MATERIAL PROPERTY LAB REPORT

MODULE 2.1
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION ANALYSIS OF FINE AGREGATES

GROUP 8
AFRIANTO AIYUBI SISWOPRANOTO
BIMASENA HERIBOWO
DEVARA DAVIANT TANAYA (1206228393)
KASYIFU NURURAHMAN (1206227213)
WEDNESSON LAWIJAYA (1206230593)

Date of Experiment
Lab Assistant
Date Approved
Score
Assistants Signature

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LABORATORY OF STRUCTURE AND MATERIAL

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF INDONESIA
DEPOK 2012

II.1 SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION ANALYSIS

OF FINE AGREGATES
A) GOALS
Gaining the value of bulk, apparent specific gravity, and absorption of fine aggregates based
on ASTM C 128, in order to determine the volume of aggregate in a concrete.
B) EQUIPMENT
1) Weight Scale (with the sensitivity 0,1 gram and maximum capacity of 1kg).
2) Pycnometer (with the capacity of 500 grams)
3) Cone Mold (for sands)
4) Metallic Tamper for the mold
5) Oven (with adequate space and the capacity for [1105]C)
C) INGRIDIENTS
1000 grams (2 x 500 grams) of fine aggregate, gained from a separator device or with the
quarter technique
D) PROCEDURE
1) First of all, the fine aggregate is saturated with water by soaking it for one day.
2) After that, dry up the aggregates until it dries evenly. (An aggregate is defined dried
evenly when it reaches the so-called Free Flowing Condition)
3) Then, the test is conducted by taking a part of the sample to the cone mold.
4) Afterwards, the sample is condensed with the tamper by mashing it about 25 times.
5) An SSD (Saturated Surface Dry) is attained if when the mold is lifted away, the
aggregates fall apart.
6) Then, put the 500 grams of fine aggregate that is already in an SSD condition in a
Pycnometer.
7) Afterwards, add up water until it fills 90% of the Pycnometer.
8) Eliminate the air pockets within the Pycnometer by gently shaking it.
9) Soak the sample with water (temperature [73,43]F for at least a day.
10) Then, determine the weight of Pycnometer, the tested sample, and the water.
11) Separate the sample and Pycnometer and then dry it up
with the temperature of 212-230 F

12) Finally, calculate and determine the weight of the water-filled Pycnometer in accordance
to the calibration capacity at the temperature of [73,43]F and the accuracy of 0,1 grams

E) DATA AND CALCULATIONS

Weight Data
:
i) Initial Sample
ii) Pycnometer + Water
iii) Pycnometer + Content
iv) Net Weight after Oven

: 500 grams
: 664 gram
: 985 gram (After 1 Day)
: 485 gram

Bulk-Specific Gravity

485
=2,724
663+ 500985

Saturated Surface Dry

500
=2,808
663+ 500985

Apparent Specific Gravity

485
=2,975
663+ 485985

Absorption

500485
100 =3.09
485

F) ANALYSIS
1) Experimental Analysis
As a part of the series of Material Property Laboratory experiments, a test regarding the
Specific Gravity and Absorption Analysis of Fine Aggregates is conducted with a
preset goal, as stated in the Goals section of this report; is to gain the value of bulk,
apparent specific gravity, and absorption of fine aggregates based on ASTM C 128, in
order to determine the volume of aggregate in a concrete. Specific gravity or also known
as relative density is used to calculate the volume occupied by a certain substance (in this
case aggregate) within various mixtures. Additionally, SSD or Saturated Surface Dry is
used if the aggregate is wet (Only if its Absorption has been satisfied), an SSD value is
used to determine the surface moisture on fine aggregate; while apparent specific gravity

pertain to the solid material making up the constituent particles not including the pore
space within the particles that is accessible to water, this absorption value are used to
calculate the change in the mass of an aggregate material due to water absorbed in the
pore spaces within the constituent particles, compared to the dry condition, when it is
deemed that the aggregate has been in contact with water long enough to satisfy the
absorption potential.
Gaining the value of specific gravity is important, it is used for several technical reasons
such as the following:
1. Specific Gravity value gives a hint regarding the quality and compatibility of an
aggregate.
2. Specific Gravity indicates material pollution. As an example, a deleterious particle that
pollutes aggregate; has a lighter weight compared to aggregate. So by knowing this, in a
state where there are much containment of deleterious particle; the specific gravity value
of the aggregate will be abnormal.
3. Specific Gravity also indicate different material of aggregates. Different aggregate
minerals will have different physical properties that affect the value of specific gravity.
Other than specific gravity; gaining the absorption value is also crucial, since it can also
indicate the quality and sustainability of an aggregate. A high absorption value means less
sustainability.
A test is then conducted by practitioner to fulfill the procedures of the test and attain
prerequisite conditions so that data collecting is possible, followed by a calculation
process and analysis to determine the fine aggregates properties that are questioned in
this section of laboratory activity.
The steps in gaining prerequisite conditions were conducted according to the provided
procedure.

As a first step, a sample of sand is taken and then soaked with water for about one day;

after that, the sand is dried wholly, until it reached a Free Flowing Condition where
such condition is determined by whether or not the sand were able to flow freely.
The first test is then conducted by inserting some of the sample to a cone mold and
tamper it about 25 times with a tamper so that it condense, then the mold is lifted so that
the sand collapses in to a condition we call Saturated Surface Dry. The SSD aggregate
is then inserted into the Pycnometer, which is then filled up by water until the water
fulfills 90% of the Pycnometer capacity. The next procedure is to let it idle for about 1
day, but before leaving it idle, the Pycnometer containing the sample must first be shaken
to dissipate any water pockets within the aggregate. Then, after leaving it idle for about a
day, determine the weight of Pycnometer, sample, and water. Afterwards, separate the
Pycnometer and the sample, and dry the sample for another 1 day. Finally, after drying up
the sample, determine the water filled Pycnometer in accordance to the calibration
capacity in a certain temperature.
The data values collected after the conducted experiments are the following :
Initial Value
Pycnometer + Water
Pycnometer + Content
Net Weight after Oven

: 500 grams
: 664 gram
: 985 gram (After 1 Day)
: 485 gram

After the procedures are fulfilled and all the required data collected, the practitioner now
applies the attained values to specific formulas that will determine the values of Bulk
Specific Gravity, SSD, Absorption and Apparent Specific Gravity.

2) Result Analysis
Based on the experiments that have been conducted, the resulting values of Bulk Specific
Gravity, SSD, Absorption, and Apparent Specific Gravity are the following :

Bulk-Specific Gravity

2,724

Saturated Surface Dry

2,808

Apparent Specific Gravity

2,975

Absorption

3.09

According to ASTM standards, the specific gravity value gained from this experiment
fulfills the regular standards between 1.6 and 3.2 (ASTM C 128).
3) Mistakes Analysis
The conducted experiment can be classified as plausible since there were no major
mistakes committed by the practitioners during the experimental session; however it does
not close the possibilities of error within the experiment.
i) Parallax Error
There are a possibility of error in documenting the data measured by the scales due to
the parallax effect of sight when observing the scales. But this is not the case in this
current experiment since the scales used for this experiment are the digital ones,
obsoleting any major possibility of parallax error
ii) Equipment Error
Equipment error is possible though nearly oblivious since the measurement conducted
are by digital scales which obsoletes parallax error, though the possibility of an error
in the digital system itself is possible.
iii) Human Error
In this experiment, human error is the most possible reason behind some
abnormalities, especially in data processing. The human error could include reckless
actions during the experiment that may damage and alter the experimented sample,
and also several irregular data that could probably be caused by either mistakes
during measurements or documentation.
G) CONCLUSION
The goals of the experiment which is gaining the apparent value of bulk specific gravity,
SSD, and apparent specific gravity of a fine aggregate is successfully conducted; if success is

determined by fully collecting the data. However, the documented data shows abnormality
which is probably caused by human errors during measurement or documentations. Despite
of this, the calculations werent halted even though it results in an irregular pattern. Though it
shows irregularity, it somehow seems that the resulting values are within the range of ASTM
standards for fine aggregates quality. Therefore, it is probably safe to say that it is valid to be
used as an aggregate material for construction.
The final verdict comment for this experiment, after evaluating the results and mistakes made
within the experiment; ends with the experiment being Plausible. The data were gained
though it is abnormal, but the calculations and resulting values were still successfully gained
and it satisfies the ASTM standards.

H) REFERENCES
1) American Society for Testing and Materials Standards Test Method for Density, Relative
Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption of Fine Aggregate, No. ASTM C 128 04a.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
2) Badan Standarisasi Nasional Metode Pengujian Berat Jenis dan Penyerapan Air Agregat
Halus SNI 03-1970-1990.