Civil Engineering Department

CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Experiment No. III
DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION OF AGREGATES
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the basic principle, significance and procedures in determining the
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Capacity of Aggregates.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Familiarize the equipment, apparatus and method in determining the specific gravity and water
absorption capacity of aggregates.
2.2 Determine specific gravity and water absorption capacity of the aggregates.
2.3 Determine the different state of Specific gravity of aggregates.
3. Discussion:
The specific gravity of an aggregate is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate to the
weight of an equal volume of water.
 Bulk Specific Gravity (also known as Bulk Dry Specific Gravity): 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.
 Bulk SSD Specific Gravity: 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 15 hours, to the weight in air of an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at
the stated temperature.
 Apparent Specific Gravity: The ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of the impermeable
portion of aggregate (does not include the permeable pores in aggregate) to the weight in air of
an equal volume of gas-free distilled water at the stated temperature.
The Water Absorption Capacity of the aggregates increase in mass due to water in the pores of the
material.
4. Resources:
For Fine Aggregates
1 unit Pycnometer or Calibrated Volumetric Flask
1 Weighing Scale 5 kg capacity
1 Scoop or spoon
2 pan
1 kg of Fine Aggregates (soaked for 24 hrs.)
Potable water
For Coarse Aggregates
1 Wire basket of 4.75 mm mesh
1 Tamping rod
Absorbent cloth, dry, soft
1 Container with Water
4 kg of Coarse Aggregates
5. Procedure:
For Fine Aggregates
1. Weigh about 250 grams test sample of fine aggregate, W1.
2. Immerse the test sample into a container with water for 24 hours and cover it.
3. Pour excess water carefully to avoid loss of fines. Spread the sample on a flat non-absorbent
surface and stir frequently to secure homogenous drying. Continue until the sample approaches a

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
free-flowing condition. The specimen is called saturated surface dry (SSD) when it has reached a
surface dry condition.
4. Weigh the SSD sample, W2.
5. Fill the pycnometer with water to the top and weigh, W3.
6. Remove part of the water from the pycnometer, and put the SSD sample into it. then Fill with
additional water to approximately 90 percent of its capacity. And agitate the pycnometer to
eliminate all air bubbles. Bring the water level in the pycnometer to its calibrated capacity.
7. Determine the total weight of the pycnometer, specimen, and water, W4.
8. Remove the sample from the pycnometer and dry to constant weight at a temperature of 110°C,
cool, and weigh, W5.
9. Calculate the specific gravity and absorption.

Note:
𝑊1
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry, = 𝑊3 + 𝑊2 − 𝑊4
𝑊2
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD, = 𝑊3 + 𝑊2 − 𝑊4
𝑊5
 Apparent Specific Gravity, = 𝑊3 + 𝑊5 − 𝑊4
𝑊2 − 𝑊5
 Water Absorption Capacity, = × 100
𝑊5

For Coarse Aggregates

1. Weigh about 1000 grams test sample of coarse aggregate, W1, with a maximum 25 mm nominal
size and should not have particles of size less than 4.75 mm.
2. Soak the aggregates in water at room temperature for a period of 24 hours.
3. Remove the sample from the water. Roll it in a large absorbent cloth until all visible films of water
are removed. The sample is now in saturated surface dry (SSD) condition.
4. Weigh the SSD sample, W2.
5. Place the SSD sample in the wire basket and determine the weight in water, W 3. Note that the
wire basket should be immersed to a depth sufficient to cover it and the test sample during
weighing.
6. Remove the sample to constant weight at a temperature of 110°C (approx. 24 hours), and weigh,
W4.
7. Calculate specific gravity and absorption.

Note:
𝑊1
 Bulk Specific Gravity Dry, = 𝑊2 − 𝑊3
𝑊2
 Bulk Specific Gravity SSD, = 𝑊2 − 𝑊3
𝑊4
 Apparent Specific Gravity, = 𝑊4 − 𝑊3
𝑊2 − 𝑊4
 Water Absorption Capacity, = × 100
𝑊4

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
Course: CE 405 Experiment No.: 3
Group No.: 4 Section: CE41FA3
Group Members: Date Performed: JULY 9,2018
ORTEGA, DENISE VILLANUEVA, JOHN CARLO Date Submitted: JULY 30, 2018
VALDEZ, VANESSA MEJIA, KENNETH Instructor: ENGR. CAROLINE A. ASUNCION
TEJADA, ALEJO PANER, BIANCA
PRANGAN, KENNETH
6. Data and Results:

Fine Aggregates Coarse Aggregates

Trial 1 2 3 4 Ave. 1 2 3 4 Ave.
Bulk Specific Gravity Dry 3.1646 1.8797 2.5221 -0.6803 -0.6614 -0.0095
Bulk Specific Gravity
3.0506 1.818 2.4343 -0.6795 -0.6858 -0.0032
SSD
Apparent Specific Gravity 4.0566 1.871 2.9638 -0.6863 -0.6759 -0.0052
Water Absorption
0.1209 0.0388 0.0796 -0.0068 -0.0088 0.0010
Capacity

6.1 Computation

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

7. Conclusion:

We therefore conclude that different equipment, apparatus, and methods can be used in determining the
specific gravity, different states of Specific gravity, and water absorption capacity of aggregates. For fine
aggregates, the sample is stirred frequently to have a saturated surface dry specimen. While in coarse
aggregates, you’ll need to roll the sample to a large absorbent cloth to gain a saturated surface dry specimen.
Since fine aggregates are grain size particle, you can use pycnometer to immerse the sample to the water.
For coarse aggregates, you will need a wire basket and a pail to immerse the sample. The formulas used in
getting the Bulk Specific Gravity Dry, Bulk Specific Gravity SSD, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Water
Absorption Capacity differ according to the kind of aggregate.

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
8. Assessment:

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 Civil Engineering Department
CE452L1/CE405 – Constructions Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT

CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally
Manipulative Members always
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed skills.
skills. skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-up
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials the material with minimum
Set-up
materials. with supervision. supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Members do not Members follow safety
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety precautions most of
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members have
Members do not know
defined Members are on tasks and
their tasks and have
responsibilities most have defined
no defined
Cooperative and of the time. Group responsibilities at all times.
responsibilities.
Teamwork conflicts are Group conflicts are
Group conflicts have
cooperatively cooperatively managed at
to be settled by the
managed most of the all times.
teacher.
time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Members require
Ability to do Members require
occasional Members do not need to be
independent supervision by the
supervision by the supervised by the teacher.
work teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 = × 100
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9. Reference(s):
ASTM 127-88 “Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates”
ASTM 128-98 “Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregates”

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