School of Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

Qualification (B.Eng., 2
nd
year)

GEOMECHANICS

Laboratory 3: FLAKINESS INDEX AND ELONGATION

Students Name, Number: Hitiwa Natangwe
212018280
Bachelor of Engineering Civil Engineering

Date submitted: 09 October 2014

GRADE: ___________________________________




1

ELONGATION TEST
INTRODUCTION
The type of rocks and type of crushing machine highly determine the shape and size of
the aggregates produced. Elongated and flaky stones are normally not very suitable for
roadworks since the shape and the make them difficult to compact. As such the
flakiness and elongation test mush be carried out to determine the suitability of the
material. Aggregates which are flaky and/or elongated will often lower the workability of
a concrete mix and may also affect long term durability. In bituminous mixtures flaky
aggregate makes for a harsh mix and may also crack and break up during compaction
by rolling.
PURPOSE
i. To obtain detail of aggregates
ii. To determine the suitability of aggregates
iii. To determine the elongation of aggregates
iv. To determine the suitable aggregates for highway construction

OBJECTIVE
i. This test is to determine elongation index of the given aggregates sample.
ii. This test is to determine the suitability of the material.
THEORY
This method is based on the classification of aggregate particles as elongated when
they have a length (greatest dimension) of more than 1.8 of their nominal size, this size
being taken as the mean of the limiting sieve apertures used for determining the size-
fraction in which the particle occurs. The Elongation Index of an aggregate sample is
found by separating the elongated particles and expressing their mass as a percentage
of the mass of the sample tested. The test is not applicable to material passing a 6.30
mm BS test sieve or retained on a 50.0 mm BS test sieve. The particle shape of


2

aggregate is determined by the percentages of flaky and elongated particles contained
in it. In case of gravel it is determined by its Angularity Number. Flakiness and
Elongation tests are conducted on coarse aggregates to assess the shape of
aggregates. Aggregates which are flaky or elongated are detrimental to the higher
workability and stability of mixes. They are not conducive to good interlocking and
hence the mixes with an excess of such particles are difficult to compact to the required
degree. For base coarse and construction of bituminous and cement concrete types, the
presence of flaky and elongated particles are considered undesirable as they may
cause inherent weakness with probabilities of breaking down under heavy loads.
Rounded aggregates are preferred in cement concrete road construction as the
workability of concrete improves. Angular shape of particles are desirable for granular
base coarse due to increased stability derived from the better interlocking when the
shape of aggregates deviates more from the spherical shape, as in the case of angular,
flaky and elongated aggregates, the void content in an aggregate of any specified size
increases and hence the grain size distribution of the graded aggregates has to be
suitably altered in order to obtain minimum voids in the dry mix or the highest dry
density.

APPARATUS
Sieve Balance machine



3


Sieve Shaker >Length Gauge


PROCEDURE
1. First, we were dividing the aggregate sample.
2. After that, we weights 4 kilograms of the aggregates.
3. Then, we sift aggregates by sieve 25mm, 19mm, 12.5mm, and 6.25mm (start
with the largest size) in order to separate the aggregate sample to a particular
group using sieve shaker.
4. After we finish sift the aggregate about 5 minutes then, we had to record and
indicate the weights of the aggregates are stuck on each sieve, including the
retention of the tray.


4

5. Next step, select the length of aggregates (according to specifications above)
from each sieve separately. Record the weights and mass of aggregate length of
each side of the sieve.
6. Finally we record our findings in the table provided on the side.

RESULTS
Length Mass Elongation (%)
6.7 432g 20.9
10 500g 24.2
14 469.5g 22.7
20 782.5g 37.9
28 588g 28.4
TOTAL 2067g

CALCULATION

100

Total mass of elongated aggregates
Elongation index
Total mass of aggregates

= 432
2067
= 20.9%


DISCUSSION

Based on the result obtained, each sample collected has about less than %
elongated aggregates. But, the appropriate percentage of elongated aggregates in each
sample is determined by the specification stated in respective manual used for different
purpose. Aggregates that elongated could always lower the workability of concrete and
also affects its long-term durability. In bituminous mixtures, flaky aggregates make for a
harsh mix that can crack or break up during the compaction process.
CONCLUSION
After carried out the test, the elongation index of the collected sample is
determined. By knowing the elongation index is 20.9%, the sample collected is very
x 100


5

suitable for bituminous mix. But, different bituminous mix may require different
proportion of elongated aggregates. Therefore, appropriate manual should be referred
in order to gain the right mixture of aggregates for an accurate bituminous mix.







2.0 FLAKINESS TEST
INTRODUCTION
The type of rocks and type of crushing machine highly determine the shape and size of
the aggregates produced. Elongated and flaky stones are normally not very suitable for
roadworks since the shape and the make them difficult to compact. As such the
flakiness and elongation test mush be carried out to determine the suitability of the
material. Aggregates which are flaky and/or elongated will often lower the workability of
a concrete mix and may also affect long term durability. In bituminous mixtures flaky
aggregate makes for a harsh mix and may also crack and break up during compaction
by rolling.
PURPOSE
v. To obtain detail of aggregates
vi. To determine the suitability of aggregates
vii. To determine the elongation of aggregates
viii. To determine the suitable aggregates for highway construction
OBJECTIVE


6

This test is to determine the suitability of the material.

THEORY
The particle shape of aggregate is determined by the percentages of flaky and
elongated particles contained in it. In case of gravel it is determined by its Angularity
Number. Flakiness and Elongation tests are conducted on coarse aggregates to assess
the shape of aggregates. Aggregates which are flaky or elongated are detrimental to the
higher workability and stability of mixes. They are not conducive to good interlocking
and hence the mixes with an excess of such particles are difficult to compact to the
required degree. For base coarse and construction of bituminous and cement concrete
types, the presence of flaky and elongated particles are considered undesirable as they
may cause inherent weakness with probabilities of breaking down under heavy loads.
Rounded aggregates are preferred in cement concrete road construction as the
workability of concrete improves. Angular shape of particles are desirable for granular
base coarse due to increased stability derived from the better interlocking when the
shape of aggregates deviates more from the spherical shape, as in the case of angular,
flaky and elongated aggregates, the void content in an aggregate of any specified size
increases and hence the grain size distribution of the graded aggregates has to be
suitably altered in order to obtain minimum voids in the dry mix or the highest dry
density.

APPARATUS
Sieve (50mm, 37.5mm, 28mm, 20mm 14mm and pan)
Sieve Shaker
Balance machine
A metal gauge plate.

PROCEDURES


7

1. Three samples of aggregates weighing 2.5kg each is prepared: The aggregates of
the first sample passing 50mm BS sieve and retained on 37.5 mm BS sieve, those
of the second sample passing 37.5 mm BS sieve and retained on the 20 mm BS
sieve.
2. Each sample is gauged in turn of thickness on the metal gauge.
3. Finally, weighed the passing material of each sample.
RESULTS



Original mass used 2610g

Sieve size Sieve mass Mass retained Mass passed
(large sieve)
Mass passed
(rounded)
Flakiness
Index (%)
63 670g 0 -
50 647g 0 -
37.5 609g 0 -
28 689.5g 878g - 878g (28-
37.5)
33.6
20 549g 1171.5g - 456.5g (20-28) 17.5
14 526.5g 1926g 857g 363.5g (14-20) 13.9
10 513g 801g 182.5g 44.5g (10-14) 1.7
6.3 509.5 592g 27g 10g 0.383
1.7 450 0
pan 244 253.5g


8


Example calculation
The flakiness index of aggregate passing sieve size 37.5mm and retained on
sieve size 28mm was calculated as follows:

sin
(%) 100
Number of aggreate pas g
FlakinessIndex
Total number aggregate

=
878
100
2610
x

= 33.6%

Average =
fraction of No
frations all of Summation

=
(33.6 17.5 13.9 1.7 0.383)
5


= 13.4 %


DISCUSSION
Based on the result obtained, each sample collected has about less than 40% flaky
aggregates. But, the appropriate percentage of flaky aggregates in each sample is
determined by the specification stated in respective manual used for different purpose.
For sample passed 37.5mm and retained on 28mm sieve has flakiness index 33.6%
while sample, which passed 28mm and retained on sieve 20mm has the flakiness index
about 17.5%. This makes the average flakiness index become 13.4%. Aggregates that
flaky could always lower the workability of concrete and also affects its long-term
durability. In bituminous mixtures, flaky aggregates make for a harsh mix that can crack
or break up during the compaction process.

Average Flakiness = 13.4%


9

CONCLUSION
After carried out the test, the flakiness index of the collected sample is determined.
By knowing the average index of about 13.4%, the sample collected is very suitable for
bituminous mix. But, different bituminous mix may require different proportion of flaky
aggregates. Therefore, appropriate manual should be referred in order to gain the right
mixture of aggregates for an accurate bituminous mix.

APPENDIX
Sieve (50mm, 37.5mm, 25mm, 20mm and pan)
>Metal
gauge plate