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Test Chloride content (mass %, as Cl-)

Fine Aggregate Limits

Coarse Aggregate Limits

Reference

Reasons for Limits Chloride salts may increase the setting rate of the concrete, cause efflorescence in hardened concrete and accelerate the rate of corrosion of steel embedded in the concrete. Newman and Choo

Concrete Type
1. Concrete for prestressing 2. Reinforced concrete 3. Non-reinforced concrete

0.01 0.03 0.03

SANS 1083:2006

(2003)
The limits guide the usage of fine aggregate but can be extend beyond these limits provided the concrete mix is proportioned accordingly. (Commentary on

Fineness Modulus

1.20 - 3.50

SANS 1083:2006

SABS 1083:1994)
Size Distribution Standard Sieve Size (mm) 37,5 26,5 19,0 13,2 9,5 6,7 4,75 2,36 1,18 0,600 0,300 0,150 0,075 Natural source Percentage mass passing (19 mm Aggregate) Percentage mass passing 100 85 - 100 0 - 50 0 - 25 0-5 90 100 The finer fractions of the sand, namely the minus-150-m and minus-300-m, play a major role in determining the cohesiveness and workability of the mix and that sand deficient of these fractions tend result in a harsher mix more prone to segregation. Also excessive dust (minus-75m) material can contribute to a higher water demand and possibly higher shrinkage in the hardened concrete. The limit for the dust portion on aggregates derived from a crushed source may be increased as indicated in parenthesis provided the fine aggregate complies with clay content requirements.

SANS 1083:2006

5 - 25 0 5 (10) Not darker than reference solution

(Commentary 1083:1994)
SANS 1083:2006

on

SABS

Organic impurities content

Organic materials may retard setting or hardening of cement paste. (Commentary on SABS

1083:1994)
Impurities such as sugars, organic impurities and sulphate salts, which are water soluble, interfere with the strength development of Portland cement products.

Soluble deleterious impurities content (% strength of cubes made with washed sand)

85

85

SANS 1083:2006

(Commentary 1083:1994)

on

SABS

Dry-shrinkage (% shrinkage of reference aggregate)

Concrete Type
1. Concrete for prestressing 2. Reinforced concrete 3. Non-reinforced concrete 150 200 235 150 175 235

SANS 5836:2007

Concrete shrinks due to loss of moisture in drying. This shrinkage is reduced by the restraining influence of the aggregate. Illston and Domone, (2001) However aggregates which themselves are prone to shrinkage will contribute to the dry-shrinkage of the concrete. (Commentary on SABS

1083:1994)
Low density materials such as coal/lignite and chert are prone to separation by floatation or freezethaw damage respectively and must be identified if present in aggregates. (Commentary on

Low density materials content

Presence

Presence

SANS 5837:2008

SABS 1083:1994)
The Sand Equivalent Value is a measure of the silt and clay content relative to the sand fraction in the fine aggregate.

Sand equivalent value (%)

65

SANS 5838:2006

(Commentary 1083:1994)
SANS 5839:2008

on

SABS

Soundness (%)

15

Unsound aggregate may cause local scaling, surface cracking and disintegration of the concrete it is used in. (Commentary on SABS

1083:1994)
The shell content of the aggregate influences the workability of the concrete due to the plate shape or irregularity of coarser shell particles found mainly in dredged marine gravels. These shell particles adversely affect the workability of the concrete and hence the water requirement and can cause voids increasing the permeability of the concrete. (Commentary on SABS

Shell content (%)

Aggregate fraction
1. 5 mm 2. > 5 mm 10 mm 3. > 10 mm No limit 20 8

BS 882:1992

1083:1994)
Aggregate crushing value (%) 29 SANS 1083:2006 Where the compressive strength of the aggregate is not a significant property of the material where it is considerably higher than that of the cement paste. Therefore the ACV and 10% FACT values are useful in the assessment of the general quality of the aggregate.

FACT value (10% fines aggregate crushing value) (kN) 1. Concrete subject to surface abrasion 2. Concrete not subject to surface abrasion

110 70

SANS 1083:2006

(Commentary 1083:1994)
1.0 1.0 SABS 1083:1976

on

SABS

Water absorption (%)

Water absorption of aggregates influences the workability of fresh concrete and subsequently the long-term durability. An

aggregate with high water absorption withdraws mixing water into the aggregate resulting in a rapid loss in workability. This can be greatly increased by the use of certain water reducing admixtures. (Commentary on

SABS 1083:1994)
Particle and relative densities SANS 5844:2006 There are no limits on these values as they are only used in the mix design process to convert data from mass to volume. There are no limits for these values however to obtain concrete mixtures having low voids ratios requires low voids ratios of the constituent materials. Newman and Choo

Bulk densities and voids content

SANS 5845:2006

(2003)
Concrete subjected to surface abrasion requires abrasion resistant aggregates at or close to the surface but more importantly concrete mortar that is abrasion resistant. (Commentary on SABS

Abrasion resistance

???

???

SANS 5846:2006

1083:1994)
The Flakiness Index describes the shape and the interlocking properties of the aggregate. This property is of particular concern in concrete paving where very flaky aggregates can lead to excessive ravelling and spalling on joints. (Commentary on SABS

Flakiness index (%)

35

SANS 1083:2006

1083:1994)
The polished stone value is a measure of the aggregates resistance to becoming smooth or slippery under the action of traffic which is of particular importance in industrial pavements. Alkali aggregate reactivity occurs when the constituents of the aggregate such as silica, silicates and carbonates in certain mineral forms react with the alkaline hydroxide in the pore water derived from the cement. The most common is Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). The product of ASR is a gel which can destroy the bond between the aggregate and the hardened cement paste. This gel also absorbs water and swells causing cracking and disruption of the concrete. Illston

Polished-stone value

50

SANS 5848:2008

Potential reactivity of aggregates with alkalis (%)

10 days 0.08% and 12 days 0.10%

10 days 0.08% and 12 days 0.10%

SANS 6245:2006

and Domone, (2001)

References
1. Addis B and Goldstein G, editors, Commentary on SABS 1083:1994, Cement and Concrete Institute, Midrand, 1995, p22 2. British Standards Institution BS 882:1992 Specification for aggregates from natural

sources for concrete.


3. Illston J M and Domone P L J Construction Materials Their Nature and Behaviour, 3rd edition. Spon Press, London, 2001, p148 4. Newman J and Choo B S Advanced Concrete Technology Constituent Materials. Elsevier Butterworth and Heinemann, Oxford, 2003, p 8/12 5. Standards South Africa SANS 1083:2006 Aggregates from natural sources Aggregates

for concrete.

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