AbsorptionandSpecificGravity

SpecificGravity
Definition
Ratioofthemassofasubstancerelativetothemassofan
equalvolumeofwaterataspecifiedtemperature.

Thedensityofwateris62.4lb/ft3.

SpecificGravity
Relativedensity
Howmuchheavierisanaggregateparticle
comparedtoanequalvolumeofwater?

= SG

AggregateSpecificGravity
CommonValues

Granite:SG=2.65
MarineLimestone:SG=2.53
Gneiss:SG=2.74

SpecificGravityofOtherMaterials

Water: SG=1
Steel:SG=7.9
Wood:SG=0.30.6
Concrete :SG=2.4
Aluminum:SG=2.6

SpecificGravity

Bulk
Bulk,saturatedsurfacedry(SSD)
Apparent
Effective

BulkDrySpecificGravity
Aggregatehastiny
pores:permeableor
impermeabletowater.
Bulkdryspecific
gravityincludesthe
volumeofboth
permeableand
impermeablepores.
Realspecificgravity

impermeable
pores (included in
BSG)

permeable pores
(included in BSG)

BulkSSDSpecificGravity
SaturatedSurfaceDry
(SSD)
Assumesall
permeablepores
filledwithwater
(saturated)
Particlesappear
moistbutnotshiny
(surfacedry)

impermeable
pores (included in
permeable pores
BSGSSD)
filled with water
(included in
BSGSSD)

ApparentSpecificGravity
Apparentspecific
gravityincludesonly
thevolumeof
impermeablepores.
impermeable
pores
permeable pores
(NOT included in
ASG)

EffectiveSpecificGravity
Onlyaportionofthewaterpermeableporesare
filledwithasphaltcement.
Effectivespecificgravityincludestheporesnot
accessibletoasphalt.

Absorption
Definition
Thepenetrationofaliquidintoaggregate
particleswithresultingincreaseinparticle
weight

Absorption
Aggregatesarelike
sponges
Amountofwater
absorbedintopores
ofaggregateparticles
Expressedas
percentageofwater
todryweight

Absorption
CommonValues

Lessthan2%
Ifdryaggregateweighs1pound,waterinpores
weighs0.02pounds

Granite=0.3%
Limestone=0.9%
Sandstone=1.8%

SpecificGravityandAbsorptionTests
Specifications

ASTMC127forCoarseAggregates
ASTMC128forFineAggregates
AASHTOT85forCoarseAggregates
AASHTOT84forFineAggregates

SpecificGravity
SignificanceandUse

Bulkspecificgravityisgenerallyusedforthe
calculationofthevolumeoccupiedbythe
aggregateinvariousmixturesincluding
Portlandcementconcreteandasphalt
concrete.
BulkSSDspecificgravityisusedifthe
aggregateiswet.

Absorption
SignificanceandUse

Absorptionvaluesareusedtocalculatethe
changeintheweightofaggregatedueto
waterabsorbedintheporespaces.
Theyarealsousedtocalculatetheamountof
waterthatisabsorbedbyaggregatesduring
Portlandconcretemixpreparation.

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
SignificanceandUse
MaterialUse

Specification

UsedinDoubleTreatment(w/o
adjustments)

2.65Apparent

Combined aggregateinasphalt
concrete

2.90Max(ESG)

HMAInterstate/PrimarySurface
andIntermediateCourses,and
ThinLiftSealCourse

1.5%Max
(Absorption)

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestingFrequencies
Table 1.RequiredMinimumAggregateTestingFrequency
Test

Procedure

Materials

Stone
(nonslag)
SpecificGravity
(Bulk,Bulk(SSD),
Apparent)&%
Absorption

AASHTOT85
Slag

ValueRange (1)

Min.TestingFrequency

2.95&above
(apparent)

1weekly

Lessthan2.85
(apparent)

1every3months

2.00 &less
(apparent)

1weekly

2.10 2.84
(apparent)

1every3months

2.85&above
(apparent)

1weekly

(1)ThisrangewillbedeterminedforeachsourcebytheGeotechnicalMaterialsEngineerbasedonthe

mostrecentindividualtestresultsfromthesupplier

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
Apparatus
Scaleaccurateto0.05%ofthesampleweightor0.5
grams,whicheverisgreater
WirebasketNo.6orfinermesh
Watertank
No.4sieveorothersizesasneeded

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestSpecimen
Thoroughlymixtheaggregatesampleandreduceittothe
approximatequantityneededusinganaggregatesample
splitterorbyquartering.
RejectallmaterialspassingNo.4sievebydrysievingand
thoroughlywashingtoremovedustorothercoatingsfrom
thesurface.
Theminimumweightoftestspecimentobeuseddependson
thenominalmaximumsizeasfollows:
NominalMaxSize(in.)
MinMass,lb

4.4

6.6
1
8.8
1
11.0

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SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestProcedure

1. Drythetestsampletoaconstantweightata
temperatureof230 9F,coolinairatroom
temperaturefor1to3h. Immersethe
aggregateinwateratroomtemperaturefora
periodof24hours(+/ 4hours).
2. Removethetestspecimenfromwaterand
rollitinalargeabsorbentclothuntilall
visiblefilmsofwaterareremoved.Wipethe
largerparticlesindividually.

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestProcedure

3. Weighthetestsampleinsaturatedsurface
dry(SSD)conditionandrecorditasB.Record
theweightandallsubsequentweightstothe
nearest0.5gramsor0.05%ofthesample
weight,whicheverisgreater.

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SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestProcedure

4. Placethespecimeninthewirebasketand
determineitsweightwhileitissubmergedin
wateratatemperatureof73.43Fandrecord
itasC.Takecaretoremoveallentrappedair
beforeweighingitbyagitatingthecontainer
whileitisimmersed.
5. Drythetestsampletoaconstantmassata
temperatureof230 9F,coolinairatroom
temperature1to3h,andweighitandrecord
thisweightasA.

SpecificGravityandAbsorption
TestCalculations
Name

Equation

Bulk SpecificGravity

BulkSpecific Gravity,SSD

ApparentSpecificGravity

Absorption

100%

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SpecificGravityandAbsorption
CommonErrors

ImproperidentificationofSSD(overorunder
drying)
Airentrappedinsuspendedsampleorsample
immersioncontainer
Suspensionapparatusincontactwithanother
object,resultinginfalsereading
Lossofmaterialduringtransfertothedrying
pans
Weighingerrors(impropertareweightsorlossof
material)

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