CE 121

Unit Weight, Void Content and Surface Moisture Content of Aggregates

Lab Activity No. 3 Formal Report






Lean Michael P. Tapel
2004-04165
BS Civil Engineering

I. Objectives
The main goals for this activity are to:
a. To determine the bulk density (unit weight) in loose or compacted condition.
b. To compute the void content in fine and coarse aggregates
c. To determine the percentage of evaporable moisture in a sample aggregate by drying
both surface moisture and moisture in the pores of the aggregate.
II. Experimental Procedure
a. Equipment and Materials
1. Sieves
2. Tamping Rod
3. Measure/ Mold
4. Vessels
5. Oven
6. Shovel
b. Methodology
1. Data Sampling. Sampling should be done in accordance with Practice D75.
These were thoroughly mixed and reduced to an amount suitable for testing
using the applicable procedures described in Practice C702.
2. Washing. The samples gathered were washed with flowing water inside the
container in order to remove the impurities in it. Then, the water would be
sifted out from the container where it was washed
3. Oven-Drying. Place the sample in a container and it would be dried to a
constant mass at a temperature of 110

5
O
C. The sample would be dried for a
duration of 24

4 hours then let it cool down until desired temperature is

achieved.
Determination of Bulk Density and Void Content of Coarse and Fine
Aggregates
1. Rod Tamping. Fill the Mold with a third of the volume and level the
surface with fingers. Using the rod, tamp the surface with 25 strokes
uniformly spread all over. Fill the measure two-thirds full and again level
the rod as above. Finally, fill the measure to overflowing and rod again
in the manner previously mentioned. Level the surface of the aggregate
with the fingers or a straightedge in such a way that any slight
projections of the larger pieces of the coarse aggregate approximately
balance the larger voids in the surface below the top of the measure.
Be cautious in preventing the rod to strike the bottom of the measure
forcibly. In tamping the second and third layers, use vigorous effort, but
not more force than to cause the tamping rod to penetrate to the
previous tamping layer.
Determination of Surface Moisture Content of Aggregates
2. Measure of oven dried Aggregate. Get the weight of the oven-dried
aggregate.

c. Equations Utilized

UNIT WEIGHT (OD condition)
V T G M / ) ( =
where:
M = bulk density of aggregate
G = mass of the oven dried-aggregate plus the measure
T = mass of the measure
V = volume of the measure

VOID CONTENT
( ) | | ( ) W S M W S Void = 100 %

where:

M
= bulk density of the aggregate

S
= bulk specific gravity (dry basis) as determined in accordance

W
= density of water, 998 kg/m
3


SURFACE MOISTURE CONTENT

( ) D D W p =100

A p SMC =
where:
A = Absorption (get values calculated from Lab Experiment 2)

W
= mass of original sample

D
= mass of dried sample

p
= Total Evaporable Moisture Content

SMC
= Surface Moisture Content



III. Results and Data

Data gathered were plotted on the table below. Results were computed simultaneously for
both fine and course aggregate.
FINE COARSE
Aggregate (ORIGINAL),kg 1.68 6
Aggregate (DRY),kg 0.48414 4.299
Aggregate(DRY
&Untamped) + Mold,kg
6.344 6.155
Aggregate(DRY &
Tamped) + Mold ,kg
6.617 6.809
Absorption 3.3 9.2
Bulk Specific Gravity(DRY) 8.59 3.44
Mold,kg 2.211
Volume m^3 0.002678

FINE COARSE
Total Evaporable Moisture
Content
247.0071 39.56734
Surface Moisture Content 243.7071 30.36734
Bulk Density (Dry Basis) 3345.046 3192.079
Void Content 60.98079 7.021049

Unit Weight/Bulk Density, Void Content and Surface moisture contents were computed for
both fine and coarse aggregates.

IV. Discussion
The experiment has provided data necessary for solving the Total Evaporable Moisture
Content which is a requisite for solving Surface Moisture Content. Then a similar set of data
is needed to solve the Bulk Density (dry basis) or also known as Unit Weight for both Fine
and Coarse Aggregates. Void Content was then computed through tamping of the aggregate
by a rod.
With values guided by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a certain range
could be considered useful in cement applications. Unit Weight range is between 1200-1760
kg/m
3
. Void content also has normal ranges of 30-45% for coarse aggregates and 40-50% for
fine aggregates. Absorption is a value that helps determine proper proportioning for
concrete production. Aggregates normally have an absorption value that ranges between
1%-2%. Higher values would affect durability negatively.

V. Laboratory Suggestions and Recommendations
Transferring of aggregates in the course of the experiment has been inaccurately done
producing more discrepancies as seen.
Some materials generate static electricity during the dry sieving process. When particles
charge themselves as they come in contact with other particles, they stick to the metal
frame and cloth of the sieve. This prevents you from obtaining accurate results.
It is also commendable to use mechanical sieving analysis to get more consistent results.

VI. Summary and Conclusion
Based on the calculated values, errors were seen to have emanated in the procedure.
Though values are still not that far from the range of acceptance, we are still very much
considerate in reworking on the experiment.

VII. References
- ASTM 127
- ASTM 128