MINERAL AGGREGATES

In the form of sand, gravel, crushed stone, crushed slag, pumice and
manufactured products.

60 – 80 = aggregates
15 – 20 = cement
13 – 15 = water

Classifications
1. Natural Aggregates
2. Manufactured aggregates

1. Natural Aggregates = are taken from natural deposits without change in their
nature during production with the exception of crushing, sizing, grading or
washing.

= gravel, crushed stone, sand, pumice, shells, iron ore or lime rock.

2. Manufactured Aggregate = include blast furnace slug shale and light weight
aggregates.

Two Types
1. Coarse Aggregates = defined as aggregates predominantly retained on #4
(4.75mm) sieve or that portion of an aggregate retained on the #4 sieve.

2. Fine Aggregates = defined as aggregates passing a 3/8 inch (9.5mm) sieve and
almost entirely passing a # 4 sieve and predominantly retained on the #200
(75μm) or that portion of an aggregate passing the #4 sieve and retained on the
#200 sieve.

These definitions are for concrete aggregates; for bituminous concrete mixtures the
dividing line is #8 (9.5mm or the #10 (11.8mm) sieve

Classification of Rocks
1. Igneous Rocks = were at one time intensely heated and in a liquid condition
known as magma, granite, dionite, gabbio, basalt, and trap rock

Granite = coarse grained and light in color

Basalt = fine grained and dark

  Sand and gravels are igneous origin, if the material has not weathered
excessively, make good aggregate.
 Volcanic scions and pumice are used in some areas for lightweight aggregates.

2. Sedimentary Rocks = are secondary in their origin; the materials comprising them
are the result of weathering of some previously existing rocks. Some
sedimentary rocks are the results of mechanical transportation of sediments by
streams in a body of water where the sediments are deposited in layers. Others
consist of materials dissolved by water circulating through rocks, carried to the
lakes, or seas where they are deposited by a chemical process. The sediments
are cemented together by silica, iron oxide or calcium carbonates.
= Common sedimentary rocks are conglomerates and contain
coarse pebbles, sandstone, shale, limestone and dolomite.
= Sedimentary rocks range from poor to excellent as a source of
aggregate. Hard and dense sandstone and limestones are good; shales are
usually laminated and of poor quality; conglomerates are poor; dolomite of hard
and dense is good.

3. Metamorphic Rocks = are rocks that have been metamorphosed, or changed, as a

result of tremendous pressure, heat and chemical activity.
= types – gneiss, schist, slate, quartzite and marble.
= their value as aggregates varies from poor to excellent
depending on their hardness, density and freedom from laminations.

Sources of Aggregates
 Origin
A. From solid bed rocks
B. From deposits of sand and gravel

Processing of Aggregates
1. Excavation and quarrying
2. Transportation
3. Washing
4. Crushing
5. Sizing

Excavation = removal of overburden (soil), blasting

Deleterious Materials
- Organic Materials
- Clay and silt

Transportation = plant to trucks, rail or conveyors.

Washing = to remove deleterious materials

Deleterious materials = materials that may prove harmful to the final product for which
the aggregate is to be used. Includes clay, mud, leaves, etc.

Crushing = to reduce the size of the stones or gravel to a desired sizes (gradation)

Jaw Crusher = consist of a fixed jaw and reciprocating jaw

Sizing = Vibratory sieves used for coarse materials

= Hydraulic classification devices for fine materials

Aggregate Properties

Aggregate properties are defined by the characteristics of both the individual

particles, and the characteristics of the combined materials.

 Physical Properties
o Particle shape and surface texture
o Particle size
o Soundness and durability
o Absorption (pore structure)
o Specific gravity
o Unit Weight, void
o Cleanliness
o Volumetric stability

 Chemical Properties
o Solubility
o Surface charge
o Asphalt affinity
o Reactivity to Chemicals
o Coatings
o Volume stability (chemicals)

 Mechanical Properties
o Compressive strength
o Toughness (impact resistance)
o Abrasion resistance
o Polishability
Particle Shape and Surface Texture
The shape of the individual aggregate particles, determines how the material will
pack into a dense configuration and also determines the mobility of the stones which a
mix (bonding and workability)

Two consideration in shape of Material

a. Angularity = angular, subangular or rounded.
b. Flakiness = flaky, elongated or flaky and elongated.

Mixing of Concrete
 Workability
 Water content
 Shape and texture of aggregate

Strength of Concrete Mix

 Water cement ratio
 Density

Surface Texture = rough & smooth

The roughness of the aggregate surface plays an important role in the way the
aggregate compacts and bonds with the binder material. Rough textured aggregates are
more difficult to compact into a dense configuration than smooth aggregates. Rough
texture generally improves bonding and increases interparticle friction. In general,
natural gravel and sand have a smooth texture, whereas crushed aggregates have rough
texture.

Sound 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.

The soundness test [ASTM C88] simulates weathering by soaking the aggregates
in either a sodium sulfate or a magnesium sulfate solution.

Toughness, Hardness & Abrasion Resistance

Assignment

Specific Gravity and Absorption

Absorption = is the property of aggregate particles to absorb water into their pores.
= although aggregates are inert, they can capture water and asphalt binder in
surface voids. The amount of water the aggregate absorbs is important in the design of
Portland cement concrete since moisture captured in the aggregate voids is not available
to improve the workability of the plastic concrete and to react with the cement. There is
no specific level of aggregate absorption that is desirable for aggregate used in Portland
cement concrete, but aggregates absorption must be evaluated to determine the
appropriate amount of water to mix into the concrete.
Absorption is also importance for asphalt concrete since absorbed asphalt is not
available to act as binder. Thus, highly absorptive aggregates require greater amounts of
asphalt binder, making the mix less economical. On the other hand, some asphalt
absorption is desired to promote bonding between the asphalt and the aggregate.
Normally, absorption for sand should not exceed 1.5% and for coarse aggregate,
not over 1%. High absorption indicates porous aggregate of low specific gravity, possibly
leading to concrete poor durability with scaling or pop outs and with a probable high
shrinkage rate.

Moisture Content
One of the four condition can exist.

1. Oven dry (Bone Dry) = means the aggregate

No moisture contains no moist at all. This requires drying the
aggregate in an oven to constant mass.

Less than absorption

2. Air Dry = containing less moisture than the
aggregate capable of absorbing.

3. Saturated Surface Dry (SSD) = containing only

Equal to absorption
absorbed moisture

4. Moist or Wet = containing free moisture on

Greater than
absorption
the surface in addition to absorbed moisture.

Sand = nearly always in condition 4 when it is batched

Coarse aggregate = under condition 2 & 4 rarely 1 and never in 3

Specific Gravity (S.G.) = the ratio of the weight of the material to the weight of water is
called the specific gravity. An average specific gravity for sand and gravel is 2.65 (means
the material is 2.65 times as heavy as water, water weight approximately 1000 kg/m 3,
thus the average density of aggregate is 2650 kg/m3.
= the higher the specific gravity, the heavier the concrete. Low
specific gravity (below 2.5) indicates a possible porous, soft or highly absorptive
aggregate of potentially doubtful quality.
 = Use of aggregate of low specific gravity in concrete sometimes
results in low strength, pop-outs, scaling and poor durability.

Four Types of Specific Gravity

1. Bulk Dry Specific Gravity = the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
aggregates (including permeable and impermeable voids in the particles but not
including the voids between particles) at a stated temperature to the weight in
air of an equal volume of gas – free distilled water at a stated temperature.

dry weig h t
Bulk Dry Specific Gravity=
γ water ( total particle volume )

Ws
Bulk Dry Specific Gravity=
γ w ( V S +V L +V P )

A
Bulk Dry Specific Gravity= ( coarse aggregate )
B−C

A
Bulk Dry Specific Gravity= ( fine aggregate )
B+ S−C

2. Bulk Specific Gravity (SSD) = the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
aggregate, including the weight of water within the voids filled to the extent
achieved by submerging in water for approximately 24hours ( but not including
the voids between particles) at a stated temperature, compared to the weight in
air of an equal volume of gas – free distilled water at a stated temperature.

SSD weig h t
Bulk Specific Gravity( SSD)=
γ water ( total particle volume )

W S +W P
SSD=
γ w ( V S +V L +V P )

B
SSD= ( coarse aggregate )
B−C

S
SSD= ( fine aggregate )
B+ S−C

3. Apparent Specific Gravity (ASG) = the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of
the impermeable portion of aggregate at a stated temperature to the weight in
air of an equal volume of gas free distilled water at a stated temperature
 dry weig h t
Apparent Specific Gravity( ASG)=
γ water ( volume not accessible¿ water )

WS
ASG=
γ w ( V S +V L )

A
ASG= ( coarse aggregate )
A−C

A
ASG= ( fine aggregate )
B+ A−C

Where:
W S=weig h t of solids
V S =volume of solids
V L=volume of water impermeable voids
V P=volume of water permeable voids
W P=weig h t of water ∈t h e permeable voids w h en t h e aggregates i s∈t h e SSD condition .
γ w =unit weig h t of water

From laboratory experiment

Coarse Aggregate
A=dry weight ( oven ) ∈air
B=SSD weight∈ air
C=submerged weight

Fine Aggregate
A=dry weight
B=weight of the pycnometer filled with water
C=weight of the pycnometer filled with aggregate∧water
S=saturated surface dry weight of the sample

B− A
Absorption %= ( 100 ) coarse aggregate
A

S−A
Absorption %= ( 100 ) fine aggregate
A

dry weig h t
4. Effective Specific Gravity=
γ water ( volume not accessible¿asp h alt )

WS
Effective Specific Gravity=
γ w ( V S +V C )
V C =volume of voids not filled wit h asp h alt cement

Significance and Use

Bulk specific gravity is the characteristics generally used for calculations of the
volume occupied by the aggregate in various mixtures containing aggregate, including
Portland cement, bituminous concrete and other mixture that are proportioned or
analyzed on an absolute volume basis. Bulk specific gravity is also used in the
computation of voids in aggregates.
Bulk specific gravity (SSD) is used if aggregate is wet, that is, if its absorption is
satisfied. Conversely, the bulk specific gravity (oven dry) is used for computations when
the aggregate is dry or assumed to be dry.

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.

Properties of Aggregates

 Toughness, Hardness and Abrasion Resistance

The ability of the aggregate to resist the damaging effect of loads is related to
hardness of the aggregate particles and defined as 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.
The Los Angeles Abrasion Test (ASTM C131, C535) evaluates the aggregates
toughness and abrasion resistance. In this test, aggregates blended to a fixed size
distribution are placed in a large steel drum with standard – sized steel balls that act as
an abrasive charge. The drum is rotated, typically for 500 revolutions. The material is
recovered from the machine and passed through a sieve that retained all the original
material. The percentage weight loss is the abrasion number.

 Strength and Modulus

The strength of Portland cement and asphalt concrete cannot exceed that
of the aggregate. The tensile strength of aggregate ranges from 0.7MPa to 16MPa (100
– 2300psi) while the compressive strength ranges from 35MPa to 350MPa (5000 to
50,000 psi)
Modulus of Elasticity (Resilient Modulus)
Resilient Modulus test (AASHTO T292) for pavements

 Reactivity
An aggregate that is chemically inert does not react with the cement and is not
affected chemically by other influences in or on the concrete. A petrographic analysis or
ASTM standard C227, mortar bar expansion test, identifies rock types so as to discover
not only potentially reactive aggregates but also coatings, lightweight particles, unstable
materials, etc.
Certain constituents of some aggregates react with alkalis in cement, causing
internal expansion of the concrete, resulting in cracking and disintegration. The use of
low alkali cement (less than 0.60 percent total alkali) prevent or greatly reduces the
intensity of the reaction.

 Cleanliness
Contaminating materials
Test Method Effects or significance in concrete
ASTM C117 Bond, durability, shrinkage, mix water
Clay and silt requirement strength
Organic particles Strength, durability appearance
C40 & C87
Clay Lumps Appearance, mix water requirement,
C142 durability
Soft particle Durability and appearance
C235
Lightweight particles Appearance, strength, durability
C123

Deleterious Materials
Soft and unsound fragments, clay lumps, coal, lignite, porous chert, shells,
materials finer than #200 sieve, conglomerates and cemented particles.

 Gradation and Particle size

Describes the particle size distribution of the aggregate

Maximum aggregate size

Nominal maximum aggregate size

Sieve analysis
Maximum density gradation
Fuller’s formula
One size distribution
Gap graded aggregate
Open graded aggregate

Different Test on Aggregates

 Unit Weight and Voids = is the weight of unit volume, cubic feet or cubic meter of the
sand or coarse aggregate

Density = is the weight of a unit volume of a solid rock

Void content = is the measure of the voids or spaces between the aggregate particles

 Gradation and Maximum Size (Particle Size)

It describes the particle size distribution of the aggregate. The particle size
distribution is an important attribute of the aggregate. Large aggregate are
economically advantageous in Portland cement and asphalt concrete, as they
have less surface area and therefore requires less binder. However, large
Portland cement concrete are harsher and more difficult.