Methods of reducing the amount of sample:
1) Quartering:
Mix the field sample over three times on a level surface.
Shovel the sample to a conical shape.
Press the apex & flatten the conical shape.
Divide them into four equal quarters.
Discard two diagonally opposite quarters & use the
remainder.
If this remainder is still too large follow the same path.
Side Top Side Top
The material is sieved through a series of
sieves that are placed one above the other
in order of size with the largest sieve at
the top.
Dry agg. is sieved to prevent lumps.
Agg.
#4
*****
#8
#16 MS = MC+S - MC
#30
#50
#100
Pan
Sieve shaker Lateral & Vertical motion
The particle size distribution in an aggregate
sample is known as “gradation”.
Strength development of concrete depends on
degree of compaction & workability together
with many other factors. So, a satisfactory
concrete should be compacted to max density
with a reasonable work.
On the other hand, in good concrete all
aggregate particles must be covered by cement
paste.
The grading of aggregate must be so that
the workability, density & volume stability of
concrete may not be adversely affected by it.
Fine Particles → higher cost
Coarse Particles → less workability
A reasonable combination of fine & coarse
aggregate must be used. This can be
expressed by maximum density or minimum
voids concept.
Size of agg. is not important. If an agg. with the
same size is used amount of void volume will not
change. So, to overcome this, different sizes of
particles should be used.
However, you should not forget that as aggregate
get finer, the surface area increases.
More surface area → more paste & water
requirement
Reduction of Voids
Factors Affecting a Desired
Grading
1) Surface area of the Aggregate
The lower the surface area, the lesser is
the paste requirement.
2) Relative Volume of Agg. in Concrete
Higher volume of agg.:
→economical
→higher strength, higher volume stability
→less workability !
Determination of the Grading of
Aggregate
There are two different methods for
determining the agg. grading:
Fineness Modulus (FM)
Granulometry
The grading of the particles in an agg.
sample is performed by “sieve analysis”. The
sieve analysis is conducted by the use of
“standard test sieves”. Test sieves have
square openings & their designation
correspond to the sizes of those openings.
Ex:A 500gr sample of a Fine Agg. was sieved. Determine FM?
Amount Retained Amount Retained % Cumulative
Sieve
on (gr) on (%) Retained on
3/8" 0 0 0
#4 30 6 6
#8 80 16 22
#16 100 20 42
#30 120 24 66
#50 125 25 91
#100 35 7 98
Pan 10 2 100
6+22+42+66+91+98
FM = = 3.25
100
Pan is not included.
Only standard sieves are included, if we were given #10
sieve you should not use that in calculations
Ex: Determine the FM for the 1000gr sample of
Coarse Agg.
Amount Amount % Cumulative
Sieve
Retained on (gr) Retained on (%) Retained on
2" 70 7 7
1 1/2" 230 23 30
3/4" 350 35 65
3/8" 250 25 90
#4 100 10 100
Fine Set+3/8”+3/4”+1 ½”+3”
FM =
100
30+65+90+100+100+100+100+100+100
FM = = 7.85
100
2) Granulometry:
The FM is not always representative of the
gradation of an aggregate sample and
various gradation curves may give the
same FM.
In the gradation curves, the vertical axis
represents the % passing & the horizontal
axis represents the sieve opening.
A logarithmic scale is used for horizontal
axis.
A good aggregate gradation for a particular concrete
is the one that leads to a workable, dense & uniform
concrete, without any segregation of particles.
There is no single “ideal” grading curve.
Instead, standards provide upper & lower limits.
ASTM Requirement for CA
ASTM Requirement for % Passing
Sieve
FA 1 ½"- #4 3/4" - #4 1/2" - #4
Sieve % Passing 3" – – –
3/8" 100 2 ½" – – –
#4 95-100 2" 100 – –
1 ½" 95-100 – –
#8 80-100
1" – 100 –
#16 50-85
3/4" 35-70 90-100 100
#30 25-60
1/2" – – 90-100
#50 10-30
3/8" 10-30 20-55 40-70
#100 2-10 #4 0-5 0-15 0-15
#6 – 0-5 0-5
* Changes with max aggregate size
* Gap Graded agg.
No particles between
#30 & #16
20
#30 #16
* Single sized agg.
Most of the particles are
between #30 & #16
100
90
#30 #16