RECORD BOOK

CE3410 - CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

LABORATORY

NAME S VAMSI BHARGAV

CE17B015
ROLL NUMBER

SHAPE TESTS
EXPERIMENT

Building Technology & Construction Management Division

Dept. of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology
Madras Chennai 600 036, India

July – November 2019

SHAPE TESTS
Aim:
Determination of Flakiness Index, Elongation Index, Combined Index and
Angularity number of the aggregates

Apparatus:
• Aggregates separated in different size ranges after sieve analysis
• Standard thickness gauge
• Balance to weigh the sample
• Length gauge
• Metal cylinder closed at one end
• Metal tamping rod of circular cross section, 16 mm in diameter and 60 cm in length
rounded at one end
• Metal scoop of about one litre heaped capacity of size 20 × 10 × 5 cm

Procedure:

A) Flakiness and elongation index:

1. Take samples containing around 200 pieces of aggregates from each of the following
sizes 25 – 20 mm, 20 – 16 mm, 16 – 12.5 mm, 12.5 – 10 mm and 10 – 6.3 mm
2. Weigh each sample and record the weight
3. Then pass each aggregates of each sample through Standard thickness gauge, and
separate the flaky and non-flaky particles
4. Note down the weight of flaky and non-flaky particles
5. Now, take flaky particles and pass it through length gauge. Note down the weights of
elongated and non elongated particles.
6. Do the above step for non-flaky particles also, and note down their weights

B) Angularity number:
1. Take the metal cylinder and fill it 1/3rd by the aggregates, then tamp it(free fall from a
height of 5 cm) with the metal tamping rod 100 times at 2 blows per second
2. Then fill it 2/3rd with the aggregates, and tamp it again 100 times
3. Then, fill it up to brim and tamping is repeated.
4. Individual pieces of aggregates are then added and rolled into surface by rolling the
tamping rod across upper edge of the cylinder.
5. Note down the weight of aggregates in the cylinder, W gm
6. Note down the weight of water required to fill the cylinder upto the rim, C gm
7. Measure the angularity number by given formula. Take specific gravity of aggregates
as G =2.7

Observations and calculations:

➢ Flakiness and elongation index

➢ Angularity number

Calculations:
Results:
➢ Flakiness Index FI = 16.37 %
➢ Elongation Index EI = 15%
➢ Non-Flaky Elongation Index EInon-flaky = 14.2%
➢ Combined Index CI = 30.57%
➢ Angularity number for 25-20= 3.907
➢ Angularity number for 20-16 = 4.43

Discussions:
1. What is the significance of shape factors of coarse aggregates in pavement
construction?
Shape factor affects the binding properties and the strength of a pavement.
If flaky and elongated aggregates are present in appreciable proportions, the strength of
the pavement layer would be affected due to possibility of breaking down under loads.
Thus, evaluation of shape of the particles, particularly with reference to flakiness and
elongation is necessary.
Angularity number has considerable importance in the gradation requirements of various
types of mixes such as bituminous concrete and soil aggregate mixes. Required
angularity of particles depends on the pavement type. Flexible pavements require more
angular particles for better interlocking while concrete pavements need rounder particles
for better workability.

2. Discuss the effects of flaky and elongated aggregate in road construction.

Flaky and elongated particles are considered undesirable for base coarse construction as
they may cause weakness with possibilities of breaking down under heavy loads. If
particles are too flaky, they won't easily get coated with binder while if they are too
elongated, they will crush and break on application of load

3. Explain what is meant by flaky particles.

Flaky particles are those particles whose least dimension is less than 3/5th or 0.6 of its
mean dimensions. Mean dimension is the average of the sizes of the sieve through which
the particles pass and the sieve on which these are retained.

4. How is FI calculated?
It is the percentage of that mass of aggregate whose least dimension is less than 0.6
times its mean dimension. Applicable to particles greater than 6.3mm size .It is
calculated as
sum of the weights of flaky particles
Flakiness Index = *100
total weight of test sample

5. What are the acceptable limits of FI of coarse aggregates for different types of
pavement layers?
S.No Types of pavement construction Maximum limits of
. flakiness Index, %
1 Bituminous carpet 30
(i) Bituminous Concrete
(ii) Bituminous penetration macadam
2 (iii) Bituminous surface dressing (single coat, 25
two coats and pre-coated)
(iv) Built-up spray grout
(i) Bituminous macadam
3 (ii) Water bound macadam, base and surfacing 15
courses
 Maximum allowable flakiness index of aggregates in different types of pavement
construction as per IRC

6. What is Elongation index? How is it determined in the laboratory?

Elongation index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest
dimension (length) is greater than one and four-fifth times their mean dimension.
Applicable to particles greater than 6.3mm size.

sum of the weights of elongated particles

Elongation Index = *100
total weight of test sample

7. How is Combined Flakiness and Elongation Index determined?

The flaky particles passing through the respective slots of the thickness gauge are
removed and the elongation index test is carried out on the remaining non flaky
particles and its elongation index is obtained.
Combined Index = Flakiness Index + NonFlaky Elongation Index

8. Mention the allowable limits of Combined FI and EI values for different types of
highway pavement layers, as per MORTH.
The combined flakiness and elongation index so obtained shall not exceed 30 percent for
wet mix Macadam base course, dense bituminous Macadam binder course, semi dense
bituminous concrete surface course and bituminous concrete surface course of highway
pavements as per MORTH.

9. Discuss the advantages and limitations of rounded and angular aggregates in

different types of pavements.
Rounded aggregates are preferred in concrete roads (rigid pavements) as the
workability of concrete increases due to the less friction between the surfaces.
Angular shape of the particles is desirable in granular base coarse (flexible
pavement) due to better interlocking and increased stability.

10. Explain Angularity Number. How is it determined in the laboratory?

Angularity number of an aggregate for a given size range is the amount (to the nearest
whole number) by which the percentage of voids in it after compacting in a prescribed
manner exceeds 33.
Where, 33 is the percentage of volume of voids, in a perfectly rounded aggregate. 67 is
the percentage of volume of solids in a perfectly rounded aggregate.

W ∗ 100
Angularity Number = 67 −
C∗G
where W = mean weight of aggregates filling the cylinder
C = Weight of water filling the cylinder
G = Specific Gravity of aggregates
11. What are the applications of shape tests?
Shape tests are carried out to find flakiness, elongation, combined index, angularity
number of aggregates. From this test results we can say whether the given aggregates are
suitable for the construction of pavement or not.
Flaky and elongated particles are considered undesirable for base coarse construction as
they may cause weakness with possibilities of breaking down under heavy loads.
The higher the angularity number more angular and less workable is the aggregate mix

INFERENCE:

• Since Flakiness index is less than 25%, it can be used in Built-up spray grout,
bituminous penetration macadam and bituminous concrete
• The combined index of flakiness and elongation (non-flaky) was calculated as 36.13 %
which is more than the prescribed limit (30%) by Ministry of Road Transport and
Highway (MORTH).
• The angularity number was calculated as 3 which is less than 11 (as given in Indian
Standard), hence the aggregates can be classified as freshly crushed aggregates. Since the
aggregates are having lower angularity number, we can use it in concrete pavement
construction because it will provide more strength and workability.

REFERENCES:

1. Bureau of Indian Standards, Indian Standard Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete,
IS 2386, part I, - 1963 (re-affirmed 1997)
2. Road Research Laboratory, Bituminous Materials in Road Construction, DSIR, HMSO
Publication, London
3. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Specifications for Road and Bridge Works,
Fourth Revision, Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi
4. A.M. Neville, Properties of Concrete, Pearson Education

5. Akroyed, T.N.W., Concrete-Properties and Manufacture, , Pergamon Press.

6. Rajagopal, Veeraragavan and Justo, A Simplified Approach for Mix Design of
Bituminous Concrete, International Conference on Aggregates, Nice, May 1984.