What is AGGREGATE?

1. Is an aggregation of non-metallic minerals obtained in particulate form and can be processed and used
for civil and highway engineering construction.
2. Are the important constituents of the concrete which give body to the concrete and also reduce
shrinkage. Aggregates occupy 70 to 80% of total volume of concrete.
3. Natural aggregates are formed due to process of weathering and artificial ones are obtained by crashing
larger parent mass. (you can have natural aggregates that means natural gravels or natural sand, those
forms are natural aggregates as they are available and they are form by the weathering action on rocks,
parent rocks, and other than natural ones, naturally available are crushed aggregates. Now artificial
aggregates can be produce from some materials like fly ash, these artificial aggregates have courses
separate class of mineral use for specific purpose , but lastly what we use in normal concrete, normal
strength concrete and when in high strength in concrete they are either obtain by crushing rocks or they
naturally available material like pebbles, gravel.
4. Recycled aggregates is a recent concept because aggregates sources are not infinite. The resources are
getting reduced so there is now a thought process of utilizing recycled aggregate. There is another
aspect also, there is significant amount of demolition of existing structure, concrete structure may occur
in the future. So, when you demolish structure you get the demolition waste, similarly construction
waste. So they can be reprocessed in some manner, reprocessed and recycle them for use in concrete
again, this is been looked into and therefore, recycle concrete aggregate is a recent concept
5. Chemical and mineralogical composition are important, porosity, strength, hardness, thermal properties
all have their origin in the parent rock.

The Volume of Aggregate in Construction

With many expansions in roads and streets, the need for aggregate has increased. In the last 20 years, the
consumption of aggregates has dramatically increased. Today it requires an estimated 38,000 tons of
aggregates to create a mile of a lane for an interstate highway. When it comes to the construction of homes, a
home today requires roughly 400 tons of aggregate. Moreover, a hospital or school of a decent size would
require approximately 15,000 tons of aggregates.

The Bottomline: Why Does Aggregate Matter?

Now that we’ve explored aggregates unique features and its use in construction, you may be wondering but
why does this all matter? In order to maintain a healthy standard of construction, which matters to our
infrastructure, we must appreciate the mineral resources that are available to us. These resources will certainly
be needed for future generations. As the need for aggregate grows, companies like Constructors continue to
do their part in being a resourceful and responsible provider of services for major construction projects such as
paving roads for new retail centers, school, and churches. Constructors will help ensure your project is safe
and built to last.

Mainly classified into two categories:

 Fine Aggregate

 Coarse Aggregate
 Scope Fine Aggregate Coarse Aggregate

Definition Are smaller size filler materials in Are larger size filler materials in
construction construction
Size of Particles Are particles that retain on 4.75 mm
Are particles that pass through 4.75 mm sieve.
sieve and retain on 0.075 mm sieve. • Fine gravel 4mm-8mm
 Coarse sand 2.0 mm-0.5mm • Medium gravel 8mm-16mm
 Medium sand 0.5mm-0.25mm • Coarse gravel 16mm-64mm
 Fine sand 0.25mm-0.06mm • Cobbles 64mm-256mm
 Silt 0.06mm-0.002mm • Boulders >256mm
 Clay <0.002mm

Materials Sand, surki, stone screenings, burnt clays, Brick chips, stone chips, gravels, pebbles,
cinders, fly ash, etc. clinkers, cinders etc.
Sources River sand or machine sand, crushed stone Dolomite aggregates, crushed gravel or
sand, crushed gravel sand are the major stone, natural disintegration of rock
sources of fine aggregate.
Surface Area The surface area of fine aggregates is The surface area of coarse aggregates is
higher. lower.
Function in The voids between the coarse aggregate Acts as inert filler material for concrete.
concrete are filled up by fine aggregate.

uses Used in mortar, plaster, concrete, filling of Mainly used in concrete, railway track
pavement layers, etc. ballast, etc.

Unit weight

 The specific weight (also known as the unit weight) is the weight per unit volume of a material. The
symbol of specific weight is γ (the Greek letter Gamma).

Process

1. Determine the weight of the empty bucket.

2. Fill the bucket to overflowing by means of shovel or scoop. Exercise care to prevent segregation of the particle
size of the sample.
3. Level the surface of the aggregates using straight edge.
4. Clean the outside of the bucket and remove excess dust and particles.
5. Determine the mass of the bucket with the aggregates and record data.

DRY RODDED DETERMINATION

 Fill the bucket one-third full
 Rod the layer of aggregate with 25 strokes of the tamping rod evenly distributed over the surface.
 Fill the bucket two-thirds full again and rod 25 times
 Fill the bucket to overflowing and rod again for 25 times.
  After rodding, level the surface with a straightedge.
 Clean the surface of the bucket and remove excess materials.
 Determine the weight of the bucket with aggregate and record data.

Unit weights for loose and rodded procedures are then calculated.