Cleanliness and Gradation Process of Aggregate

Aggregates are inert granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone that, along with water and Portland cement, are an essential ingredient in concrete. For a good concrete mix, they need to be clean, hard, strong particles free of absorbed chemicals or coatings of clay and other fine materials that could cause the deterioration of concrete. Aggregates, which account for 60 to 75 percent of the total volume of concrete, are divided into two distinct categories-fine and coarse. Fine aggregates generally consist of natural sand or crushed stone with most particles passing through a 3/8-inch (9.5-mm) sieve. Coarse are any particles greater than 0.19 inch (4.75 mm), but generally range between 3/8 and 1.5 inches (9.5 mm to 37.5 mm) in diameter. Gravels constitute the majority of coarse used in concrete with crushed stone making up most of the remainder.

Natural gravel and sand are usually dug or dredged from a pit, river, lake, or seabed. Crushed one is produced by crushing quarry rock, boulders, cobbles, or large-size gravel. Recycled concrete is a viable source and has been satisfactorily used in granular subbases, soil-cement, and in new concrete. The processing consists of crushing, screening, and washing it to obtain proper cleanliness and gradation. If necessary, a benefaction process such as jigging or heavy media separation can be used to upgrade the quality.

Once processed, they are handled and stored in a way that minimizes segregation and degradation and prevents contamination. They strongly influence concrete’s freshly mixed and hardened properties, mixture proportions, and economy. Consequently, selection of them is an important process. Although some variation in its properties is expected, characteristics that are considered when selecting this raw material include: grading, Durability, particle shape and surface texture, abrasion and skid resistance, abrasion and skid resistance, unit weights and voids, absorption and surface moisture.

Grading refers to the determination of the particle-size distribution for it. Grading limits and maximum material size are specified because grading and size affect the amount of it used as well as cement and water requirements, workability, pump ability, and durability of concrete. In general, if the water-cement ratio is chosen correctly, a wide range in grading can be used without a major effect on strength. When gap-graded aggregate are specified, certain particle sizes of it are omitted from the size continuum. Gap-graded concrete are used to obtain uniform textures in exposed it concrete by using and professional and excellent . Close control of mix proportions is necessary to avoid segregation.