1.

Name of the Experiment:

Determination of Specific Gravity & Water Absorption of Coarse Aggregates
o By Pycnometer Method
o By Basket Method
2. Property being Tested:
We test two properties in this experiment
o Specific Gravity
o Water Absorption
3. Reference Code of Provision:
IS: 2386 (Part III)-1963 Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete
4. Apparatus / Equipment List:
The following apparatus are used:
a) Balance - A balance or scale of capacity not less than 3 kg, readable
and accurate to 0.5 g, and of such a type as to permit the weighing of the
vessel containing the aggregate and water.
b) Oven - A well ventilated oven, thermostatically controlled, to maintain a
temperature of 100 to 110C
c) A pycnometer of about one liter capacity having a metal conical screw
top with a 6-mm diameter hole at its apex. The screw top shall be
watertight when it is screwed on to the jar, and, if necessary, a rubber or
fiber washer shall be inserted in the joint. If such a washer is used, a
mark shall be made on the jar to correspond with a mark on the screw
top so that the screw is tightened to the same position every time and the
volume contained by the jar is constant throughout the test. A suitable
vessel can be made from a l-kg fruit preserving jar in which the glass lid
normally used is replaced by a sheet metal cone as shown in Fig.1

Fig. No. 1: Pycnometer

d) Basket: wire basket with mesh size not more than 6.3mm

Fig. No. 2: Basket

e) Trays: A tray of area not less than 325 cm2.

f) Filter papers, Drying cloth and Funnel
5) Theoretical Background of the Experiment: Specific gravity is a measure of a
materials density (mass per unit volume) as compared to the density of water at
73.4F (23C). Therefore, by definition, water at a temperature of 73.4F (23C) has
a specific gravity of 1.The phase diagram can be represented as follows

Fig. No. 3: Phase Diagram

Specific gravity = Ms/Vs

Absorption, which is also determined by the same test procedure, is a measure of
the amount of water that an aggregate can absorb into its pore structure. Pores that
absorb water are also referred to as water permeable voids.
6) Practical Significance of the Experiment: Relative density (specic gravity) is
the characteristic generally used for calculation of the volume occupied by the
aggregate in various mixtures containing aggregate, including Portland cement
concrete, bituminous concrete, and other mixtures that are proportioned or analysed
on an absolute volume basis. Relative density (specic gravity) (SSD) is used if the
aggregate is wet, that is, if its absorption has been satised. Conversely, the relative
density (specic gravity) (OD) is used for computations when the aggregate is dry or
assumed to be dry.
Apparent density and apparent relative density (apparent specic gravity)
pertain to the solid material making up the constituent particles not including the pore
space within the particles which is accessible to water.
Absorption values are used to calculate the change in the mass of an
aggregate 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 most of the absorption potential. The
laboratory standard for absorption is that obtained after submerging dry aggregate
for a prescribed period of time. Aggregates mined from below the water table
commonly have a moisture content greater than the absorption determined by this
test method, if used without opportunity to dry prior to use. Conversely, some
aggregates which have not been continuously maintained in a moist condition until
used are likely to contain an amount of absorbed moisture less than the 24-h soaked
condition.
7) Sample Preparation:
For (a)
1. Take about 1kg of test sample in a sample tray and wash it thoroughly using
distilled water.
2. After washing the sample subject it to oven drying for 4-6 hrs. in an oven
maintained at a temperature of 100oC to 110oC.
3. Use this oven dried sample for the test procedure.
For (b)
Take about 2kg of test sample in a sample tray and wash it thoroughly with water
to remove any dust and finer particles.

8) Testing:
For (a)
1. Take a glass Pycnometer and wash it thoroughly using distilled water. Clean it
dry with the help of drying cloth.
2. Place the lid and note the mass of dry empty Pycnometer with lid as M1 (g).
3. Take the oven dried aggregate sample and place it in the Pycnometer. Place
the lid and note this mass as M2 (g).
4. The Pycnometer is then filled completely with distilled water taking care that
no froth formation takes place. The lid is placed and water is filled till the tip of
the hole. Dry the Pycnometer from outside with the help of drying cloth and
note this mass as M3 (g).
5. The contents of the Pycnometer are emptied into a tray and the Pycnometer
is washed. It is filled with distilled water completely till the tip of the hole and
the lid is placed. This mass is noted as M4 (g).
For (b)
1. Thoroughly washed aggregate samples are oven dried and placed in the wire
basket and immersed in distilled water at a temperature between 22 oC to
32oC ensuring at least 5cm cover of water on the top surface of the
aggregate.
2. Immediately after immersion the entrapped air is removed from the sample by
lifting the basket along with the sample and dropping it 25 times at the rate of
one drop per second. After this operation the wire basket is kept immersed in
water for a period of 24 hours.
3. The basket and the sample are weighed suspended in water at a temperature
of 22oC to 32oC and the observation is noted as M1 (g).
4. The basket and the aggregates are removed from the water and allowed to
drain for a few minutes after which the aggregates are transferred to dry
absorbent cloth.
5. The empty basket is then returned to the bucket of distilled water and jolted
25 times and weighed suspended in water. This observation is noted as M 2(g)
6. The aggregates placed in the absorbent cloth are surface dried. This mass is
noted as M3 (g).
7. The aggregates are then placed in a sample tray and placed in an oven
maintained at a temperature of 100Oc to 110oC for 241/2 hours.

8. After 24 hours of oven drying the aggregate sample is removed and allowed
to cool down at room temperature in humid free environment (air tight
container). The mass of the oven dried aggregate is noted as M4 (g).

9) Observation tables:
For (a):
a. Size of the aggregate: Passing 10 mm and retained on 4.75 mm sieve

Sr. No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Test Parameter
Mass of empty Pycnometer + Lid (M1) g
Mass of Pycnometer + Coarse Aggregates + Lid (M2) g
Mass of Pycnometer + Coarse Aggregates + Water + Lid (M3) g
Mass of Pycnometer + Water + Lid (M4) g
Specific Gravity G
Average Specific Gravity Value for given aggregate sample

Test 1
661
1156
1853
1545
2.65

Test Value
Test 2
661
1184
1871
1542
2.69
2.68

Test 3
660
1182
1870
1542
2.69

For (b):
b. Size of the aggregate: Passing 12.5 mm and retained on 10 mm sieve
Sr. No.

Test Parameter

Test Value

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Mass of saturated aggregates and basket suspended in water (M1) g

Mass of basket suspended in water (M2) g
Mass of saturated surface dried aggregates in air (M3) g
Mass of oven dried aggregates (M4) g
Specific Gravity G
Water Absorption (%)

1940
880
1950
1930
2.22
1.036

10) Calculations and Formulae:

For a:
Specific Gravity =

(M2 M1)
(M2 M1) (M3 M4)

For b:
Specific Gravity =

M4
M3 (M1 M2)

Apparent Specific Gravity =

M4
M4 (M1 M2)

Water Absorption = (M3 M4) x 100

M4

11) Results:
For (a)
The average specific gravity value for given aggregate sample by Pycnometer
method is 2.68 at a test temperature of 34oC.
For (b)
For the given aggregate sample: Specific Gravity by basket method is 2.22 at
a test temperature of 34oC. Water Absorption is 1.03%.

12) Standard values:

The specific gravity of aggregates used for road construction lies in the range
of 2.5 3.0 with an average value of 2.68 as a preferred value.
Aggregate absorption can also vary widely depending upon aggregate type.
Some lightweight shales can have absorptions approaching 30 percent, while other
aggregate types can have near zero absorption. Typically, aggregate used in HMA
production will have an absorption between just above zero and 5 percent.

Absorptions above about 5 percent tend to make mixtures uneconomical because

extra asphalt binder is required to account for the high aggregate absorption.

13) References:
(i) IS 2386 (Part-III) -1963 Methods of Tests for aggregates for Concrete.
(ii) ASTM C127 - Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific
Gravity), and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate.