03/03/2025

Aggregate
SAMPLING AND
Sampling,
TESTINGSources,
OF
Properties
AGGREGATESand
Testing

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

(ILOs)

Understand the critical role that aggregates play in concrete and asphalt
mixtures, recognizing their impact on the strength, durability, and
performance of construction materials.
Conduct various material tests on aggregates, including sieve analysis and
specific gravity to assess their quality and suitability for construction
applications.
Make informed decisions in selecting, proportioning, and designing mixtures
for construction projects, taking into account the properties and
characteristics of aggregates to optimize performance and cost-
effectiveness.

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AGGREGATES

• It means a mass of crushed stone, gravel,

sand, etc, predominantly composed of individual
particles, but in some cases including clays and
silts.

GENERAL SIZE OF AGGREGATES

COARSE AGGREGATES

Aggregate particles that are

retained on a 4.75 mmsieve.

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GENERAL SIZE OF AGGREGATES

FINE AGGREGATES

The smallest sieve through which

100%of the aggregates pass.

AGGREGATE SOURCES

Natural sources for aggregates include gravel pits, river

run deposits, and rock quarries.

Generally, gravel comes from pits and river deposits,

whereas crushed stones are the result of processing
rocks from quarries.

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AGGREGATE SOURCES

Manufactured aggregates
can use slag waste from iron
and steel mills and expanded
shale and clays to produce
lightweight aggregates.

USES OF AGGREGATES

Foundations and Ripraps

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USES OF AGGREGATES

Concrete

USES OF AGGREGATES

Asphalt

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Aggregate Sampling

Aggregate Stockpiles

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Stockpile Segregation

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Aggregate Sampling

• Aggregate sampling is the process of taking a sample of

aggregate that is truly representative of the nature and
condition of the aggregate in the stockpile.
• The size of the field sample is large to ensure that it is
truly representative. Special effort must be made to ensure
that the sample is not skewed by the effects of segregation.
• The required size of the field sample and the sampling
procedures are specified in ASTM D75.

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Aggregate Sampling

• Obtaining unbiased field samples from stockpiles is

notoriously difficult, but it can be done with care and
attention to detail.
• A bucket loader makes the process easier and assures a
more representative sample.
• The loader can quickly extract material from a number of
locations and elevations in the pile then combine and mix
the portions in a smaller pile for direct sampling.

Aggregate Sampling

• If you need to sample a stockpile manually, start at the

top and take at least three samples from the top, middle
and bottom of the pile.
• Remove and discard the surface material and collect the
samples from the underlying material with a shovel or
scoop.
• Pushing a board into the uphill side of the sampling
point prevents additional material from falling into
the sampling area.

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Aggregate Sampling

How much do you need?

Field Sample Size for Fine and Coarse Aggregate (from ASTM D75)

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Nominal Aggregate Sizes

1½" ¾" 3/8" 4 8 16 30 50 100 200
100
Nominal Maximum = 3/8″
80
Percent Passing

60
90% of the sample lies between
the 3/8" and No. 16 sieves. The
40 rest is not really representative.

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Nominal Minimum = #16
0
10 1 0.1 0.01
Opening Size (mm)

More Aggregate Terms

Maximum aggregate size

The smallest standard sieve through which 100% of the

material passes.

Nominal maximum aggregate size

The largest sieve that retains some of the aggregate but

generally not more than 10 percent by weight.

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Superpave Definitions

Nominal maximum aggregate size

One standard sieve larger than the first sieve to retain more than
10 percent of the material.

Maximum aggregate size

One standard sieve larger than the nominal maximum size.

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Minimum Sample Size

Sample Size for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregate (from ASTM C136)

300
300

Sample Reduction

• The goal of sample reduction is to reduce the

large field sample to a size that is convenient
for use in laboratory tests in such a way that the
test sample is still representative of the field
sample, and thus of the total aggregate supply.
• For the test sample to be truly representative,
sample reduction must be accomplished with a
minimum of operator interaction.

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Method 1 – Quartering
(on an uneven surface)

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Why Discard Opposite Corners?

A1 A2

A1 + A3  A2 + A4
A4 A3

Method 1 – Quartering
(on a flat, level surface)

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Method 2 – Riffle Splitter

Method 2 – Riffle Splitter

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Aggregate Sampling
Example
A new barge load of aggregate has arrived at
the plant and been deposited in a stockpile by
a conveyor belt. You need a sample on which
to perform a gradation analysis. If the nominal
maximum aggregate size is 1" what size field
sample do you need and how will you reduce
it to the size required by the gradation test?

Aggregate Sampling
Example
Field Sample Size for Fine and Coarse Aggregate (from ASTM D75)

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Aggregate Sampling
Example
Sample Size for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregate (from ASTM C136)

300
300

Aggregate Sampling
Split
Example again
Split
once
Field
sample

12.5 kg
50 kg

25 kg

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

GRADIATION

Gradation is the process undergone by a material that has

series of sequential degrees.
One important characteristic of an aggregate is the
distribution of its size particle.

For example, large aggregates are beneficial in Portland

cement as it requires less binder.

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US STANDARD SIEVE NO.

AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

EXAMPLE: GRADIATION

Calculate the percent passing each sieve.

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METHODS OF DETERMINING %OF

GRAVEL, SAND, SILT AND CLAYS
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(MIT)

Gravel Sand Silt Clay

0.06 mmto 0.002

>2mm 2 to 0.06 mm <0.002 mm
mm

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METHODS OF DETERMINING % OF GRAVEL, SAND, SILT AND CLAYS

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

METHODS OF DETERMINING %OF

GRAVEL, SAND, SILT AND CLAYS
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO)

Gravel Sand Silt Clay

0.075 mmto 0.002

76.2 mmto 2mm 2 to 0.075 mm <0.002 mm
mm

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USDA Soil Textural

Classification
 United States
Department of Agriculture
 Most common soil
textural classification in the
Philippines
 Has 12 major textural classes
 Has been built considering a
silt sand limit of 50 micrometers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

- Soils are named after their

principal components, such as
sandy clay, silty clay, silty loam,
and so on.
- Based on the following limits of
particle size:
• Sand Size: 2.0 to 0.05 mm in
diameter
• Silt Size: 0.05 to 0.002 mm in
diameter
• Clay Size: smaller than 0.002
mm in diameter

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40 % Sand Texture = LOAM

40 % Silt
20 % Clay

#1. PROBLEM

A sample of soil has the following grain-size characteristics

Size (mm) Percent Passing
2.000 100
0.075 74
0.050 60
0.005 32
0.002 15

1. Find the percentage of silt

2. Classify the soil using the triangular classification chart

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Size Percent
(mm) Passing
2.000 100 Silt, clay & sand
0.075 74
0.050 60 Silt & clay
0.005 32
0.002 15 clay

LOAM

Size Percent
(mm) Passing
Silt, clay & sand
2.000 100
0.075 74 Silt & clay
loam
0.050 60
0.005 32
0.002 15 clay

Note: (for USDA classification only)

Passing thru sieve opening of 0.002 mm is considered as clay
Passing thru sieve opening of 0.050 mm is a combination of silt and clay Passing thru sieve
opening of 2.000 mm is a combination of silt, clay and sand

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USDA CLASSIFICATION

EXAMPLE:
Using the USDA Soil Classification, identify the type of soil.
1. 12%Sand, 40% Silt, 48%Clay
2. 20%Sand, 56%Silt, 24%Clay
3. 8%Sand, 20%Gravel, 48%Silt, and 24%Clay.

USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

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USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

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USDA CLASSIFICATION
A sample of inorganic soil has the following grains size characteristics. The liquid
limit index is 20 percent. Classify the soil (USDA method) using the triangular
textural classification chart.
Size (mm) Percent Finer

2.0 100
Compute the percentage of clay.
Compute the percentage of silt. 0.075 70

Classify the type of soil. 0.050 65

0.005 32

0.002 15

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USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

FINENESS MODULUS
It is a measure of the fine aggregates’ gradation and is used
primarily for Portland cement concrete mix design. The fineness
modulus is one-hundredth of the sum of the cumulative
percentage weight retained on the 0.15-, 0.3-, 0.6-, 1.18-, 2.36-,
4.75-,9.5-,19.0-,37.5-,75-,and 150-mmsieves.

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

FINENESS MODULUS

Calculate the fineness modulus of the sieve analysis results.

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

ABSORPTION
Absorption is defined as the moisture content in the SSD
(saturated surface-dry) condition.

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

ABSORPTION

A sample of sand has the following properties:

Moist mass =625.2 g
Dry mass =589.9 g
Absorption =1.6%
Determine (a) total moisture content and
(b) free moisture content.

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

ABSORPTION

50 kg of gravel is mixed with 30 kg of sand. The gravel has a

moisture content of 3.9% and absorption of 4.7%, whereas the
sand has a moisture content of 3.5%and absorption of 4.9%.What
is the amount of water required to increase the moisture contents
of both gravel and sand to reach absorption?

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES

SPECIFIC GRAVITY
The mass of a material divided by the mass of an equal volume of
distilled water, is more commonly used.
Four types of specific gravity are defined based on how voids in
the aggregate particles are considered.
Bulk-dry, bulk-saturated surface–dry, and apparent specific gravity
—are widely accepted and used in Portland cement and asphalt
concrete mix design.

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EXAMPLE:

AGGREGATE PROPERTIES
BULK UNIT WEIGHT AND AGGREGATES IN
CONCRETE

The bulk unit weight of aggregate is needed for the proportioning

of Portland cement concrete mixtures.

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AGGREGATE PROPERTIES
BULK UNIT WEIGHT AND AGGREGATES IN
CONCRETE
Coarse aggregate is placed in a rigid bucket and rodded with a tamping rod
to determine its unit weight. The following data are obtained:
Volume of bucket =0.00944 m3
Weight of empty bucket =8.39 kg
Weight of bucket filled with dry rodded coarse aggregate =25.36 kg
a.Calculate the dry-rodded unit weight
b. If the bulk dry specific gravity of the aggregate is 2.630, calculate the
percent voids in the aggregate.

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AGGREGATE TESTING
• different tests that are conducted on aggregates based
on the requirements of ASTM C-33 Standard
Specifications for Concrete Aggregates.
• It will also explore the significance of each test, as well
as the corresponding ASTM test method, and the impact
the test results have based on the quality of concrete.

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1. Grading or Sieve Analysis (ASTM C-136)

•This test determines the particle size distribution of
fine and coarse aggregates by sieving.
•It provides necessary data for the control of the
production of various aggregates products and for
developing relationships concerning porosity and
packing of aggregates and mixtures containing
aggregates.
•Well-graded aggregates prevent the segregation and
bleeding of fresh concrete. It also reduces its void
content, resulting in a stronger, more durable, and more
economical concrete mix.
•Poorly-graded aggregates can result in bleeding,
leading to the creation of weak and unworkable
concrete mixes.
•Standard Specifications: ASTM C-33 Grading.

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