O V E R V I E W O F A G G R E G AT E S

1
CONTENTS
› INTRODUCTION TO AGGREGATES

› CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES

› PROPERTIES ON AGGREGATES

› TESTS ON AGGREGATES

› WHY AN ALTERNATIVE TO AGGREGATES?

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O A G G R E G AT E S
AGGREGATES
҉ Aggregates such as gravel, crushed stone, and sand, are raw materials produced
from natural sources and extracted from pits and quarries.

҉ Cement is the only factory-made standard component in concrete. Other

ingredients, namely, water and aggregates are natural materials and can vary
to any extent in many of their properties.

Aggregates are divided into two categories from the consideration of size

 Coarse aggregate: The size of aggregate bigger than 4.75 mm is considered as

coarse aggregate.

 Fine aggregate. The size of aggregates that are 4.75 mm or less is considered
fine aggregate.

3
 P R O P E RT I E S O F A G G R E G AT E S
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SHAPE:

1. Rounded Shape:
The aggregate with rounded particles (river or seashore gravel) has minimum voids
ranging 32 to33 %.
The only disadvantage is that there is less interlocking between its particles, and hence,
the development of bonds is poor, making it unsuitable for high-strength concrete and
pavement.

2. Angular Aggregate:
The aggregate with sharp, angular, and rough particles (crushed rocks) has a maximum
of 38 to 40% of voids.
The interlocking between the particles is good. It is suitable for high-strength concrete.

3. Flaky Aggregate:
An aggregate is termed flaky when its least dimension (thickness) is less than three-fifth
of its mean dimension. The presence of these particles should be restricted to 10 to 15%.

4
 C L A SS I F I C AT I O N O F A G G R E G AT E S

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON UNIT WEIGHT

1. Light Weight Aggregate:
The lightweight aggregate having a unit weight of up to 12KN/m3 are used to manufacture the structural concrete
masonry blocks for reduction of the self-weight of the structure.

2. Normal Weight Aggregate:

The commonly used aggregate, i.e. sands and gravels; crushed rocks such as granite, basalt quartz, sandstone and limestone
and brick ballast, etc., which have specific gravities between 2.5 and 2.7 produce concrete with unit weights ranging 23 to
26 KN/m3.

3. Heavyweight Aggregate:
Concrete having unit weights of about 30, 31, 35, 38, 40, 47, and 57 KN/m3 can be produced by using typical limonite,
barite, magnetite, and hematite.

5
PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF A G G R E G AT E S

1. Size: The largest possible maximum size will result in (i) reduction of the cement content (ii) reduction in water

requirement (iii) reduction of drying shrinkage .

2. Shape: The shape of aggregates significantly influences the workability of concrete.. The cement requirement for a
given water/cement ratio, rounded aggregates are preferable to angular aggregates. The extra cement needed for
angular aggregates is offset by their increased strength and improved durability, due to better interlocking and bonding
with the cement paste.

3. Surface Texture: This affects the bond to the cement paste & also influences the water demand of the mix.
1. Smooth: Bond b/w cement paste & aggregate is weak.
2. Rough: Bond b/w cement paste & aggregate is strong.

Surface texture is not a very important property from compressive strength point of view but aggregate having rough
surface texture perform better under flexural & tensile stresses.

6
PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF A G G R E G AT E S

4. Specific gravity: The specific gravity of a substance is the ratio of the weight of a unit volume of the substance to the unit
volume of water at the stated temperature. Here it is used for the calculation of quantities of ingre­dients. It varies between 2.6
and 2.8.

5 Bulk density:

The weight of aggregate that would fill a container of unit volume is known as the bulk density of aggregate.

P R E S E N TAT I O N T I T L E
6. Porosity and Absorption of Water by Aggregate:

Porosity and absorption of aggregate will affect the water/cement ratio and hence the workability of concrete. The aggregate's
porosity will also affect concrete's durability when it is subjected to freezing and thawing and chemically aggressive liquids.

7. Bulking of Aggregates

The free moisture content in fine aggregate results in bulking of volume. bulking increases with the increase in moisture content
up to a certain limit and beyond that the further increase in the moisture content results in a decrease in the volume and at a
moisture content representing saturation point.

7
T E S T S O N A G G R E G AT E S

1. Sieve Analysis
IS 2386 Part 1
The sieve analysis is conducted to determine the particle
size distribution in a sample of aggregate, which we call
gradation. The aggregates used for making concrete are
normally of the maximum size 80 mm, 40 mm, 20 mm, 10
mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, 600 microns, 300 micron, and 150
microns
The fineness modulus is a ready index of the coarseness or
fineness of the material
ASTM C136
ASTM C136 is the equivalent American standard for
sieve analysis. It follows similar procedures to IS 2386
Part 1 and is widely used in the US and other countries.

8
 2. FLAKINESS INDEX

IS 2386 Part 1

The flakiness index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of

particles in it whose least dimension ( thickness ) is less than three-
fifthof their mean dimension. The test is not applicable to sizes
smaller than 6.3mm.
The flakiness index measures the proportion of flat or elongated particles
in an aggregate sample. It helps to determine the unevenness in the final
construction material.
ASTM D4791
ASTM D4791 is the American standard for flakiness
index determination. This test provides information
about the shape of aggregates and their potential for
producing unevenness in a construction mixture,
especially in paving applications.

9
 1. ELONGATION INDEX

IS 2386 Part 1 ASTM D4791

The elongation index of an aggregate is the ASTM D4791 is the American standard for elongation
percentage by weight of particles whose greatest index determination. This test measures the proportion
dimension ( length ) is greater than one and four- of elongated particles in an aggregate sample,
fifths times their mean dimension. The elongation providing valuable information about the shape of the
test is not applicable to sizes smaller than 6.3 mm. aggregate and its potential impact on the performance
The elongation index measures the proportion of of the final construction material.
elongated or needle-shaped particles in an aggregate
sample.

10
 4 . S P E C I F I C G R AV I T Y A N D WAT E R
ABSORPTION
IS 2386 Part 3

These tests measure the specific gravity and water absorption of

aggregates. Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a substance to
the weight of an equal volume of water.
1. For aggregate larger than 10mm
2. For aggregate size between 40 to 10mm
3. For aggregate smaller than 10mm – Pycnometer is used.
Water absorption measures the percentage of water that the
aggregate can absorb.
ASTM C127, ASTM C128
ASTM C127 and ASTM C128 are the American
standards for determining specific gravity and water
absorption. These tests determine the density and
potential for absorption of aggregate materials, which
are crucial for concrete and other construction
applications.

11
 5 . A G G R E G AT E I M PA C T VA L U E

IS 2386 Part 4

The ‘aggregate impact value’ gives a relative

measure of the resistance of an aggregate to
sudden shock or impact, which in some
aggregates differs from Its resistance to a slow
compressive load.

ASTM D5821

ASTM D5821 is the American standard for the

aggregate impact value test. It follows similar
procedures to IS 2386 Part 4 and provides an
understanding of aggregate's resistance to crushing
under impact forces.

12
 6 . A G G R E G AT E C R U S H I N G
VA LU E

IS 2386 Part 4 ASTM D3744

The ‘aggregate crushing value’ gives a relative ASTM D3744 is the equivalent American standard for
measure of the resistance of an aggregate to crushing aggregate crushing value. This test uses a similar
under a gradually applied compressive load of 40T. methodology as IS 2386 Part 4 to evaluate the
The standard aggregate crushing test shall be made crushing strength of aggregates for construction
on aggregates passing a 12.5-mm IS Sieve and projects.
retained on a I0-mm IS Sieve.
The ratio of the weight of fines formed to the total
weight in each test shall be expressed as a
percentage,

13
7. LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST

IS 2386 Part 4
The Los Angeles abrasion test measures the resistance of an
aggregate to wear and abrasion. It involves subjecting an
aggregate sample to a standardized abrasion process and
measuring the percentage of material that breaks down into
smaller particles. This test is essential for evaluating the
durability of aggregate, particularly in high-traffic areas like
roadways and pavements.
ASTM C131, ASTM C535

ASTM C131 and ASTM C535 are the American

standards for the Los Angeles abrasion test. They
follow similar procedures to IS 2386 Part 4 and help
determine the suitability of aggregate for use in high-
wear applications like roads and pavements.

14
 8. SOUNDNESS TEST

IS 2386 Part 5

The soundness test on aggregates determines their resistance to

disintegration by weathering and freeze-thaw cycles. The test
requires immersing aggregates in a saturated solution of sodium or
magnesium sulfate. As a general guide, it can be taken that the
average loss of weight after 10 cycles should not exceed 12 per
cent and 18 per cent when tested with sodium sulphate and
magnesium sulphate respectively

ASTM C88
ASTM C88 is the American standard for soundness test. It
follows similar procedures to IS 2386 Part 4 and provides an
understanding of aggregate's resistance to disintegration

15
W H Y A N A LT E R N A T I V E T O A G G R E G A T E S ?

 Aggregates are raw materials that are produced from natural sources.

 In 2023, 920 million tons of construction sand and gravel valued at $11 billion was produced by an
estimated 3,400 companies operating 6,500 pits. Because of Technological advancements, Growing
urbanization and infrastructure development and the Rise in transportation construction.

 The construction industry utilizes large quantities of aggregates obtained from crushed rocks or dredging
from the riverbed, which significantly leads to the depletion of raw materials.

 Due to a steep decline in the availability of reserves for natural resources to be used as cementitious
materials and aggregate. There should be an alternative to aggregates

16