphic rocks form from igneous or sedimentary

rocks that are drawn back into the earth’s crust and
exposed to heat and pressure, re-forming the grain
structure. [Metamorphic rocks generally have a crystalline
structure, with grain sizes ranging from fine to coarse.]
 Geological Classification

All three classes of rock are used successfully in civil

engineering applications.

The suitability of aggregates from a given source

must be evaluated by a combination of tests to check
physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, and
must be supplemented by mineralogical examination.
 Evaluation
of Aggregates
 Evaluation of Aggregates
Civil engineers select aggregates for their ability to
meet specific project requirements, rather than their
geologic history.

The physical and chemical properties of the rocks

determine the acceptability of an aggregate source
for a construction project.
 Evaluation of Aggregates
Due to the quantity of aggregates required for a typical
civil engineering application, the cost and availability
of the aggregates are important when selecting an
aggregate source.

Frequently, one of the primary challenges facing the

materials engineer on a project is how to use the
locally available material in the most cost effective
manner.
 Evaluation of Aggregates
Potential aggregate sources are usually evaluated for
(1) quality of the larger pieces, (2) the nature and
amount of fine material, and (3) the gradation of the
aggregate.

Price and availability are universal criteria that apply

to all uses of aggregates. However, the required
aggregate characteristics depend on how they will be
used in the structure.
Aggregate Uses
 Aggregate Uses
Aggregates are used primarily as an

(1) underlying material for foundations and

pavements, and as

(2) ingredients in portland cement and asphalt

concretes.
 Aggregate Uses

Aggregate underlying materials, or base courses, can

(1) add stability to a structure,
(2) provide a drainage layer, and
(3) protect the structure from frost damage.
Constructing aggregate base before placing the hot-mix asphalt or
portland cement concrete layer of a paved road.
 Aggregate Uses
In portland cement concrete, 60-75% of the volume
and 79-85% of the weight are made up of aggregates.
The aggregates act as a filler to reduce the amount
of cement paste needed in the mix. In addition,
aggregates have greater volume stability than the
cement paste. Therefore, maximizing the amount of
aggregate, to a certain extent, improves the quality
and economy of the mix.
 Aggregate Uses
In asphalt concrete, aggregates constitute 75-85% of
the volume and 92%-96% of the mass. The asphalt
cement acts as a binder to hold the aggregates
together, but does not have enough strength to lock the
aggregate particles into position. [As a result, the strength
and stability of asphalt concrete depends mostly on interparticle
friction between the aggregates and, to a limited extent, on the
binder.]
Aggregate
Properties
 1. Aggregate Properties
Aggregates’ properties are defined by the
characteristics of both the individual particles and
the characteristics of the combined material.

These properties can be further described by their

physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics, as
shown in the next table.
 Several individual particle characteristics are important in determining if an
aggregate source is suitable for a particular application. Other characteristics
are measured for designing portland cement and asphalt concrete mixes
(Goetz and Wood, 1960).
 2. Particle Shape and Surface Texture
The shape and surface texture of the individual
aggregate particles determine how the material will
pack into a dense configuration and also determines
the mobility of the stones within a mix.

There are two considerations in the shape of the

material: (1) angularity and (2) flakiness.
 Particle Shape and Surface Texture
Crushing rocks > angular particles with sharp corners
and rough texture.

Weathering > corners of the aggregates break down

subangular particles and smooth texture.

Transported in water > the corners can become

completely rounded.
 Particle Shape and Surface Texture
Generally, angular and rough-textured aggregates produce bulk
materials with higher stability than rounded, smooth-textured
aggregates.

However, the angular aggregates will be more difficult to work

into place than rounded aggregates, since their shapes make it
difficult for them to slide across each other.

Due to the size differences between coarse and fine aggregates,

different test methods are used for their evaluation.
Particle Shape of Coarse Aggregates
Particle Shape of Coarse Aggregates
 Texture of Coarse Aggregates
The roughness of the aggregate surface plays an important role in
the way the aggregate compacts and bonds with the binder
material.

Rough texture > are difficult to compact into a dense

configuration than smooth aggregates. Rough texture generally
improves bonding and increases interparticle friction.

Natural gravel and sand > have a smooth texture.

Crushed aggregates > have a rough texture.
 Texture of Coarse Aggregates
Since the stability of portland cement concrete is mostly
developed by the cementing action of the portland
cement and by the aggregate interlock, it is desirable
to use rounded and smooth aggregate particles to
improve the workability of fresh concrete during
mixing.
 3. Soundness and Durability
The ability of aggregate to withstand weathering is
defined as soundness or durability.

Aggregates used in various civil engineering

applications must be sound and durable, particularly if
the structure is subjected to severe climatic
conditions.
 4. Toughness, Hardness, and Abrasion Resistance

The ability of aggregates to resist the damaging

effect of loads is related to the hardness of the
aggregate particles and is described as the toughness
or abrasion resistance.

The aggregate must resist crushing, degradation,

and disintegration when stockpiled, mixed as either
portland cement or asphalt concrete, placed and
compacted, and exposed to loads.
 5. Absorption
Although aggregates are inert, they can capture water
and asphalt binder in surface voids.

The amount of water the aggregates absorb is

important in the design of portland cement concrete,
since moisture captured in the aggregate voids is not
available to react with the cement or to improve the
workability of the plastic concrete.
 5. Absorption

Absorption is defined as the moisture content in the

SSD condition.
 6. Specific Gravity
The weight–volume characteristics of aggregates are
not an important indicator of aggregate quality, but they
are important for concrete mix design.

Density could be used for these calculations but

specific gravity (Gs) is more commonly used.
 7. Strength and Modulus
The strength of portland cement concrete and asphalt
concrete cannot exceed that of the aggregates.
Aggregate strength is generally important in high-
strength concrete and in the surface course on heavily
traveled pavements.

Tensile Strength - 0.7 MPa to 16 MPa (100 psi to 2300 psi)

Compressive Strength - 35 MPa to 350 MPa (5000 psi to 50,000
psi) (Meininger and Nichols, 1990; Barksdale, 1991).
 8. Gradation
Gradation describes the particle size distribution of
the aggregate. The particle size distribution is an
important attribute of the aggregates.

Large aggregates are economically advantageous in

concrete, as they have less surface area and,
therefore, require less binder.
 Sieve Analysis
(Grain Size Analysis for coarse grained soil)

Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil

sample through a set of sieves that have
progressively smaller openings. The mesh
in each sieve is a square grid. Each sieve is
labelled with a number and a the size of
the grid.

U.S. standard sieve numbers and the sizes

of openings are given in next table.
US Standard Sieve Sizes
Sieve Shaker
 Procedure in Conducting Sieve Analysis
(Grain Size Analysis for coarse-grained soil)
1. Oven-dry the soil and then break all lumps into small particles.
2. The soil then is shaken through a stack of sieves with openings of
decreasing size from top to bottom.
3. Determine the mass of soil retained on each sieve (i.e., M1, M2, · · ·
Mn) and in the pan (i.e., Mp).
4. Determine the total mass of the soil: M1+M2+· · ·+Mi+· · ·+Mn+Mp=σ M
5. Determine the cumulative mass of soil retained above each sieve. For
the ith sieve, it is M1+M2+· · ·+Mi
6. The mass of soil passing the ith sieve is σ M - (M1+M2+· · ·+Mi)
7. The percent of soil passing the ith sieve (or percent finer) is
𝑀𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
%𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑥 100%
σM
 Particle-Size Distribution Curve
A particle-size distribution curve can be used to determine the following
four parameters for a given soil:

1. Effective size (D10): This parameter is the diameter in the particle-

size distribution curve corresponding to 10% finer. The effective size
of a granular soil is a good measure to estimate the hydraulic
conductivity and drainage through soil.
2. Uniformity coefficient (Cu): This parameter is defined as
where D60 diameter corresponding to 60% finer.

3. Coefficient of gradation (Cc):

This parameter is defined as
 Particle-Size Distribution Curve
4. Sorting coefficient (S0):
This parameter is another
measure of uniformity
and is generally
encountered in geologic
works and expressed as

The sorting coefficient is not

frequently used as a
parameter by geotechnical
engineers.
Different types of particle-size distribution curves
Sample Problem 1
Sample Problem 1
Sample Problem 1
Sample Problem 2
Sample Problem 2
Sample Problem 2
 9. Cleanliness and Deleterious Materials
Since aggregates are a natural product, there is the
potential they can be contaminated by clay, shale,
organic matter and other deleterious materials, such as
coal.

A deleterious substance is any material that

adversely affects the quality of portland cement or
asphalt concrete made with the aggregate.
9. Cleanliness and Deleterious Materials
 10. Alkali-Aggregate Reactivity
Some aggregates react with portland cement, harming
the concrete structure. The most common reaction,
particularly in humid and warm climates, is between the
active silica constituents of an aggregate and the
alkalis in cement.

The alkali–silica reaction results in excessive

expansion, cracking, or popouts in concrete.
 11. Affinity for Asphalt
Stripping, or moisture-induced damage, is a
separation of the asphalt film from the aggregate
through the action of water, reducing the durability of
the asphalt concrete and resulting in pavement failure.

Hydrophilic (water-loving) aggregates, such as silicates, have a

greater affinity for water than for asphalt.

Conversely, hydrophobic (water-repelling) aggregates have a

greater affinity for asphalt than for water.
Handling
Aggregate
 Handling Aggregates
Aggregates must be handled and stockpiled in such a
way as to minimize segregation, degradation, and
contamination.

If aggregates roll down the slope of the stockpile, the

different sizes will segregate, with large stones at the
bottom and small ones at the top.
 Sampling Aggregates
Sampling from stockpiles must be performed carefully
to minimize segregation.

Typically, aggregate samples are taken from the top,

middle, and bottom of the stockpile and then combined.
Sampling Aggregates
 SUMMARY
Aggregates are widely used as a base material for foundations and
as an ingredient in portland cement concrete and asphalt concrete.
The suitability of a specific source of aggregates for a particular
application requires testing and evaluation.
The most significant attributes of aggregates include the gradation,
specific gravity, shape and texture, and soundness.
When used in concrete, the compatibility of the aggregate and the
binder must be evaluated.
?
 End of Lecture 2

Thank You!