Concrete Aggregates

CONCRETE AGGREGATES
 The aggregate occupies ~70-75% of the

volume of concrete, so its quality is of
great importance.
 Aggregates may affect the following

properties of concrete:
– Strength
– Durability
– Structural Performance
– Economy
binding medium
(mortar)
 Portland Cement Concrete
relatively inert
filler materials
(aggregates)
 In concrete mixtures the proportions of cement

paste & aggregates is controlled by the following
factors:
1) Suitable workability & placeability of fresh mass.
2) Adequate strength & durability of hardened product.
3) Minimum cost of the final product
 Aggregates have 3 main functions in
concrete:
1) To provide a mass of particles which are
suitable to resist the action of applied loads &
show better durability then cement paste
alone.
2) To provide a relatively cheap filler for the
cementing material.
3) To reduce volume changes resulting from
setting & hardening process & from moisture
changes during drying.
 The properties of concrete are affected by
the properties of aggregate:
1. The mineral character of aggregate affects
the strength, durability, elasticity of concrete.
2. The surface characteristics of aggregate
affects the workability of fresh mass & the
bond between the aggregate & cement paste
in hardened concrete. If it is rough,
workability decreases & bond increases.
3. The grading of aggregate affects the
workability, density & economy.
4. The amount of aggregate in unit volume of
concrete
 Higher aggregate amount/unit volume of
concrete
– Results in less volume changes during setting
& hardening or moisture changes. (increase in
volume stability)
– Increase in strength & durability
– Decrease in cost
 It is a common practice to use as

much aggregate as possible in
concrete
 However, all aggregates are not inert:
– The physical action: swelling & shrinkage
– The chemical action: alkali-agg. Reaction
– The thermal action: expansion & contraction
 Like the other ingredients of concrete,

aggregates must also be chosen with
certain care to end up with a satisfactory
concrete.
CLASSIFICATION OF
AGGREGATES
 According to Source:
1. Natural aggregate: Native deposits with no
change in their natural state other than
washing, crushing & grading. (sand, gravel,
crush stone)
2. Artificial aggregates: They are obtained either
as a by-product or by a special manufacturing
process such as heating. (blast furnace slag,
expanded perlite)
 According to Petrological Characteristics:
1. Igneous rocks: are formed by solidification of
molten lava. (granite)
2. Sedimentary rocks: are obtained by
deposition of weathered & transported pre-
existing rocks or solutions. (limestone)
3. Metamorphic rocks: are formed under high
heat & pressure alteration of either igneous
& sedimentary rocks (marble).
Normal-Weight Aggregate
ASTM C 33
Most common aggregates
 Sand
 Gravel
 Crushed stone
Produce normal-weight concrete 2200 to 2400 kg/m3

Lightweight Aggregate (1)
ASTM C 330
Expanded
– Shale
– Clay
– Slate
– Slag
Produce structural lightweight concrete

1350 to 1850 kg/m3
Lightweight Aggregate (2)
ASTM C 330
 Pumice
 Scoria
 Perlite
 Vermiculite
 Diatomite
Produce lightweight insulating concrete—
250 to 1450 kg/m3
Heavyweight Aggregate
ASTM C 637, C 638 (Radiation Shielding)
 Barite  Hematite
 Limonite  Iron
 Magnetite  Steel punchings or shot
 Ilmenite
Produce high-density concrete up to 6400 kg/m3

 According to Size:
1. Fine aggregate: Particles that pass through
4.75 mm (# 4 Sieve)
2. Coarse aggregate:
Predominantly retained on the 4.75mm (4) sieve
Fine Aggregate
 Sand and/or
crushed stone
 < 4.75 mm
 F.A. content usually

35% to 45% by
mass or volume of
total aggregate
Coarse Aggregate
 Gravel and
crushed stone
  4.75 mm
 typically
between 9.5
and 37.5 mm
 According to Unit Weight:
1. Heavy weight agg.: Hematite, Magnetite
Specific Gravity, Gs > 2.8
2. Normal weight agg.:Gravel, sand, crushed stone
2.8 < Gs < 2.4
3. Light weight agg.:Expanded perlite, burned clay
Gs < 2.4
PARTICLE SHAPE & SURFACE
TEXTURE
 In addition to petrological character, the
external characteristics, i.e. The shape &
surface texture of aggregates are of
importance.
Particle Shape
 Rounded: Completely water worn & fully
shaped by attrition. (River Gravel)
 Irregular: Partly shaped by attrition so it

contains some rounded edges. (Land
Gravel)
 Angular: Has sharp corners, show little
evidence of wear. (Crushed Stone)
 Flaky: Thickness is relatively small with

respect to two other dimensions. (Laminated
Rocks)
 Elongated: Have lengths considerably larger

than two other dimensions
L
t w
FLAT ELONGATED
ANGULAR ROUND
 Rounded aggregates are suitable to use in
concrete because flaky & elongated
particles reduce workability, increase
water demand & reduce strength.
 In the case of angular particles, the bond

between agg. Particles is higher due to
interlocking but due to higher surface
area, angular particles increase water
demand & therefore reduce workability. As
a result, for the same cement content &
same workability rounded agg. Give
higher strength. ?
Surface Texture
 This affects the bond to the cement paste
& also influences the water demand of the
mix.
Smooth: Bond b/w cement paste & agg is weak.

Rough: Bond b/w cement paste & agg. is strong.
 Surface texture is not a very important

property from compressive strength point
of view but aggregate having rough
surface texture perform better under
flexural & tensile stresses.
SMOOTH ROUGH

Concrete Aggregates

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CONCRETE AGGREGATES

 The aggregate occupies ~70-75% of the

 Aggregates may affect the following

 In concrete mixtures the proportions of cement

 It is a common practice to use as

 Like the other ingredients of concrete,

Produce normal-weight concrete 2200 to 2400 kg/m3

Produce structural lightweight concrete

Produce high-density concrete up to 6400 kg/m3

 F.A. content usually

 Irregular: Partly shaped by attrition so it

 Flaky: Thickness is relatively small with

 Elongated: Have lengths considerably larger

 In the case of angular particles, the bond

 Surface texture is not a very important

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