EXPERIMENT NO.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSOPRTION
OF FINE AGGREGATES
CECMAT1L – CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING (LAB
Laboratory Experiment No. 3
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
OF FINE AGGREGATES
INTRODUCTION
Specific Gravity is the ratio of the mass of a substance relative to the mass of an equal
volume of water at a specified temperature. For aggregates, three kinds of specific gravity can be
computed, bulk specific gravity, apparent specific gravity, and bulk specific gravity SSD.
We know that Aggregates have tiny pores that are permeable or impermeable to water. In
Bulk dry specific gravity, we consider the volume of both permeable and impermeable pores. In
the bulk SSD gravity, we assume that all permeable pores filled with water, and for apparent
specific gravity, it includes only the volume of impermeable pores.
According to AASHTO, Bulk specific gravity is the characteristic generally used for
calculation of the volume occupied by the aggregate in various mixtures containing aggregate,
including Portland cement concrete, bituminous concrete, and other mixtures that are proportioned
or analyzed on an absolute volume basis. Bulk specific gravity is also used in the computation of
voids in aggregate in T 19M/T 19.
On the other hand, apparent specific gravity pertains to the relative density of the solid
material making up the constituent particles not including the pore space within the particles which
is accessible to water.
Bulk specific gravity (SSD) is used if the aggregate is wet, that is, if its absorption has been
satisfied. Conversely, the bulk specific gravity (oven-dry) is used for computations when the
aggregate is dry or assumed to be dry.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the specific gravity and absorption of fine aggregate. The specific gravity
may be expressed as bulk specific gravity, bulk specific gravity SSD (saturated-surface dry), or
apparent specific gravity.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Bulk specific gravity is the characteristic generally used for calculating the volume
occupied by the aggregate in various mixtures, including portland cement concrete, bituminous
concrete, and other mixtures that are proportioned or analyzed on an absolute volume basis.
REFERENCE
ASTM C128—Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
CECMAT1L – CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING (LAB) 11
Laboratory Experiment No. 3
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
OF FINE AGGREGATES
APPARATUS
■ Balance or scale with a capacity of 1 kg or more, sensitive to
0.1 g or less, and accurate within 0.1% of the test load
■ Pycnometer or other suitable container into which the fine
aggregate test sample can be readily introduced. A volumetric
flask of 500 cm3 capacity with a pycnometer top is satisfactory
for a 500-g test sample of most fine aggregates.
■ Mold in the form of a frustum of a cone
■ Tamper having a mass of 340 15g.
TEST SPECIMEN
A sample of about 500 to 600 grams of fine aggregates shall be used. The sample shall be
thoroughly washed on the 10mm test sieve to remove finer particles, e.g. clay, silt and dust
and drained.
TEST PROCEDURE
1. Measure the weight of the pycnometer filled with water to the calibration mark. Record the
weight as B.
2. Obtain approximately 1 kg of the fine aggregate sample.
3. Dry the aggregate sample in a suitable pan to constant weight at temperature of 110 5C
and allow it to cool; then cover it with water, either by immersion or by the addition of at
least 6% moisture to the fine aggregate, and permit it to stand for 24 4 hours.
4. Decant excess water with care to avoid loss of fines, spread the sample on a flat,
nonabsorbent surface exposed to a gently moving current of warm air, and stir frequently
to cause homogeneous drying. If desired, mechanical aids such as tumbling or stirring may
be used to help achieve the saturated surface–dry condition. Continue this operation until
the test specimen approaches a free-flowing condition.
5. Hold the mold firmly on a smooth, nonabsorbent surface with the large diameter down.
Place a portion of the partially dried fine aggregate loosely in the mold by filling it to
overflowing and heaping additional material above the top of the mold by holding it with
the cupped fingers of the hand.
6. Lightly tamp the fine aggregate into the mold with 25 light drops of the tamper. Each drop
should start about 5 mm above the top of surface of the aggregate. Permit the tamper to fall
freely under gravitational attraction on each drop.
7. Remove loose sand from the base and lift the mold vertically. If the surface moisture is still
present, the fine aggregate will retain the molded shape. If this is the case, allow the sand
to dry and repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 until the fine aggregate slumps slightly indicating that it
has reached a surface-dry condition.
8. Weigh 500 10 g of SSD sample and record the weight; record as S.
9. Partially fill the pycnometer with water and immediately introduce into the pycnometer the
SSD aggregate weighed in step 8. Fill the pycnometer with additional water to
CECMAT1L – CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING (LAB) 12
Laboratory Experiment No. 3
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
OF FINE AGGREGATES
approximately 90% of the capacity. Roll, invert, and agitate the pycnometer to eliminate
all air bubbles. Fill the pycnometer with water to its calibrated capacity.
10. Determine the total weight of the pycnometer, specimen, and water, and record it as C.
11. Carefully work all of the sample into a drying pan. Place in a 110 10C oven until it dries
to a constant weight. Record this weight as A.
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
1. Bulk specific gravity = A/(B + S - C)
Where
A = mass of oven-dry sample in air, g.
B = mass of pycnometer filled with water, g.
S = mass of the saturated surface dry specimen, g.
C = mass of pycnometer with specimen and water to the calibration mark, g
2. Bulk Specific gravity (SSD) = S/(B + S - C)
3. Apparent specific gravity = A/(B + A - C)
4. Absorption, % = [(S - A) /A] x100
REPORT
Bulk specific gravity
Bulk specific gravity SSD
Apparent specific gravity
Absorption
DISCUSSION
CO1 1. Discuss how absorption affect the performance of the asphalt concrete.
CO3 2. Having the data about the specific gravity and absorption of the fine aggregates, how
are you going to use this properties in selecting construction materials?
CO5 3. Based on the result of your experiment, determine if the sample passed the standard
requirement.
CECMAT1L – CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING (LAB) 13
