QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 1

2. AGGREGATES ..............................................................................................2

2.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................2

2.1.1 Scope 2
2.1.2 References 2
2.1.3 Source Approval 2
2.1.4 Sampling 2
2.2 QUALITY AND TESTING...............................................................................2

2.3 STORAGE......................................................................................................3

2.4 FINE AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE AND MORTAR.................................5

2.5 COARSE AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE ...................................................6

2.6 COMBINED AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE...............................................7

2.7 WASHING AND PROCESSING.....................................................................7

2.8 AGGREGATES FOR WATER RETAINING STRUCTURES..........................7

QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 2

2. AGGREGATES
2.1 GENERAL

2.1.1 Scope

1 This part covers the requirements of aggregates for use in structural concrete.

2 Related Sections and Parts are as follows:

This Section
Part 3, Cement
Part 4, Water
Part 6, Property Requirements
Part 7, Batching and Mixing
Part 8, Transportation and Planning of Concrete
Part 15, Hot weather Concreting
Part 17, Structural Precast Concrete
Part 18, Prestressed Concrete
2.1.2 References
BS 812, Testing aggregates
BS 882, Specification for aggregates from natural sources

ASTM C40, Test Method for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
ASTM C88, Test Method for Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or
Magnesium Sulfate
ASTM C123, Test Method for Lightweight Pieces in Aggregate
ASTM C127, Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
ASTM C128, Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine
ASTM C131, Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate
by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine
ASTM C142, Test Method for Clay Lumps and Friable Particles in Aggregates.
ASTM C227, Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of Cement-Aggregate
Combinations (Mortar-Bar Method)
ASTM C289, Test Method for Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Aggregates (Chemical
Method)
ASTM C535, Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Large-Size Coarse Aggregate
by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine
2.1.3 Source Approval

1 The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer for approval full details of the proposed sources
of aggregate. These sources of aggregate supply shall be regularly and thoroughly
investigated to ensure that the quality of the material supply is satisfactory and that it does
not deteriorate during the performance of the project.

2.1.4 Sampling

1 The Contractor shall provide samples of both fine and course aggregate to the Engineer, in
accordance with the requirements of BS 812 Part 101, Guide to Sampling and Testing
Aggregates, for testing at least two weeks before beginning deliveries to the Site.

2 All samples shall be taken in the presence of the Engineer.

2.2 QUALITY AND TESTING

1 Aggregates shall consist of tough, hard, durable and uncoated particles containing no
harmful material in quantities sufficient to adversely affect the concrete or reinforcing steel,
QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 3

and shall contain no materials likely to cause staining or otherwise disfigure the concrete
surface.

2 Aggregates which shall be obtained from a source approved by the Engineer, shall comply
with the requirements of BS 882 except as modified here under. If required by the Engineer,
and in order to comply with these requirements the aggregates shall be washed clean with
potable water. The Contractor shall provide all data as specified in Appendix A of BS 882.

3 Contractor shall provide all data as specified in BS 882

4 Contractor shall satisfy the Engineer that aggregates to be supplied will not give rise to alkali
aggregate reaction with the cement.

5 Sampling of the aggregates shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of
BS 812.

6 Fine aggregates shall be natural sand or manufactured crushed rock sand. Crushed rock
sand shall be the direct product of a manufacturing process, not the by-product of coarse
aggregate production.

7 Beach sand shall not be permitted for use in concrete mixes.

8 The use of clean Dune Sand, blended with coarser sand, may be permitted providing it can
be shown that the sand if free from contaminants.

9 Aggregates shall meet the requirements of Table 2.1

10 Frequency of routine testing shall meet the requirements of Table 2.2

11 Mineralogical tests are to be carried out as instructed by the Engineer.

12 No aggregate deliveries shall be made to the Site until the Engineer has approved the
samples as complying with this specification.

13 Samples of aggregates shall be tested in accordance with the requirements of table 2.2.

2.3 STORAGE
1 The Contractor shall provide a means of storing aggregate at each point where concrete is
made such that
(a) each nominal size of coarse aggregate and the fine aggregate shall be kept
separated at all times
(b) contamination of the aggregates by the ground or other foreign matter shall be
effectively prevented at all times
(c) each heap of aggregate shall be capable of draining freely
(d) storage shall be such as to prevent segregation
(e) stockpiles shall be on hard and clean surfaces with not more than 5 % slope
(f) stockpiles shall be protected from direct sunlight
2 The Contractor shall maintain the stockpiles of coarse aggregate in separate gradings.

3 The preparation, location and size of any stockpiles, and the methods of segregation shall
be to the approval of the Engineer.
QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 4

Table 2.1
Limits for Physical, Chemical and Mechanical
Properties of Aggregates for Concrete

Item Test Methods Permissible Limits

No. Requirement BS 812 ASTM Fines Coarse
1. Grading Part 103 Standard Standard
(dry)
2. Material finer than 0.075 mm. Part 103
Natural, uncrushed/ Crushed (wet) Max. 3% Max. 1%
Crushed rock Max. 5% Max. 3%
3. Clay lumps and friable particles C142 Max. 3% Max. 2%
4. Lightweight pieces C123 Max. 0.5% Max. 0.5%
5. Organic impurities C40 Colour standard not darker
than Plate No. 3
6. Water absorption Part 2 C128/C127 Max. 2.3% Max. 2%
7. Specific gravity (apparent) Part 2 C128/C127 Min. 2.6 Min. 2.6
8. Shell content: Part 106
Coarser than 10 mm Max. 3 %
Between 5 mm and 10 mm Max. 3 %
Between 2.36 mm and 5 mm Max. 3 %
Finer than 2.36 mm
9. Particle shape:
Flakiness index Part 105.1 Max. 25 %
Elongation index Part 105.2 Max. 25 %
10. Acid soluble chlorides : Part 117
A. Reinforced concrete with
SRPC Max. 0.06 % Max. 0.03%
OPC and MSRPC Max. 0.06 % Max. 0.03%
B. Mass Concrete with
SRPC Max. 0.06 % Max. 0.03%
OPC/MSRPC Max. 0.06 % Max. 0.03%
C. Prestressed Concrete and
Steam cured structural
Concrete Max. 0.01 % Max. 0.01%
11. Acid soluble sulphates Part 118 Max. 0.3 % Max. 0.3%
12. Soundness (MgSO4) Part 121 C88 Max. 10 % Max. 10%
13. Mechanical strength :
10 % fines value (soaked) Part 111 Min. 150 kN
Impact value Part 112 Max. 30 %
Los Angeles abrasion C131/C535 Max. 20 %
14. 10 min immersed rotational test Test to be carried out in
Concrete grade 15 or less accordance with the Max. 20 %
Concrete over grade 15 procedure established by Max. 10 %
Water retaining concrete Central Materials Testing Max. 10 %
Reinforced marine concrete Laboratory Max. 10 %
15. Drying shrinkage Part 120 Max. 0.05 %
16. Potential reactivity :
Of aggregates Chemical Method C289 Not reactive Not reactive
Of cement aggregate C227 6 month expansion 0.1 %
combination Max.
17. Moisture Content Part 109

Note: Total chloride and sulphate limits are given in table 6.2

Table 2.2
QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 5

Frequency Of Tests On Aggregates

Item Requirement Test Method Test Frequency

1. Grading BS 812: Part 103 Every day
2. Material finer than 0.075 mm BS 812 : Part 103 Every day
3. Clay lumps and friable particles ASTM C142 Every day
4. Organic impurities ASTM C40 Each month or per 200 m 3,
whichever is more frequent
5. Water absorption ASTM C128/C127 Every 7 days
6. Specific gravity ASTM C128/C127 Every 7 days
7. Shell content BS 812 : Part 106 Each month or per 100 m 3,
whichever is more frequent
8. Particle shape BS 812 : Part 105 2 times per week
9. Acid soluble chlorides BS 812 : Part 117 2 times per week
10. Acid soluble sulphates BS 812 : Part 118 2 times per week
11. Soundness (MgSO4) ASTM C88 Each month
12. Mechanical strength
10% fines or impact value BS 812 : Parts 111/112 Every week
Los Angeles abrasion ASTM C131/C535 Each month
10 min immersed rotational test ESD Every week or 100 m 3
13. Moisture variation in sand Twice daily
(moisture meter)
14. Drying shrinkage BS 812 : Part 120 At the start of the project and
whenever there is a change in
the source of supply
15. Potential reactivity :
Of aggregates ASTM C295/C289 At the start of the project and
Of carbonates ASTM C586 whenever there is a change in
Of cement aggregate combination ASTM C124/C227 the source of supply
Note : Frequency ; m3 means per volume of concrete produced.

2.4 FINE AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE AND MORTAR

1 The gradation of fine aggregate for concrete and mortar shall be in accordance with the
gradation designations shown in Table 2.3

2 Each batch of aggregate delivered to the Site shall be kept separate from previous batches,
and shall be stored for at least three working days before use to allow for inspection and
tests to be carried out.

3 The aggregate used shall be clean, sharp, natural or crushed sand or a uniform mixture of
both.

4 The Contractor shall mechanically wash the aggregate to remove salts and other impurities
in order to meet the specified requirements.
QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 6

Table 2.3

Fine Aggregate Grading

Percentage Weight Passing BS Sieves

BS 410
Test Grading Grading Grading
Sieve Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
mm
10.00 100 100 100
5.00 90-100 90-100 90-100
2.36 60-95 75-100 85-100
1.18 30-70 55-90 75-100

µm
600 15-34 35-59 60-79
300 5-20 8-30 12-40
150 (a) 0-10 0-10 0-10
150 (b) 0-20 0-20 0-20

(a) natural sands

(b) crushed rock

2.5 COARSE AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE

1 Coarse aggregates shall be prepared as single sized aggregates and shall be blended to
produce normal size grading as shown in Table 2.4.

2 Aggregates that are deleteriously reactive with the alkalis in cement shall not be used.

3 The Contractor shall mechanically wash the aggregates to remove salts and other impurities
in order to meet the requirements specified.

4 The parent rock from which the aggregates are derived shall, for concrete over grade 15, be
derived from Gabbro in accordance with Group 4, BS 812, or similar complying with this
Specification.

Table 2.4
Coarse Aggregate Grading

BS Percentage Weight Passing BS Sieves

410
Test Nominal Size of Graded Nominal Size of Single Sized Aggregate
Sieve Aggregate
40 mm 20 mm 14 mm 63 mm 40 mm 20 mm 14 mm 10 mm
to 5 mm to 5 mm to 5 mm
mm
75.5 100 - - 100 - - - -
63.0 - - - 85-100 100 - - -
37.5 95-100 100 - 0-30 85-100 100 - -
20.0 35-70 95-100 100 0-5 0-25 85-100 100 -
14.0 - - 90-100 - - - 85-100 100
10.0 10-40 30-60 50-85 - 0-5 0-25 0-50 5-100
5.0 0-5 0-10 0-10 - - 0-5 0-10 0-25
2.36 - - - - - - - 0-5
QCS Section 5 Part 2 Aggregates Page 7

2.6 COMBINED AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE

1 Approved coarse aggregates and fine aggregates in each batch shall be combined in
proportions as specified in BS 882 and as approved by the Engineer.

2 In no case shall materials passing the 0.05 mm sieve exceed 3 % by weight of the
combined aggregate.

3 Combined aggregate gradation used in the work shall be as specified, except when
otherwise approved or directed by the Engineer.

4 Changes in the approved gradation shall not be made during the progress of the works
unless approved or directed by the Engineer.

2.7 WASHING AND PROCESSING

1 Where aggregates have been washed shortly before delivery to the Site, or if stockpiles
have been sprayed to cool them samples of the aggregate shall be taken frequently to
determine the correct amount of water to add to the mix.

2.8 AGGREGATES FOR WATER RETAINING STRUCTURES

1 Aggregates for use in water retaining structures shall comply with the requirements of either
BS 882 or BS 1047.

2 Water absorption, as measured in accordance with BS 812: Part 2 shall not be greater than
3%.

3 Aggregates shall have a coefficient of Thermal expansion not to exceed 10x10-6.

END OF PART