Specific Gravity and Absorption of Rock For Erosion Control: Standard Test Method For
Specific Gravity and Absorption of Rock For Erosion Control: Standard Test Method For
Specific Gravity and Absorption of Rock For Erosion Control: Standard Test Method For
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6473 − 15
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D6473 − 15
9.3 Remove each specimen from the water and roll it in a
large absorbent cloth until all visible films of water are
removed. A moving stream of air (but not a heated air stream,
such as from a drier) may be used to assist the drying. Take
care to avoid evaporation of water from the pores during the
surface drying operation. Determine and record the mass of
each specimen as the saturated-surface dry mass, B.
9.4 Dry each specimen for a minimum of 24 h or to a
constant mass within 60.1 % at a temperature of 110 6 5°C
(230 6 9°F), then cool them in air at room temperature for 1 to
3 h. Constant mass will be considered to have been achieved
when weight loss is less than 0.1 % of specimen weight in four
hours of drying. Determine and record the mass of each
specimen as the oven-dry mass, A.
NOTE 5—The use of tap water instead of distilled water is permitted.
The tap water shall not contain a high amount of dissolved minerals and
shall stand for several hours to dissipate any dissolved air. Laboratory test
results run on specimens tested in distilled water were sufficiently close to
FIG. 1 Example Apparatus those tested in tap water so as not to significantly affect the result.
of the rock. Sample the rock types in their approximate 10. Calculation
proportion to the types that occur at the source. 10.1 Calculate the bulk specific gravity, bulk specific grav-
ity (SSD), apparent specific gravity, and absorption for each
8. Specimens specimen at ambient laboratory temperature as follows:
8.1 Specimens shall be clean and without soil particles or bulk specific gravity 5 A/ ~ B 2 C ! (1)
other adherent materials. Specimens shall have all loose parts
bulk specific gravity ~ SSD! 5 B/ ~ B 2 C ! (2)
and adherent material removed by brushing with a stiff brush
(including the use of water, as necessary) and shall be allowed apparent specific gravity 5 A/ ~ A 2 C ! (3)
to air dry. absorption, % 5 @ ~ B 2 A ! /A # 3 100 (4)
8.2 Each specimen shall be a minimum of 1 kg (2.2 lb) in where:
mass. The maximum mass shall be limited only by the capacity
A = mass of oven-dry test specimen in air, g,
of the scale and size of the water-filled tank. B = mass of saturated-surface dry test specimen in air, g, and
NOTE 3—Tests to determine the absorption and specific gravity have C = buoyant mass of submerged test specimen in water, g.
been performed on aggregate-sized particles in accordance with Test
Method C127. Larger-sized particles may include more variability in rock 10.1.1 Calculate the results for each specific gravity test to
properties than small particles and can give a better indication of the bulk the nearest 0.01. Calculate the averages of all specific gravity
properties than small ones. tests by summing the results of all test specimens and dividing
by the number of specimens tested and report to the nearest
9. Procedure 0.01.
9.1 Conduct the testing procedure at ambient laboratory 10.1.2 Calculate the results for each absorption test to the
temperatures. nearest 0.1 %. Calculate the averages for all absorption tests by
9.2 Completely submerge the air-dried specimens in water summing the results of all specimens and dividing by the
at 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F) for a period of 24 6 4 h. Place the number of specimens and report to the nearest 0.1 %.
soaked test specimen, one at a time, in the suspended specimen
container ensuring it is completely immersed in water. The 11. Report: Test Data Sheet(s)/Form(s)
specimen container shall be immersed to the same level (depth) 11.1 Record the following information:
as when determining the tare value to reduce error caused by 11.1.1 Prepare a separate report on rock from each source.
the mass of the equipment above and below the water level. Report the source of the samples, its location, the dates
Take care to remove all entrapped air before determining its sampled and tested, and the geological formation if known,
mass in water by shaking the immersed container. Determine
11.1.2 Description and type of materials,
and record the mass of each specimen as the buoyant mass, C.
11.1.3 Name of the individuals performing the test,
Record this, and all subsequent masses, to the nearest 5 g or
0.1 %, whichever is more precise. 11.1.4 Indicate the type of specific gravity, whether bulk,
bulk (SSD), or apparent. The specific gravity results for each
NOTE 4—Care should be taken to ensure that any material detached specimen tested and the average of each type of test to the
from its parent specimen during the immersion process shall remain with
nearest 0.01, and
its parent specimen throughout the balance of testing. The detached
material shall be treated and its mass determined, as with the parent 11.1.5 Absorption result for each specimen tested and the
specimen. average of all the specimens tested to the nearest 0.1 %.
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D6473 − 15
12. Precision and Bias 12.3 Variation in the results of these test methods is a
12.1 The precision of these test methods has not been consequence of the variation in the materials sampled and
determined. Limited data are being evaluated to determine the tested and variation in the application of the test methods.
precision of these test methods. Subcommittee D18.17 is
seeking pertinent data from users of these test methods. 13. Keywords
12.2 The procedure defined in these test methods has no 13.1 absorption; riprap; rock material properties; specific
bias because the values of riprap particle size can be defined gravity
only in terms of a test method.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
In accordance with Committee D18 policy, this section identifies the location of changes to this standard since
the last edition (2010) that may impact the use of this standard. (July 1, 2015)
(1) Revised 1.1 to include what materials are deemed appro- (6) Added Figure 1 to illustrate the positioning of the specimen
priate for use in this practice. container relative to the water vessel during testing.
(2) Revised 1.3, 1.4, 3.1, 11 and 12, along with Note 2 to meet (7) Created new Section 8 (Specimens) with information re-
D18.91 editorial requirements. moved from Section 7 (Sampling), as it did not pertain to
(3) Deleted the reference to ASTM E145 in Sections 2.1 and sampling. This is consistent with Sections 7 and 8 in D5779.
6.4 as it has been removed from the standard. Subsequent sections were renumbered to reflect this revision.
(4) Added 3.2.4 to include gabion-fill as it is not referenced in (8) Revised Sections 9.2 and 9.4 for ease of use and clarifica-
D653. tion.
(5) Revised Section 4.1 for ease of use and clarification.
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