Qn) 3 aggregates are required to be blended to obtain a gradation curve with n=0.50. Determine the proportions by Rothfuths method.

Sieve size (mm) 40 25 20 12.5 10 4.75 2.36 0.075 Ans.) Find required gradation for n=0.50 using fullers formula Percentage Passing Aggr. B Aggr. C 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 78 100 16 99 -91 -3 --

Aggr. A 100 93 36 ------

Percentage passing, p=100*(d/D)n d = sieve size (40, 25, 20, 12.5 etc.) D = Max.m sieve size (40) n = gradation index (0.50)
Sieve size (mm) 40 25 20 12.5 10 4.75 2.36 0.075 Required gradation for n = 0.50 (Percentage Passing) 100.00 79.06 70.71 55.90 50.00 34.46 24.29 4.33

We have to plot sieve size in X axis and % passing in Y axis of a normal graph. Draw X and Y axes and mark % passing along Y axis in some scale. But we cannot mark sieve sizes in normal scale. So mark the maxm sieve size (40) at some suitable point in X axis. Now we can mark % passing for max sieve 40. For 40 mm sieve % passing is 100%. Draw a rectangle with these points.

Similarly we know that for 0 sieve, % passing is 0. Mark that point also. Now we can join these 2 points ie. (0mm, 0%) and (40mm, 100%) to get a diagonal to the rectangle. This diagonal is desired gradation line. Other sieves are marked using this desired gradation line and required gradation. For 25 sieve % passing is 79.06%. So from 79.06% (in Y axis) drop a perpendicular line to the desired gradation line. From this point on desired gradation line drop perpendicular to X axis to get 25mm sieve point. Similarly mark all sieves in X axis. Now we can mark A, B and C gradations in this graph. In the case of A aggregate, along 40mm line 100% is marked, along 25mm line 93% is marked and along 20mm line 36% is marked. Also mark 0% on 12.5mm line. Join these points to get the A line (it may be a zigzag line). Now draw a balancing straight line to this A line. Similarly we can get points for B and C aggregates and balancing straight lines for them. (For drawing B line, 100% point along 10mm only should be taken and for C line 100% point along 20mm only should be taken. Because B and C have other 100% passing points also.) Now join 0% passing point in balancing line of A and 100% passing point in balancing line of B. Let this line meets the desired gradation line at P. Also join 0% passing point in balancing line of B and 100% passing point in balancing line of C. Let this line meets the desired gradation line at Q. Draw lines along P and Q parallel to X axis. The vertical distance between P line and 100% line (i.e, measured along Y axis) gives the proportion of A, vertical distance between P line and Q line gives the proportion of B and the vertical distance between Q line and 0% line gives the proportion of C. Using this A, B and C values, check for each sieve whether the required gradation is obtained. Some errors can be neglected.