Concrete Aggregates

Materials Anon

What are aggregates?

Aggregates are simply any collection of rocks. In the aggregates
industry, these rocks are classified as crushed stone, sand, and
gravel.
We use aggregates every day. Streets, bridges, roads and
sidewalks are made of concrete or asphalt which is mostly made
up of aggregates combined with a binder that acts like glue.
Concrete is used in foundations and basements for houses. Other
buildings sometimes use concrete throughout their structures.

Aggregates and Cement

In a combination with aggregate and cement, the proportion
of how certain materials are mixed will control many aspects
that include:
Suitable workability & placeability of fresh mass, adequate
strength & durability of hardened product and minimum cost
of the final product

Exampled of Water Through Porous Concrete

The Main Functions of Aggregates

To provide a mass of particles which are suitable to resist the
action of applied loads & show better durability then cement
paste alone.
To reduce volume changes resulting from setting & hardening
process & from moisture changes during drying.

Natural and Artificial Aggregates

Natural aggregate: Native deposits with no change in
their natural state other than washing, crushing &
grading. (sand, gravel, crush stone)
Artificial aggregates: They are obtained either as a byproduct or by a special manufacturing process such as
heating. (manufacturing of industrial sludge or marine
clay).

Types of Aggregate Rocks

Igneous rocks: are formed by solidification of molten
lava. (granite)
Sedimentary rocks: are obtained by deposition of
weathered & transported pre-existing rocks or solutions.
(limestone)
Metamorphic rocks: are formed under high heat &
pressure alteration of either igneous & sedimentary rocks
(marble).

Fine Aggregate
Sand and/or crushed stone

Coarse Aggregate
Gravel and crushed stone . We used this type of aggregate in our
class experiment of porpous concrete mixtures.

Conclusion
In Civil Engineering aggregates play a major role in
structural development, mainly because they may be
apart of the initial foundation of a building. They are
also very important in mixtures with cement paste, in
order to develop variations of concrete whether porous
or normal.

References
Mamlouk, Michael S., and John P. Zaniewski. Materials for Civil and
Construction Engineers. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Thank You