Specific Gravity & Absorption

Specific gravity (relative density) of an aggregate is the ratio of its mass to

the mass of an equal absolute volume of water. It is determined not because it is a
measure on aggregate quality, but it is relevant in calculations related to mix
designs. Most normal-weight aggregates have specific gravity that ranges from 2.4
to 2.9. Test methods are as per ASTM C127 (AASHTO T85) and C128 (AASHTO T84)
for coarse aggregates and fine aggregates, respectively.
For absorption (moisture content) of aggregates, ASTM C70, C127, C128, and
C566 (AASHTO T255) are used. The purpose for determining water absorption of
aggregates is for control of total water content of concrete, thus, corrected batch
weights would be determine in the design mix. If water content is not kept constant,
the water-cement ratio is then affected, such that the compressive strength and
workability varies from batch to batch. Coarse aggregates will generally have
absorption levels that range from 0.2% to 4%.
As for test methods in this research, ASTM C127 is referred to. Specific
gravity and absorption for both course aggregates; crushed stone aggregates and
river-source stone aggregates, are then determined by the following laboratory
results and calculations.
Formulas:

S .G . ( Bulk SSD )=

Absorption , =

Wt . of SSD
Wt . of SSD Buoyant Wt .

Wt . of SSDWt . of OD
100
Wt . of OD

Where:
SSD - saturated surface dry condition of sample; neither absorbing water
from nor contributing water to the concrete mixture.
OD - oven-dry condition of sample; aggregates are fully absorbent.
Buoyant Wt. - is the weight of sample when completely submerged in water;
damp or wet condition, aggregates contain an excess of moisture on the surface.
For crushed stone:
Initial Weight
Weight of Bucket
Weight of Wire Basket
Weight of Pan

Mass (Kilograms)
5.000
1.000
0.500
1.044

Saturated Surface-dry Condition +

Bucket
Sample in Water (Buoyant Weight)
Oven-dry Condition of Sample + Pan

5.789
3.300
5.785

Wt . of SSD=5.789 kg1.000 kg=4.789 kg

Buoyant Wt .=3.300 kg0.500 kg=2.800 kg

Wt . of OD=5.725 kg1.044 kg=4.681 kg

Therefore, substituting values to the formula, specific gravity of crushed
stone is 2.40 with water absorption of 2.13%.
For river-source stone:
Initial Weight
Weight of Bucket
Weight of Wire Basket
Weight of Pan
Saturated Surface-dry Condition +
Bucket
Sample in Water (Buoyant Weight)
Oven-dry Condition of Sample + Pan

Mass (Kilograms)
5.000
1.000
0.382
1.065
5.712
3.100
5.662

Wt . of SSD=5.712 kg1.000 kg=4.712 kg

Buoyant Wt .=3.100 kg0.382 kg=2.718 kg

Wt . of OD=5.662 kg1.065 kg=4.597 kg

Therefore, substituting values to the formula, specific gravity of crushed
stone is 2.36 with water absorption of 2.50%.

Determination of Specific Gravity of Cement

Formulas:

Specific Gravity=

W 2W 1
( W 2W 1 )( W 3W 4 ) (0.79)

; The value 0.79 is the specific gravity

of kerosene.
Symbol

W1

Description
Weight of Flask

W2

Weight of Flask + Cement

0.299

W3

Weight of Flask + Kerosene +

Cement
Weight of Flask + Kerosene

1.069

W4

Mass (kilograms)
0.249

1.027

Substituting values on formula, we have 2.97 as specific gravity of cement.

Fineness of Cement
Formulas:

Fineness , =

Wt . of Residue
100
Wt . of Original Sample

Weight of Sample
Weight of Pan
Sample + Pan
Weight of Passing on No. 200 Sieve
+ Pan
Weight of Residue + Pan

Mass (Kilograms)
0.064
0.371
0.435
0.435
0.371

There are no residues left on the No. 200 sieve, this result for fineness
means that the cement type is type I, meaning no special properties whatsoever is
present in the cement (Normal Portland Cement).

Determination of Bulk Density

The bulk density or unit weight of the aggregate is the mass or weight of the
aggregate required to fill a specified unit volume. Volume referred to here is the
volume of aggregates plus the volume of the void between the aggregate particles.
The normal-weight concrete commonly contains an approximate bulk density of
aggregate that ranges from about 1200 to 1750 kg/m^3. A 30% to 40% of void
content is observed for course aggregates and angularity increases void content
while well-graded aggregates decreases it. Determining the bulk density of
aggregates and void content is given by the methods of ASTM C29 (AASHTO T19).
While for fine aggregates, methods for determination of bulk density and void
content is stated in ASTM C1252.
Formulas:

Mass
Volume

2
Volume= (diameter of bucket ) (height of sample)
4

The crushed stone and river-source stones bulk density was determined by
putting the sample in a container where it is being tamp until it is almost compacted
inside the container. Then, the height and diameter of the cylindrical container will
be measured. Diameter of bucket is 7 inch or 0.1905 meters, the measured
height of sample of crushed stone is 4.6 inch or 0.11684 meters, while that of the
river-source stone is 5.7 inch or 0.14478 meters.

Results for both stones are as follows:

Materials

Volume
( m

Weight of
Sample
+ Container

( kg )
Crushed Stone

3.33 10

River-source
Stone

4.126 10

3
3

Weight of
Container
( kg )

Calculated
Density

kg
( m3 )

7.109

1.074

1812

8.015

1.074

1682

The fine aggregate or the sand together with the cements density was
determined by submerging them in a graduated cylinder with water. For the sand,
an initial reading of 300 milliliters was taken, and 455 milliliters was taken when the
sand was poured in the water. For the cement, 310 milliliters was the first reading,
then, 424 milliliters was noted after.
Results were as follows:
Materials

Volume
( m

Weight of
Sample
+ Container
( kg )

Weight of
Container

Calculated
Density

( kg )

kg
( m3 )

Fine Aggregates

1.55 104

0.730

0.387

2213

Cement

1.14 104

0.574

0.386

1649

Mix Design
Data:
Specific Gravity

Mass Density

kg

Water
Absorption, %

( m3 )
Crushed Stone
River-source Stone
Sand
Cement

A value 0.028

2.40
2.36
2.14
2.92

m3 of concrete
bag of cement

1812
1682
2213
1649

2.13
2.50
11.11
-

will be used as cement content for all design

mix for a maximum slump of 6 inches, a water-cement ratio of 0.68 (as for

2500 psi

compressive strength, non-air entrained concrete @ 28 days), class A

design mix (1:2:4 design ratio), water content of 8 gallons per bag (30.283 Liters
per bag), and

0.054 m3

for total volume of concrete per mix. (Conform to Code

from American Concrete Institute)

Design Mix Using Crushed Stone:

Cement

1 ( 0.028 ) (1649)
m3
=0.0158
2.92(1000)
bag

Crushed Stone

Sand

Water

4 ( 0.028 ) (1812)
m3
=0.08456
2.40(1000)
bag

3
2 ( 0.028 ) (2213)
m
=0.05791
2.14 (1000)
bag

30.283

L
m3
=0.0303
bag
bag

Total of

0.19046

0.18857

m
bag

1.00% multiplied to itself (assumed volume of air holes)

m3
bag

The total volume of concrete divided to the above result is equal to 0.2835
bag(s) of cement.
3

Water Volume

0.2835 ( 0.0158 )=4.4793 10 m

Cement Volume

0.2835 ( 0.0303 )=8.59 103 m 3

In terms of Mass (kilograms):

Cement Mass

Water Mass

( 4.4793 103 m3 ) ( 2.92 ) 1000

( 8.59 103 m3 ) 1000

kg
=13.08 kg
3
m

kg
=8.59 kg
m3

Applying correction to the quantity of water using water absorption of the Crushed
Stone:
Corrected Water Mass

8.59 kg ( 1+0.0213 )=8.773 kg

Dividing the corrected water mass to the cement mass, we get 0.6707 as watercement ratio.
Diff. from standard water-cement ratio

0.680.6706
100 =+1.37
0.6707

Proportion of the fine aggregate to the coarse aggregate:

2
100 =33.33
2+ 4

Fine

Of sand by absolute volume

Aggregates

33.333 +1.37 =34.703

Percentage

in

the

Total

Volume

of

Aggregates

Volume of both fine and coarse aggregate:

0.054[ ( 4.4793 103 ) + ( 8.59 103 ) ]=0.04093 m3

% of Aggregates against total volume of concrete:

0.0409307
100 =75.8
0.054

Are aggregates

Volume of sand 0.0409307 ( 0.34703 )=0.0142 m

, in mass

Volume of crushed stone 0.04093070.0142=0.0267307 m

30.388 kg
, in mass

64.154 kg

Summary:
Materials
Crushed stone
Sand
Cement
Water
Design Mix Using River-source Stone:

Cement

1 ( 0.028 ) (1649)
m3
=0.0158
2.92(1000)
bag

Crushed Stone

Sand

Water

3
4 ( 0.028 ) (1682)
m

=0.0798
2.36(1000)
bag

2 ( 0.028 ) (2213)
m3
=0.05791
2.14 (1000)
bag

30.283

L
m3
=0.0303
bag
bag

Quantity
64.154 kg
30.388 kg
13.08 kg
8.773 kg or 8.773 L

Total of

0.18565

0.18381

m3
bag

1.00% multiplied to itself (assumed volume of air holes)

m3
bag

The total volume of concrete divided to the above result is equal to 0.2909
bag(s) of cement.

0.2909 ( 0.0158 )=4.596 103 m3

Cement Volume
Water Volume

0.2909 ( 0.0303 )=8.814 103 m3

In terms of Mass (kilograms):

Cement Mass

Water Mass

( 4.596 103 m 3 ) ( 2.92 ) 1000

( 8.814 103 m3 ) 1000

kg
=13.0796 kg
m3

kg
=8.814 kg
m3

Applying correction to the quantity of water using water absorption of the Riversource Stone:
Corrected Water Mass

8.814 kg ( 1+ 0.0250 )=9 kg

Dividing the corrected water mass to the cement mass, we get 0.68807 as watercement ratio.
Diff. from standard water-cement ratio

0.680.68807
100 =1.19
0.68807

Proportion of the fine aggregate to the coarse aggregate:

2
100 =33.33
2+ 4

Fine

Of sand by absolute volume

Aggregates

33.333 1.19 =32.143

Percentage

in

the

Total

Volume

of

Aggregates

Volume of both fine and coarse aggregate:

0.054[ ( 4.596 103 ) + ( 8.814 103 ) ]=0.04059 m3

% of Aggregates against total volume of concrete:

0.04059
100 =75.17
0.054

Are aggregates

Volume of sand 0.04059 ( 0.32143 )=0.01305 m

, in mass

Volume of crushed stone 0.040590.01305=0.02754 m

27.927 kg

, in mass

64.994 kg

Summary:
Materials
River-source stone
Sand
Cement
Water

Quantity
64.994 kg
27.927 kg
13.080 kg
9 kg or 9 L