UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH

KA2541 MAKMAL 1

PROGRAM: HK01 CIVIL ENGINEERING

EXP. AGG-2: SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF FINE AGGREGATE

COURSE INSTRUCTOR:

PN HIDAYATI ASRAH

GROUP MEMBERS :

LOW CHEE WAI HK2006-3316

NG VUI ON HK2006-3520

RAYMOND RAJ A/L SUKUMARAN HK2006-4056

RONALD CHEE KOH CHIEN HK2006-4725

TEOH HOW MENG HK2006-2983

YAN CHIN FEI HK2006-3263

EXPERIMENT AGG-2: SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND
ABSORPTION OF FINE AGGREGATE

Introduction:
The main purpose of this experiment is to determine the bulk specific gravity, apparent
gravity and absorption of fine aggregate. There are some definitions of the terms that are
related to these experiments.
Specific gravity is the ratio of weight in air of a unit volume of a material to the
weight of an equal volume of water.
Bulk specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit volume of aggregate
(including the permeable and impermeable voids in the particles, but not including the
voids between the particles) to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a unit of volume of the
impermeable portion of aggregate to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Absorption is the increase in weight of aggregate due to the water in pores, but not
including water adhering to the outside surface of the particles, expressed as a
percentage of the dry weight.

Objective:
To determine the bulk specific gravity, apparent gravity and absorption of fine aggregate.

Equipments:
balance, beaker, pycnometer (or volumetric flask of 500cm capacity or fruit jar fitted with a
pycnometer top), aluminium tray and oven.

Sample:
About 400g of fine aggregate sample.
Procedure:
1. Test sample with 400g of fine aggregate was weighed: A(g)
2. The test sample was covered with water, by addition of at least 6 percent moisture to
the sample, and it was permitted to stand for about 24 hours.
3. The excess water was decanted with care to avoid loss of fines. The sample was
spreaded on a flat nonabsorbent surface exposed to gently moving current of warm
air, and was frequently stirred to secure homogenous drying. This step was continued
until the sample approached a free-flowing condition. When the specimen has reached
a surface dry condition, it is called saturated surface dry (SSD).
4. The SSD sample was weighed: B(g)
5. The volumetric flask was filled with water to the top ,and was weighed: C(g)
6. Part of water was removed and the SSD sample was introduced into the volumetric
flask.
7. The additional water was filled to approximately 90% of its capacity.
8. The volumetric flask was rolled, inverted and agitated to eliminate the air bubbles.
9. The water level was brought in the volumetric flask to its calibrated capacity.
10. The total weight of the volumetric flask, specimen, and water were determined: D(g)
11. The sample was removed from the volumetric flask, and was dried to constant weight
at a temperature of 110oC, the sample was cooled and weighed: E (g).
12. The specific gravity and absorption were then calculated.

Result and analysis:

No. Sample weight (g) Result (g)

1 A 400
2 B (SSD) 485
3 C (pycnometer + water) 1345
4 D (pycnometer + sample + water) 1590
5 E (oven-dry sample) 385
 Result

Bulk specific gravity, dry = A 400

1.667
CBD 1345 485 1590
Bulk specific gravity, SSD = B 485
2.021
CBD 1345 485 1590
Apparent specific gravity = E 385
2.750
CED 1345 385 1590
Absorption = BE 485 385
100 % 100% 26.00%
E 385

Discussion:
Inaccuracy probably occurred in the test which we have not enough time to wait the
sand approaches a free-flowing condition and reached a surface dry condition before
weighted. Thus, it may affect the reading of the saturated surface dry of the sample. When
comparing the results of the bulk specific gravity of (saturated surface dry) fine aggregates is
higher than the bulk specific gravity of (dry) fine aggregates, it can be identify that the
absorption of water through the pores inside the aggregates cause the increasing of bulk
specific gravity value. From the experiment, we obtained 26.00% of absorption of fine
aggregates which is not fall in the range of 5% to 20% according to the theory.
There are a few things that we have to be alert while conducting the experiment to
avoid inaccuracy result. Firstly, the procedure in the lab sheet must be followed accordingly
and the reading of the sample must be taken as stated in the procedure.
The sample was ensured to be immersed in the water for a period of 24 4 hours
when preparing the sample. Besides, the water was poured out slowly from the pycnometer
so that we can reduce the loss of fines. The sample must spread on the flat nonabsorbent
surface and exposed to the air to obtain the saturated surface dry condition. The beaker needs
to stir for a while to eliminate the air bubbles when the beaker filled with water and saturated
surface dry sample.
While remove the sample from beaker, make sure the sample is remove clearly to
avoid the lost of fines. Moreover, switch off all the fans before weighing the samples due to
the sensitive of the digital balance. Make sure it is no deviation error when using the digital
balance and the sample should make sure dried at temperature of 110 5C (approximately
24 hours).
Conclusion:
From the experiment, our results are as below:
Bulk specific gravity (dry) of fine aggregates is 1.667.
Bulk specific gravity (saturated surface dry) of fine aggregates is 2.021.
Apparent specific gravity of fine aggregates is 2.750.
Absorption of fine aggregates is 26.00%.

From the above results, it can be concluded that surface moisture or saturated surface dry in
fine aggregates can cause an increase in volume compared to the dry volume which is called
bulking. Besides that, absorption and bulking of the fine aggregates is higher than the coarse
aggregates compared to the previous test.