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Ateneo de Davao University

School of Engineering and Architecture


Civil Engineering Department

Specific Gravity and Absorption Tests of Fine Aggregates for Use in


the Design of Concrete Mixtures

Rogee Mar E. Dayanan

Cruda, Carl Patrick


Juanitas, Christopher
Lira, Juan Vicente
Martinez, Adrian Raphael
Submitted to:
Engr. Robert Romero, RCE
February 9, 2015

Laboratory Exercise No. 9

Date: February 2, 2014


Schedule: 9:00AM 11:00AM (Monday)
320

Venue: R104
Subject: CE

II. Objective

To determine the bulk and apparent specific gravity, and absorption of fine
aggregates.

III. Equipment and Materials

Weighing scale
Sample
container
Water tank

Metal
tamping
rod
Sieve no. 4
Pycnometer

Conical
Mold

Metal

IV. Procedure
1. Obtain a sample of fine aggregate. Dry at constant weight at
temperature 100C to 110 (212 to 230 ).
2. Allow to cool and place the sample inside a container. Immerse sample
in water for approximately hour.
3. Remove excess water and spread on a flat surface.
4. Place portion of the fine aggregate sample loosely into the mold. Tamp
lightly 25 times and lift the mold vertically. If surface moisture is
present, the fine aggregate will maintain its molded shape. Continue
drying and testing until upon removal of the mold, the aggregate
slumps slightly. This indicates that the saturated surface dry condition
has been reached.
5. Immediately introduce into the pycnometer 362 grams of the fine
aggregate. Fill the pycnometer almost to capacity and eliminate the air
bubbles by agitation. Add water until the bottom of the meniscus is at
the 500-cc line, etched on the pycnometer. Determine the total weight
of the flask, including the sample and the water.
6. Carefully remove the fine aggregate and dry to a constant weight of
100 to 110C (212 to 230F) and cool for at least hour and weigh.

V. Tabulation of Data
FINE AGGREGATES

A. Weight of oven-dry sample in air, WOD

3
5
1
g

2
4
2

12

3
9
1

B. Weight of pycnometer filled with


water, WPW

C. Weight of pycnometer with sample


and water, WPSW

3
6
2
g

2
.
4
3
8
2
.
5
1
4
2
.
6
3
9

Bulk specific gravity (Oven Dry)

Bulk specific gravity (SSD)

Apparent specific gravity

8
9
7
g

SSD Weight

6
7
9
g

g
6
6
4
g
8
2
6
g
2
8
1

68

76

13

A
B+SSD WEIGHT C

g
9
3
1

g
4
1
8

g
2

.
0
2.
3
4
2

.
3
2.
6
1
3

.
2.
0
2
5
1

6
4.
.
1
1
6
Sp. Gr. (SSD) = 2.502

VI. Calculations
Bulk Specific Gravity (Oven Dry)

g
2
.
3
7
0
2
.
5
3
3
2
.
8
3
3
6
.
9
0
5

3
.
Absorption %
1
3
4
Average Values: Bulk Sp. Gr. (Oven) = 2.335 ; Bulk
App. Sp. Gr. = 2.819 ; Absorption = 7.539

g
6
7
8

351
679+ 362897

=
Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD)

2.438

SSD WEIGHT
B+SSD WEIGHT C

Apparent Specific Gravity

362
679+ 362897
2.514

A
BC+ A

351
679897+351
2.639

SSD WEIGHT A
100
A

362351
100
351

Absorption

3.134%

VII. Remarks
All apparatus used should be clean, before, during and after usage.
If the aggregate slumps on the first cone test, it is assumed that the
aggregate has already dried beyond SSD condition. The aggregate can
be restored by thoroughly mixing in a small amount of water and
allowing the aggregate to stand in a covered container for hour. The
drying process can then be resumed.
Agitation procedure should be repeated several times in order to
ensure that any entrapped air is eliminated.
If bubbles prevent the proper filling of the pycnometer, adding few
drops of isopropyl alcohol is recommended to disperse the foam.
Do not hesitate to redo the entire procedure if the results are
questionable.
VIII. Conclusion
Through this experiment, we have determined the values of the
specific gravity and absorption of the fine aggregates. These values

will be then used in the various mix design computations. It is for this
reason that obtaining accurate specific gravities is so important.

IX. Documentation

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