Specific Gravity

UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA
FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COURSE: ENGINEERING MATERIALS
LECTURER: MR. MAXWELL JACKSON
DATE OF LAB.: 09/11/2011
SUBMITTED: 22/11/2011
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

Introduction 4

Title 5

Aim 5

Apparatus 5

Materials 5

Theory 6

Procedure 7

Results 7

Analysis 8

Discussion 9

Conclusion 10

Appendix 11

Reference 12

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Introduction:

The Specific Gravity test is used to determine the specific gravity of aggregate samples by
determining the ratio of weight of a given volume of aggregate to weight of an equal volume of
water.

The Specific Gravity is most frequently and easily determined and is necessary for calculations
of yield of concrete or for the quantity of aggregate required for a given volume of concrete.

The vessel used to place the water and aggregate is called the pycnometer, this is usually a one-
liter jar with a water tight metal conical screw top having a small hole at the apex. The
pycnometer can thus be filled with water to contain precisely the same volume every time.

The volume measurement only includes the volume of the aggregate particle; it does not include
the volume of any water permeable voids. The mass measurement only includes the aggregate
particle. Apparent specific gravity is intended to only measure the specific gravity of the solid
volume; therefore it will be the highest of the aggregate specific gravities. It is formally defined
as the ratio of the mass of a unit volume of the impermeable portion of aggregate (does not
include the permeable pores in aggregate) to the mass of an equal volume of gas-free distilled
water at the stated temperature. (Orchard 1973)

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Title: Specific Gravity

Aim: To determine the Specific Gravity and absorption on coarse aggregates.

Apparatus: Oven

Bucket

Wire basket

Electronic scale

Tray

Materials: Coarse aggregates

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Theory:

Concrete calculations are normally based on the saturated and surface dry condition of the
aggregate.Because the water contained in all the pores does not participate in the chemical
reaction of the cement, they can be considered as part of the aggregate. Thus, if the mass of a
sample of the saturated dry aggregate is A, the weight of the pycnometer filled with water is C
and the weight of the pycnometer + water+ aggregate is B. The term Specific Gravity can be
calculated using the formula:

Specific Gravity= A .
A - (B – C)

Most natural aggregates have an apparent Specific Gravity of between 2.6 and 2.7.Lightweight
and artificial aggregate extend considerably below and above this range. Since the actual value
of Specific Gravity is not a measure of the quality of the aggregate, it should not be specified
unless we are dealing with a material of given petrologic character where a variation in Specific
Gravity would reflect in the porosity of the particles. (Neville 1995)

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Procedure:

1. The test sample was weighed.

2. The aggregates were immersed in water at room temperature for a period of 24 hours.
3. The sample was removed from the water and then rolled into a large absorbent cloth until
all visible films of water are removed. (saturated surface dry condition)
4. The sample was weighed to obtain its saturated surface dry weight (B).
5. The saturated surface dry sample was placed in the wire basket and its weight in water
was determined(C).
6. The sample was removed from the wire basket and it was dried to constant weight at a
temperature of 110 ± 5oC for 24 hours and the weight was taken.

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Results:

Fine Aggregates

Weight of Aggregate (kg) Weight bottle, aggregate & water(kg) Weight bottle & water(kg)
(A) (B) (C)
0.100 1.480 1.425

Coarse Aggregates

Weight of Aggregate (kg) Weight bottle, aggregate & water(kg) Weight bottle & water(kg)
(A) (B) (C)
0.200 1.555 1.420

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Analysis:

For Fine Aggregates:

Using SpecificGravity= A .
A - (B – C)
0.100 kg .
0.100kg – (1.480 kg – 1.425 kg)

= 2.22

For Coarse Aggregates:

Using SpecificGravity= A .
A - (B – C)
0.200 kg .
0.200kg – (1.555 kg – 1.420 kg)

= 3.08

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Discussion:

Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate at a stated
temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated
temperature. In this experiment, the apparent specific gravity of fine aggregates and coarse
aggregates were found to be 2.22 and 3.08 respectively. Different types of aggregate have
different specific gravity values and it is important that this is known since they would have
different levels of porosity. The specific gravity of an aggregate being used for construction must
be known in advance for it can have an influence on the quality of work and the durability of the
structure.The values for specific gravity obtained may have been influenced by impurities in the
aggregates.

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Conclusion

The mass of a saturated surface dry fine and coarse aggregate sample was determined. These
values were then used to calculate apparent specific gravity.

The apparent specific gravity of fine aggregates and coarse aggregates were found to be 2.22 and
3.08 respectively.

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Appendix:

Figure 1. Sample in pycnometer

Picture taken by: T. Harripersaud 11/09/2011

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Neville, A.M. 1995. Properties of Concrete. California: Pearson.

Orchard, Neville, A.M. 1995. Properties of Concrete. California: Pearson.

Orchard, D.F. 1973. Concrete Technology: Properties of Materials Vol.1 . London: Contractors
Record Ltd.

Nawy, E.G. Concrete Construction Engineering Handbook CRC Press, 2008

www.waqtc.org/library/documents/aggregate/t27-t11.pdf - retrieved on 08/11/2011

http://www.wepapers.com/Papers/13451/Introduction_to_Aggregates - retrieved on
08/11/2011

D.F. 1973. Concrete Technology: Properties of Materials Vol.1 . London: Contractors Record
Ltd.

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