Fine Aggrgate
➢ Fine Aggregate for concretre are the natural available materials. There are different types
of natural deposte of sand like hill sand, riversand, dessert sand etc.
➢ The well graded sand which can be used in concrete and qualify the gradation
requirement and other quality test (laboratory tests) is termed as Fine Aggregates for
concrete.
➢ Sources of Fine Aggregates in our country are Lawrencepur Sand, Bholari sand, Hub
sand etc.
➢ Fine aggregate fill and occupies the all the voids between the coarse aggrgates in
concrete and binds to make a compaced mass.
Gradation Test (Sieve Analysis)
Set of Sieves and Calculation Table for Gradation of Fine Aggregate
Cumulative
Sieve sizes Weight retained Percentage Percentage
percentage
(Particle Sizes) (gm) weight retained passing
weight retained
9.5 mm (3/8ʺ)
4.75 mm (No. 4)
2.36 mm (No. 8)
1.18 mm (No. 16)
600 μm (No. 30)
300 μm (No. 50)
150 μm (No. 100)
Pan
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Requirement of Gradation as per ASTM Standards
Refer ASTM C33
Following requirements are given in ASTM C33
Sieve (Specification E 11) Percent Passing
9.5-mm (3⁄8-in.) 100
4.75-mm (No. 4) 95 to 100
2.36-mm (No. 8) 80 to 100
1.18-mm (No. 16) 50 to 85
600-μm (No. 30) 25 to 60
300-μm (No. 50) 5 to 30
150-μm (No. 100) 0 to 10
Requirement of Gradation as per BS Standards
In BS standard the Fine Aggrgates are divided into four (04) zones.
Zone 1: Coarser Sand
Zone 2: Medium Sand
Zone 3 : Fine Sand
Zone 4: Very fine sand
BS Standards Grading Limits for Fine Aggregate
Sieve size Percentage by weight passing BS sieves
BS Grading Zone 1 Grading Zone 2 Grading Zone 3 Grading Zone 4
9.5 mm 3/8ʺ 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm #4 90-100 90-100 90-100 95-100
2.36 mm #8 60-95 75-100 85-100 95-100
1.18 mm #16 30-70 55-90 75-100 90-100
600 μm #30 15-34 35-59 60-79 80-100
300 μm #50 5-20 8-30 12-40 15-50
150 μm #100 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-15
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Problem 1:
Calculate the % Passing in a Gradation Test (Sieve Analysis) for the following
data of a sample of Fine Aggregate.
(i) Check the sample of fine aggregate as per ASTM C33 requirement.
(ii) Plot the results in a semi log graph of particle size distribution.
(iii) Also calculate Fineness Modulus (F.M)
Cumulative
Weight retained Percentage Percentage
Sieve size percentage
(gm) weight retained passing
weight retained
9.5 mm (3/8ʺ) 0
4.75 mm (No. 4) 540.00
2.36 mm (No. 8) 730.00
1.18 mm (No. 16) 815.00
600 μm (No. 30) 755.00
300 μm (No. 50) 560.00
150 μm (No. 100) 70.00
Pan 65.00
Total Weight of Sample: 3535 gm
Solution:
Total Weight of Sample: 3535 gm
Cumulative
Weight retained Percentage Percentage
Sieve size percentage
(gm) weight retained passing
weight retained
9.5 mm (3/8ʺ) 0 0 0 100
4.75 mm (No. 4) 540.00 15.27 15.27 84.73
2.36 mm (No. 8) 730.00 20.65 35.92 64.08
1.18 mm (No. 16) 815.00 23.06 58.98 41.02
600 μm (No. 30) 755.00 21.36 80.34 19.66
300 μm (No. 50) 560.00 15.84 96.18 3.82
150 μm (No. 100) 70.00 1.98 98.16 1.84
Pan 65.00 1.84 100 -
Fineness Moulus = F.M= Sum of Cummulative % Retained
100
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Fineness Modulus (F.M)
Value of F.M = 2.2 to 2.6 ------ Fine Sand
Value of F.M = 2.6 to 2.9 ------ Medium Sand
Value of F.M = 2.9 to 3.2 ------ Coarser Sand
It Value of F.M > 3.2 then Sand is not good for concrete.
Basic Quality Test for Fine Aggrgates
SNo Test of Fine Aggrgate Validity Range
1. Gadation Test (Sieve Analysis) Refer ASTM C33
or
BS- Zone-1 to 4 requirments.
2. Fineness Modolus (F.M) Value of F.M < 3.00
3. Water Absorption Less than 2.00%
4. Specific Gravity Normally 2.50 to 2.80
5. Unit Weight ((Dry Un-rodded or Uncompacted) Normally 1.6 to 1.8 g/cm3 or
1600 to 1800 kg/m3.
Note:
Also Read No. 200Sieve (0.075mm) Passing requirement in ASTM C33
Clay lumps and Friaable Particles requirement in ASTM C33
Some Advanced Quality Test for Fine Aggrgates
SNo Test of Fine Aggrgate Validity Range
1. Sand Equivalent Test Result of sand equivalent should be More than 70%
2.. Petrography Test Mostly carried out by Geology Department.
In this test sample of sand is observed under
Compound microscope and its Origin and Formation
particles are observed.
In this test it is concluded that the sample is of Sand
an can be used in Concrete.
3.. Alkali- Silica Reactivity test In this test fine aggrgates are tested with cement .
Result of test should be:
Not Reactive
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Semi Log Graph for Particle Size Distribution (Sieve Analysis)
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