C127 PDF
C127 PDF
C127 PDF
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C 127 07
prescribed period of time, but not including water adhering to the computation of voids in aggregate in Test Method C 29/
the outside surface of the particles, expressed as a percentage C 29M. Relative density (specific gravity) (SSD) is used if the
of the dry mass. aggregate is wet, that is, if its absorption has been satisfied.
3.1.2 oven-dry (OD), adjrelated to aggregate particles, Conversely, the relative density (specific gravity) (OD) is used
the condition in which the aggregates have been dried by for computations when the aggregate is dry or assumed to be
heating in an oven at 110 6 5 C for sufficient time to reach a dry.
constant mass. 5.2 Apparent density and apparent relative density (apparent
3.1.3 saturated-surface-dry (SSD), adjrelated to aggre- specific gravity) pertain to the solid material making up the
gate particles, the condition in which the permeable pores of constituent particles not including the pore space within the
aggregate particle are filled with water to the extent achieved particles which is accessible to water.
by submerging in water for the prescribed period of time, but 5.3 Absorption values are used to calculate the change in the
without free water on the surface of the particles. mass of an aggregate due to water absorbed in the pore spaces
3.1.4 density, nthe mass per unit volume of a material, within the constituent particles, compared to the dry condition,
expressed as kilograms per cubic metre (pounds per cubic when it is deemed that the aggregate has been in contact with
foot). water long enough to satisfy most of the absorption potential.
3.1.4.1 density (OD), nthe mass of oven dry aggregate per The laboratory standard for absorption is that obtained after
unit volume of aggregate particles, including the volume of submerging dry aggregate for a prescribed period of time.
permeable and impermeable pores within the particles, but not Aggregates mined from below the water table commonly have
including the voids between the particles. a moisture content greater than the absorption determined by
3.1.4.2 density (SSD), nthe mass of saturated-surface-dry this test method, if used without opportunity to dry prior to use.
aggregate per unit volume of the aggregate particles, including Conversely, some aggregates which have not been continu-
the volume of impermeable pores and permeable, water-filled ously maintained in a moist condition until used are likely to
pores within the particles, but not including the voids between contain an amount of absorbed moisture less than the 24-h
the particles. soaked condition. For an aggregate that has been in contact
3.1.4.3 apparent density, nthe mass per unit volume of the with water and that has free moisture on the particle surfaces,
impermeable portion of the aggregate particles. the percentage of free moisture is determined by deducting the
3.1.5 relative density (specific gravity), nthe ratio of the absorption from the total moisture content determined by Test
density of a material to the density of distilled water at a stated Method C 566.
temperature; the values are dimensionless. 5.4 The general procedures described in this test method are
3.1.5.1 relative density (specific gravity) (OD), nthe ratio suitable for determining the absorption of aggregates that have
of the density (OD) of the aggregate to the density of distilled had conditioning other than the 24-h soak, such as boiling
water at a stated temperature. water or vacuum saturation. The values obtained for absorption
3.1.5.2 relative density (specific gravity) (SSD), nthe ratio by other test methods will be different than the values obtained
of the density (SSD) of the aggregate to the density of distilled by the prescribed soaking, as will the relative density (specific
water at a stated temperature. gravity) (SSD).
3.1.5.3 apparent relative density (apparent specific gravity), 5.5 The pores in lightweight aggregates are not necessarily
nthe ratio of the apparent density of aggregate to the density filled with water after immersion for 24 h. In fact, the
of distilled water at a stated temperature. absorption potential for many such aggregates is not satisfied
3.1.6 For definitions of other terms related to aggregates, after several days immersion in water. Therefore, this test
see Terminology C 125. method is not intended for use with lightweight aggregate.
4. Summary of Test Method 6. Apparatus
4.1 A sample of aggregate is immersed in water for 24 6 4 6.1 BalanceA device for determining mass that is sensi-
h to essentially fill the pores. It is then removed from the water, tive, readable, and accurate to 0.05 % of the sample mass at
the water dried from the surface of the particles, and the mass any point within the range used for this test, or 0.5 g,
determined. Subsequently, the volume of the sample is deter- whichever is greater. The balance shall be equipped with
mined by the displacement of water method. Finally, the suitable apparatus for suspending the sample container in water
sample is oven-dried and the mass determined. Using the mass from the center of the platform or pan of the balance.
values thus obtained and formulas in this test method, it is 6.2 Sample ContainerA wire basket of 3.35 mm (No. 6)
possible to calculate density, relative density (specific gravity), or finer mesh, or a bucket of approximately equal breadth and
and absorption. height, with a capacity of 4 to 7 L for 37.5-mm (112-in.)
nominal maximum size aggregate or smaller, and a larger
5. Significance and Use container as needed for testing larger maximum size aggregate.
5.1 Relative density (specific gravity) is the characteristic The container shall be constructed so as to prevent trapping air
generally used for calculation of the volume occupied by the when the container is submerged.
aggregate in various mixtures containing aggregate, including 6.3 Water TankA watertight tank into which the sample
portland cement concrete, bituminous concrete, and other container is placed while suspended below the balance.
mixtures that are proportioned or analyzed on an absolute 6.4 SievesA 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve or other sizes as
volume basis. Relative density (specific gravity) is also used in needed (see 7.2-7.4), conforming to Specification E 11.
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6.5 OvenAn oven of sufficient size, capable of maintain- 8.2 Where the absorption and relative density (specific
ing a uniform temperature of 110 6 5 C (230 6 9 F). gravity) values are to be used in proportioning concrete
mixtures in which the aggregates will be in their naturally
7. Sampling
moist condition, the requirement in 8.1 for initial drying is
7.1 Sample the aggregate in accordance with Practice D 75. optional, and, if the surfaces of the particles in the sample have
7.2 Thoroughly mix the sample of aggregate and reduce it to been kept continuously wet until tested, the requirement in 8.1
the approximate quantity needed using the applicable proce- for 24 6 4 h soaking is also optional.
dures in Practice C 702. Reject all material passing a 4.75-mm
(No. 4) sieve by dry sieving and thoroughly washing to remove NOTE 3Values for absorption and relative density (specific gravity)
(SSD) may be significantly higher for aggregate not oven dried before
dust or other coatings from the surface. If the coarse aggregate soaking than for the same aggregate treated in accordance with 8.1. This
contains a substantial quantity of material finer than the is especially true of particles larger than 75 mm since the water may not
4.75-mm sieve (such as for Size No. 8 and 9 aggregates in be able to penetrate the pores to the center of the particle in the prescribed
Classification D 448), use the 2.36-mm (No. 8) sieve in place soaking period.
of the 4.75-mm sieve. Alternatively, separate the material finer 8.3 Remove the test sample from the water and roll it in a
than the 4.75-mm sieve and test the finer material according to large absorbent cloth until all visible films of water are
Test Method C 128. removed. Wipe the larger particles individually. A moving
NOTE 1If aggregates smaller than 4.75 mm (No. 4) are used in the stream of air is permitted to assist in the drying operation. Take
sample, check to ensure that the size of the openings in the sample care to avoid evaporation of water from aggregate pores during
container is smaller than the minimum size aggregate. the surface-drying operation. Determine the mass of the test
7.3 The minimum mass of test sample to be used is given as sample in the saturated surface-dry condition. Record this and
follows. Testing the coarse aggregate in several size fractions is all subsequent masses to the nearest 0.5 g or 0.05 % of the
permitted. If the sample contains more than 15 % retained on sample mass, whichever is greater.
the 37.5-mm (112-in.) sieve, test the material larger than 37.5 8.4 After determining the mass in air, immediately place the
mm in one or more size fractions separately from the smaller saturated-surface-dry test sample in the sample container and
size fractions. When an aggregate is tested in separate size determine its apparent mass in water at 23 6 2.0 C. Take care
fractions, the minimum mass of test sample for each fraction to remove all entrapped air before determining its mass by
shall be the difference between the masses prescribed for the shaking the container while immersed.
maximum and minimum sizes of the fraction. NOTE 4The difference between the mass in air and the mass when the
Nominal Maximum Size, Minimum Mass of Test sample is submerged in water equals the mass of water displaced by the
mm (in.) Sample, kg (lb) sample.
12.5 (12) or less 2 (4.4)
19.0 (34) 3 (6.6)
NOTE 5The container should be immersed to a depth sufficient to
25.0 (1) 4 (8.8) cover it and the test sample while determining the apparent mass in water.
37.5 (112) 5 (11) Wire suspending the container should be of the smallest practical size to
50 (2) 8 (18) minimize any possible effects of a variable immersed length.
63 (212) 12 (26)
75 (3) 18 (40) 8.5 Dry the test sample in the oven to constant mass at a
90 (312) 25 (55) temperature of 110 6 5 C, cool in air at room temperature 1
100 (4) 40 (88)
125 (5) 75 (165)
to 3 h, or until the aggregate has cooled to a temperature that
is comfortable to handle (approximately 50 C), and determine
7.4 If the sample is tested in two or more size fractions, the mass.
determine the grading of the sample in accordance with Test
Method C 136, including the sieves used for separating the size 9. Calculations
fractions for the determinations in this method. In calculating
the percentage of material in each size fraction, ignore the 9.1 Relative Density (Specific Gravity):
quantity of material finer than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve (or 9.1.1 Relative Density (Specific Gravity) (OD)Calculate
2.36-mm (No. 8) sieve when that sieve is used in accordance the relative density (specific gravity) on the basis of oven-dry
with 7.2). aggregate as follows:
Relative density ~specific gravity! ~OD! 5 A/~B 2 C! (1)
NOTE 2When testing coarse aggregate of large nominal maximum
size requiring large test samples, it may be more convenient to perform the where:
test on two or more subsamples, and the values obtained combined for the A = mass of oven-dry test sample in air, g,
computations described in Section 9. B = mass of saturated-surface-dry test sample in air, g, and
8. Procedure C = apparent mass of saturated test sample in water, g.
9.1.2 Relative Density (Specific Gravity) (SSD)Calculate
8.1 Dry the test sample in the oven to constant mass at a the relative density (specific gravity) on the basis of saturated-
temperature of 110 6 5 C, cool in air at room temperature for surface-dry aggregate as follows:
1 to 3 h for test samples of 37.5-mm (112-in.) nominal
maximum size, or longer for larger sizes until the aggregate has Relative density ~specific gravity! ~SSD! 5 B/~B 2 C! (2)
cooled to a temperature that is comfortable to handle (approxi- 9.1.3 Apparent Relative Density (Apparent Specific
mately 50 C). Subsequently immerse the aggregate in water at Gravity)Calculate the apparent relative density (apparent
room temperature for a period of 24 6 4 h. specific gravity) as follows:
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Apparent relative density ~apparent specific gravity! 5 A/~A 2 C! where:
(3) A = average absorption, %,
9.2 Density: A1, A2... An = absorption percentages for each size frac-
9.2.1 Density (OD)Calculate the density on the basis of tion, and
oven-dry aggregate as follows: P1, P2, ... Pn = mass percentages of each size fraction
present in the original sample.
Density ~OD!, kg/m3, 5 997.5 A/~B 2 C! (4)
10. Report
Density ~OD!, lb/ft3, 5 62.27 A/~B 2 C! (5) 10.1 Report density results to the nearest 10 kg/m3, or 0.5
NOTE 6The constant values used in the calculations in 9.2.1-9.2.3 lb/ft3, relative density (specific gravity) results to the nearest
(997.5 kg/m3 and 62.27 lb/ft3) are the density of water at 23 C. 0.01, and indicate the basis for density or relative density
9.2.2 Density (SSD)Calculate the density on the basis of (specific gravity), as either (OD), (SSD), or apparent.
saturated-surface-dry aggregate as follows: 10.2 Report the absorption result to the nearest 0.1 %.
10.3 If the density, relative density (specific gravity) and
Density ~SSD!, kg/m3, 5 997.5 B/~B 2 C! (6) absorption values were determined without first drying the
aggregate, as permitted in 8.2, note that fact in the report.
Density ~SSD!, lb/ft3, 5 62.27 B/~B 2 C! (7)
11. Precision and Bias
9.2.3 Apparent DensityCalculate the apparent density as
follows: 11.1 The estimates of precision of this test method listed in
Table 1 are based on results from the AASHTO Materials
Apparent density, kg/m3 5 997.5 A/~A2 C! (8) Reference Laboratory Proficiency Sample Program, with test-
ing conducted by this test method and AASHTO Method T 85.
Apparent density, lb/ft3 562.27 A/~A2 C! (9) The significant difference between the methods is that Test
9.3 Average Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) Method C 127 requires a saturation period of 24 6 4 h, while
ValuesWhen the sample is tested in separate size fractions, AASHTO Method T 85 requires a saturation period of 15 h
compute the average values for density or relative density minimum. This difference has been found to have an insignifi-
(specific gravity) of the size fraction computed in accordance cant effect on the precision indices. The data are based on the
with 9.1 or 9.2 using the following equation: analyses of more than 100 paired test results from 40 to 100
laboratories. The precision estimates for density were calcu-
1
G5 lated from values determined for relative density (specific
P1 P2 Pn ~see AppendixX1! (10)
100 G1 1 100 G2 1 ... 100 Gn
gravity), using the density of water at 23 C for the conversion.
11.2 BiasSince there is no accepted reference material for
where: determining the bias for the procedure in this test method, no
G = average density or relative density (specific statement on bias is being made.
gravity). All forms of expression of density
or relative density (specific gravity) can be TABLE 1 Precision
averaged in this manner, Standard Deviation Acceptable Range of
G1, G2... Gn = appropriate average density or relative den- (1s)A Two Results (d2s)A
sity (specific gravity) values for each size Single-Operator Precision:
fraction depending on the type of density or Density (OD), kg/m3 9 25
relative density (specific gravity) being av- Density (SSD), kg/m3 7 20
Apparent density, kg/m3 7 20
eraged, and Relative density (specific gravity) 0.009 0.025
P1, P2, ... Pn = mass percentages of each size fraction (OD)
present in the original sample (not includ- Relative density (specific gravity) 0.007 0.020
(SSD)
ing finer materialsee 7.4). Apparent relative density (apparent 0.007 0.020
9.4 AbsorptionCalculate the percentage of absorption, as specific gravity)
follows:
Multilaboratory Precision:
Absorption, % 5 [~B 2 A!/A] 3 100 (11) Density (OD), kg/m3 13 38
Density (SSD), kg/m3 11 32
NOTE 7Some authorities recommend using the density of water at 4 Apparent density, kg/m3 11 32
C (1000 kg/m3 or 1.000 Mg/m3 or 62.43 lb/ft 3) as being sufficiently Relative density (specific gravity) 0.013 0.038
accurate. (OD)
Relative density (specific gravity) 0.011 0.032
9.5 Average Absorption ValueWhen the sample is tested (SSD)
in separate size fractions, the average absorption value is the Apparent relative density (apparent 0.011 0.032
specific gravity)
average of the values as computed in 9.4, weighted in A
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s) and (d2s) limits as described
proportion to the mass percentages of each size fraction present in Practice C 670. The precision estimates were obtained from the analysis of
in the original sample (not including finer materialsee 7.4) as combined AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory proficiency sample data from
follows: laboratories using 15 h minimum saturation times and other laboratories using 24
6 4 h saturation times. Testing was performed on normal-weight aggregates, and
A 5 ~P 1A1/100! 1 ~P2A2/100! 1 ... ~PnAn/100! (12) started with aggregates in the oven-dry condition.
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12. Keywords
12.1 absorption; aggregate; apparent density; apparent rela-
tive density; coarse aggregate; density; relative density; spe-
cific gravity
APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
1 1 (SSD)
G5 V 1V 5 V1 V2 (X1.2)
1 2 4.75 to 12.5 44 2213.0 2.72 0.4
M1 1 M 2 M 1 1 M 2 1 M1 1 M 2 (No. 4 to 12)
12.5 to 37.5 35 5462.5 2.56 2.5
(12 to 112)
1 37.5 to 63 21 12593.0 2.54 3.0
G5 (X1.3)
M1 V1
M1 1 M 2 M1S D M2
1M 1M M
1 2
V2
2
S D (112 to 212)
X2. INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RELATIVE DENSITIES (SPECIFIC GRAVITIES) AND ABSORPTION AS DEFINED
IN TEST METHODS C 127 AND C 128
X2.1 Where: 1 Sd
Sa 5 1 A 5 AS d (X2.2)
Sd 2 100 1 2 100
Sd = relative density (specific gravity) (OD), 1 Ss
Ss = relative density (specific gravity) (SSD), Sa 5 1 1 A/100 A 5 (X2.3)
Sa = apparent relative density (apparent specific gravity),
and
Ss 2 100
A
1 2 100 ~Ss 2 1! F G
A = absorption in %. S
Ss
A 5 S 2 1 100
d
D (X2.4)
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SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee C09 has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue,
C 127 04, that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved August 1, 2007)
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