Aggregate Plant
Classification of Aggregates
Grain size ranges:
Fine aggregate: 60 m 5 mm
Coarse aggregate: > 5 mm
Roundness
Well-rounded is better (improves packing and
workability)
Crushing strength and Modulus of elasticity
Higher the better; should be considerably
higher than the values expected in concrete
Humidity of Aggregates
Size Gradation
uniform size
continuous grading
gap grading
no-fines
Unsoundness
Low density particles can decrease strength.
Mica, and gypsum and other sulphates could react with the
hydration products leading to harmful effects.
Alkali-silica reactivity
Reactive forms of silica present in the aggregates are
attacked by the alkaline hydroxides in pore water. The
resulting gel swells, and can cause expansion and cracking.
Alkali-carbonate reactivity
Some dolomitic limestones and the alkalis in cement react to
form an expansive gel.
Disadvantages
Cheaper
Grade of concrete: M 20, Max. Aggregate Size: 30mm, 53 Grade OPC, w/c = 0.5
The crushed stone sand (i.e., quarry dust) and manufactured sand was collected from
different sand production units in Kerala.
Property
Natural
Sand
Crushed
Stone
Sand
Manufactured
Sand
Manufactured
Sand with 15%
fines (< 75m)
Cement content
(kg/m3)
405
387
372
368
Water content
(l/m3)
203
199
186
184
Slump obtained
(mm)
45
45
40
30
Cohesiveness
Cohesive
Cohesive
Not Cohesive
Cohesive
Compressive
strength (MPa)
29
28
35
35
References
Properties of Concrete, A.M. Neville, Pearson
Education, Delhi, 1995
Concrete: Microstructure, properties and
materials, P.K. Mehta and P.J.M. Monteiro,
Indian Concrete Institute, Chennai, 1999
Concrete, S. Mindess and J.F. Young, PrenticeHall, USA, 1981