Quality Test of Concrete Aggregates (Fine and Coarse)

  • Grain Size Analysis - determination of the particle size distribution of fine and coarse aggregates by sieving
  • Materials Finer than #200 - wet sieving is conducted to separate materials finer than the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve. This is used on the sample prior to dry sieving
  • Absorption and Specific Gravity - relative density (specific gravity), a dimensionless quantity, is expressed as oven-dry (OD), saturated-surface-dry (SSD), or as apparent relative density (apparent specific gravity)
  • Soundness - testing of aggregates to estimate their soundness when subjected to weathering action in concrete or other applications
  • Unit Weight - covers the determination of bulk density (“unit weight”) of aggregate in a compacted or loose condition, and calculated voids between particles in fine, coarse, or mixed aggregates based on the same determination
  • Organic Impurities - This test method covers two procedures for an approximate determination of the presence of injurious organic impurities in fine aggregates that are to be used in hydraulic cement mortar or concrete
  • Abrasion Loss - test method used for testing sizes of coarse aggregate
    smaller than 37.5 mm (11⁄2 in.) for resistance to degradation using the Los Angeles testing machine
  • Clay Lumps and Friable Particles - approximate determination of clay lumps and friable particles in aggregates
  • Moisture Content - determination of the percentage of evaporable moisture in a sample of aggregate by drying both surface moisture and moisture in the pores of the aggregate