MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No.

5 Winter 2016

Professional Testing Corporation, Inc.

c/o Seneca College, Newnham Campus
1750 Finch Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario. M2J 2X5

February 16th, 2016

Mr. Nahgeib Miller

Seneca College
1750 Finch Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario. M2J 2X5

Dear Mr. Miller,

Relative Density and Absorption.

A relative density and absorption calculation was performed on the sample

received from Seneca College on February 9 th, 2016. The calculations were made
on February 10th, 2016.
The sample provided was submerged in water and smoothly dry the surface of the
coarse aggregates after draw it out from the water, it was weight on a scale to
obtain the saturated, surface dry mass and storage in an oven for 24 hours to let
the sample dry completely and be able to make the calculations needed.
Documentation for this determination is appended to this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Carlos Bugueno
Laboratory Technician

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Lab Report No. 5

Relative Density and Absorption.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Lab Report No. 5

Relative Density and Absorption.

Specifications.

No specifications were given.

Procedure.

Procedure for this analysis can be found in Appendix l and it was based on Atkins,
Harold N. Highway Materials, Soils, and Concretes. (Pages 140 - 150). 4th Ed. New
Jersey: Pearson Education, 2003. Print. The sample provided was already soak in
water for 24 hours and instead of using 2 kg of coarse aggregates, 2.2128 kg were
use in this analysis.

Sample description.

The saturated, surface dry mass of the sample provided weight 2212.8 g, it was
dark gray color, it had angular angularity with irregular shapes, it hardness was
more than 5, and it had uniform texture.

Picture taken by
Wei Qiang Lin Zheng.
Seneca College, 2016.
Room A3087.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Data calculations.

Data
Container Number 16
Saturated, surface dry mass (MSSD) 2232.7 g
Submerged mass (MSUB) 1395.7 g
Dry mass (MD) 2212.8 g

Please refer to the Appendix ll for complete calculations.

Equations used in this analysis:

Net Volume ( V N )=Dry mass ( M D ) Submerged mass ( M )

Mass of absorbed water ( M WA ) =Saturated , surface dry mass ( M SSD )Dry mass( M D )

Bulk volume ( V B )=Net Volume ( V N ) Mass of absorbed water ( M WA )

Dry mass ( M D )
Apparent Relative Density ( RD A )=
Net Volume ( V N ) x (1 g/cm 3)

Saturated , surface dry mass ( M SSD )

Satured , Surface dry Relative Density ( RD SSD )=
Bulk volume ( V B ) x (1 g /cm3 )

Dry mass ( M D )
Bulk Relative Density ( RD B ) =
Bulk volume ( V B ) x (1 g /cm3 )

Mass of absorbed water ( M WA )

Percentage Absorption= x 100
Dry mass ( M D )

Results.

Please refer to the Appendix lll for lab notes.

Results
Net volume (VN) 817.1 cm3
Mass of absorbed water (MWA) 19.9 g
Bulk volume (VB) 837 cm3
Apparent relative density (RDA) 2.71
Saturated, surface dry relative density (RDSSD) 2.67
Bulk relative density (RDB) 2.64
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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Percentage Absorption 0.90%

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Conclusion.

The sample was dry with towels after get it out from the water to obtain the
saturated, surface dry mass and was storage in an oven for 24 hours to let the
coarse aggregates dry completely. Apparent relative density, bulk relative density,
saturated, surface dry relative density, percentage absorption and other
calculations were made; these calculations are important consideration when
mixing aggregates because in order to produce a correct mix design, the accurate
volumes of the aggregates must be known as well as the anticipated seepage of
water (for concrete) or binder (for asphalt) into the pores of the aggregate.

Recommendations.

No recommendations are made since no specifications were given.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Appendix l:
Procedures.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Lab 5: Relative Density and Absorption

Nahgeib Miller: Lab Professor
Materials MTR 241

The relative density and absorption is an important consideration for mix design
in asphalt and concrete mixtures. In order to produce an appropriate mix
design, the accurate volumes of the aggregates must be known as well as the
anticipated seepage of water (for concrete) or binder (for asphalt) into the pores
of the aggregate.

Exercise:
A) Determine the Apparent Relative Density of the given aggregate.
B) Determine the Saturated, Surface Dry Relative Density of the given
aggregate.
C) Determine the Bulk Relative Density of the given aggregate.
D) Determine the % Absorption of the given aggregate.

References
th
Atkins, H.N. 2003. Highway materials, soils, and concretes. 4 ed. Prentice Hall: U.S.A.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Relative Density and Absorption of a Coarse Aggregate

Procedure:
1) Wash approximately 2 kg of coarse aggregate and soak it in water for 24
hours.

2) Place the aggregate in the mesh basket and obtain the mass while submerged
in water.

3) Dump the aggregate on a cloth and dry it so that the surface moisture
is removed. Wipe pieces individually as required. (The moisture film,
which shines, must be removed but the particles must not be allowed
to lose absorbed water that is held by the pores.)

4) Obtain the mass while in the saturated, surface dry condition.

5) Dry the aggregate in the oven.

6) Obtain the

dry mass.

Terminology:

Dry mass - mass of aggregate with no water in or on it (M D)

Submerged mass mass of aggregate submerged in water (MSUB)

Saturated, surface dry mass - mass of aggregate when all permeable

pores are saturated with water but the surface is dry (M SSD)

Net volume- volume of aggregate not including pores (V N)

Bulk volume- volume of aggregate including pores (VB)

Mass of absorbed water taken up by aggregate (MWA)

Apparent relative density- RD of solids only, not including pores (RDA)

Bulk relative density - RD of solids and pores (RDB)

Saturated, surface dry relative density - RD of solids including absorbed water

(RDSSD)

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Appendix ll:
Calculations.

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Calculations:

Net Volume ( V N )=Dry mass ( M D ) Submerged mass (M )

Net Volume ( V N )=2212.8 g1395.7 g=817.1 cm 3

M ass of absorbed water ( M WA )=Saturated , surface dry mass ( M SSD ) Dry mass(M D )

Mass of absorbed water ( M WA ) =2232.7 g2212.8 g=19.9 g

Bulk volume ( V B )=Net Volume ( V N ) Mass of absorbed water ( M WA )

3 3 3
Bulk volume ( V B )=817.1cm +19.9 cm =837 cm

Dry mass ( M D )
Apparent Relative Density ( RD A )=
Net Volume ( V N ) x (1 g/cm3)

2212.8 g
Apparent Relative Density ( RD A )= =2.71
817.1 cm3 x (1 g /cm3 )

Saturated , surface dry mass ( M SSD )

Satured , Surface dry Relative Density ( RD SSD )= 3
Bulk volume ( V B ) x (1 g /cm )

2232.7 g
Satured , Surface dry Relative Density ( RD SSD )= 3 3
=2.67
837 cm x (1 g / cm )

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Dry mass ( M D )
Bulk Relative Density ( RD B ) =
Bulk volume ( V B ) x (1 g /cm3 )

2212.8 g
Bulk Relative Density ( RD B ) = =2.64
837 cm3 x (1 g /cm3 )

Mass of absorbed water ( M WA )

Percentage Absorption= x 100
Dry mass ( M D )

19.9 g
Percentage Absorption= x 100=0.90
2212.8 g

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MTR 241 NGGL Lab report No. 5 Winter 2016

Appendix lll:
Lab Report Notes.

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