TITLE: FLAKINESS INDEX OF COARSE AGGREGATE

SCOPE: TO DETERMINE THE ELONGATION INDEX OF COARSE AGGREGATE.

APPARATUS:

Sample divider, size appropriate to the maximum particle size to be handled or alternatively
a flat shovel and clean, flat, hard horizontal surface.
A Balance.
Test sieves, sizes and apertures appropriate to the specification of the material being tested.
Particulars of test sieves, nominal aperture sizes are 50, 37.5 28, 20, 14, 10, 6.3mm.
Trays.
Metal thickness gauge.
PROCEDURE:

Minimum mass of test portion

Nominal size of Minimum mass of test portion after rejection of oversize

material mm and undersize particles, kg

40 15

28 5

20 2

14 1

10 0.5

-Sieve analysis was carried out in accordance with standard sieve. All the aggregate retained on the
50mm test sieve and all the aggregate passing the 6.3mm test sieve.

-Each of the individual size fractions retained on the test sieves were weighted other than 50mm
sieves and stored them in separate trays with their size marked on the trays.

-The sums of the masses of the fractions in the trays were measured. The individual percentages
retained on each of the various test sieves were calculated. Any fraction whose mass is 5% or less
of mass were discarded. The mass remaining was recorded.

-The thickness gauge appropriate was selected to the size fraction under test and each particle was
gauged separately by hand. flaky particles were those whose greatest dimension prevents them
from passing through the gauge and these were placed to one side.

-All these flaky particles were combined and weighted.

CALCULATION:

Flakiness Index = (M1/M2) x 100

Where,

M1 = the sum of the masses of fractions that have a mass greater than 5% of the total mass

M2 = the mass of all the flaky particles

Consider sieve fraction 28mm passing and 20mm retained in observation sheet,

Total mass = 8391 g

Weight of fraction = 2094 g

Percentage of retained of total mass = 2094/ 8391 X 100

= 25%

Weight of sub divided fraction = 1000g

Weight retained on length gauge (determined) = 256 g

Weight retained on length gauge (adjusted) = 256/ 1000 x 2094

= 536 g

Total Weight retained on length gauge (adjusted) = 1209 g

Elongation Index = 1209/ 8391 x100

= 14%
DISCUSSION:

The particle shape of aggregate mass is determined by the percentage of flaky and elongated
particles contained in it and by its angularity.

The flakiness index of an aggregate sample is determined by separating the flaky particles and
expressing their mass as a percentage of the mass of the sample test and this test is not applicable
to size smaller than 6.3mm.

The test is conducted on coarse aggregate to assess the shape of aggregates. Aggregate which are
elongated or flaky are detrimental to the higher workability and stability of mixes. It is not
conductive to good interlocking and hence the mixes with an excess of such particles are difficult
to compact to required degree.

The flakiness index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles whose least thickness
is less than 3/5ths (0.6) of their mean dimension. The test is carried out by first separating the
aggregate into individual percentages retained on specified sieve sizes and then passing at least 200
particles from the individual percentage through slots in a thickness gauge whose widths are 3/5ths
the individual mean dimension. The flakiness index is then reported as the total weight of the
material passing the various slots expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the sample
gauged.

The width of the appropriate slot would be 0.6 of the average of the size range. If the size range of
aggregate in a group is 16 -20 mm, the width of the slot to be selected in thickness gauge would be
10.8mm.

In order to ensure good interlock and prevent excessive crushing of the aggregate it is important
that the flakiness index of the material should be low. Aggregate whose flakiness index is greater
than 35 is not recommended fro use in road construction.

REFERENCE:

1. Cement and concrete science and technology, Volume 1, part 1, By Dr. S.N. Ghosh.