Determination of Bulk Density and Void Content of Aggregates

Objectives:
To be able to determine the bulk density
and voids ofthe aggregate sample.
Significance and Use:
Bulk Density is the mass of the unit
volume of bulk aggregate material where
the volume includes the volume of the
individual particles and volume of voids
between the particles. It depends on how
densely the aggregate is packed. For
example, in a coarse aggregate, a higher
bulk density means that there are few
voids which are to be filled by the fine
aggregate and cement.Therefore, bulk
density can be used to measure the volume
that the graded aggregate will occupy in
concrete, including the solid aggregate
particles and the voids between them.
Additionally, the bulk density is required
for the volume method of mixture
proportioning. Void content of the
aggregates are usually used to determine
the amount of water needed to add to the
aggregates in making concrete. Thus in
concrete making, aggregates with a high
void content needs more water than low
void content aggregates since the water
will first fill the pores between the
individual particles before it will be used
in the hydration process of concrete.

and bottom true and even, and sufficiently

rigid to retain its form under rough usage.
The measure shall have a height
approximately equal to the diameter, but in
no case shall the height be less than 80 %
nor more than 150 % of the diameter. The
capacity of the measure shall conform to
the limits in Table 1 in ASTM C29 for the
aggregate size to be tested. The thickness
of metal in the measure shall be as
described in Table 2. The top rim shall be
smooth and plane within 0.25 mm and
shall be parallel to the bottom within 0.5.
The interior wall of the measure shall be a
smooth and continuous surface.
4. Shovel or Scoop
For Calibration of Measure, the following
materials are needed:
1. Plate Glass- A piece of plate glass,
at least 6 mm [14in.] thick and at
least 25 mm [1 in.] larger than the
diameter of
the measure to be calibrated.
2. Grease
3. Thermometer- range of at least
10C - 32C and is readable to at
least 0.5C
4. Balance
Methodology:

Materials:

Preparation:

1. Balance- accurate within 0.1 % of the

test load at any point within the range of
use, graduated to at least 0.05 kg. The
range of use shall be considered to extend
from the mass of the measure empty to the
mass of the measure plus its contents at
1920 kg/m3.

The sample was obtained and reduced in

accordance to Practice D75 and Practice
C702. The test sample size was
approximately 125-200% of the full
capacity of the measure. Care was taken as
to prevent segregation of aggregates. The
sample was then dried to 110 +/- 5 C

2. Tamping Rod-A round, straight steel

rod, 16 mm in diameter and approximately
600 mm in length, having the tamping end,
or both ends, rounded to a hemispherical
tip, the diameter of which is 16 mm.

Test Method:

3. Measure- preferably provided with

handles. It shall be watertight, with the top

Calibration of Measure:
This procedure should be done when
recalibrating the measure.Measure should
be recalibrated at least once a year or
whenever there is reason to question the
accuracy of the measure.

The mass of the plate glass was

determined. Then, the measure was filled
with water and covered with plate glass in
a manner as to eliminate bubbles and
excess water. Leakage of water from the
measure was prevented by placing a thin
layer of grease on the rim of measure and
any water that overflowed was also
removed. The mass of water, plate glass
and measure was determined. The density
of water was also determined by
measuring the temperature of water and
following Table 3 from ASTM C29. The
volume, V, of the measure and factor, F,
for the measure was calculated.
Selection of Procedure:
Shoveling procedure should be used only
for loose bulk density when specified.
Otherwise, for aggregates with nominal
maximum size of 37.5 mm or less, the
compact bulk density will be determined
by rodding procedure and by jigging
procedure for aggregates with 37.5 mm to
125 mm nominal maximum size.
Rodding Procedure:
The measure was filled with aggregates to
1/3 of its capacity and leveled at the
surface. The layer of aggregates was
rodded with 25 strokes of tamping rod
spread evenly over the surface. Then, the
measure was filled to 2/3 of its capacity
and again rodded in the same manner as
the first layer.Then, the measure was filled
to overflowing and rodded again. The
surface of aggregate was leveled in such a
way that larger pieces of coarse aggregates
approximately balance the larger voids in
the surface below the top of the measure.
Lastly,the mass of the measure plus its
content and mass of measure only
weredetermined.
Note: In rodding of the first layer of
aggregates, the rod was not allowed to
strike the bottom of the measure. For
second and third layers, more force is
needed than the first one but not to the
degree that the tamping rod will penetrate
the previous layer of aggregate.
Jigging Procedure

The measure was filled in three

approximate equal layers and
compacted by placing the measure
on a firm base such as cementconcrete floor so that the opposite
sides was raised and the measure
was allowed to drop in such a
manner as to hit with a sharp,
slapping blow. Through this method,
aggregates will arrange in a densely
compacted condition. Each layer was
compacted through this manner 50
times, 25 times on each side. The
surface of aggregates was leveled
using fingers or straightedge in the
same manner stated in the rodding
procedure. Lastly, the mass of the
measure plus its content and mass of
measure only were determined.
Shoveling Procedure
The measure was filled to overflowing
capacity discharging the aggregate from a
height not to exceed 50 mm above the top
of measure. Care was taken to avoid
segregation of aggregates. The surface
was leveled in the same manner as the
rodding and jigging procedure. Lastly, the
mass of the measure plus its content and
mass of measure only were determined.
Calculation:

M=

GT
=( GT ) X F
V

M- Bulk density of aggregate

G- Mass of aggregate plus measure
T- Mass of measure
V- Volume of measure
F- Factor for measure
Void Content

Voids=

( SW )M
X 100
S XW

M- Bulk density of aggregate

S- Bulk specific gravity determined by

C127 or C128

W- Density of water