Aggregate Gradation

Gradation Analysis
percent coarser
or
percent retained

percent finer
or
percent pas sin g

CIVL 3137

Percentages
are calculated
by mass

38

Gradation Chart
Percent Passing

100
80
60

Total mass percent passing each sieve

40
20
0
Opening Size (mm)
CIVL 3137

39

Gradation Chart
Percent Passing

100
80
60

Total mass percent passing each sieve

40
20
0
Opening Size (mm)
CIVL 3137

40

Sieves

CIVL 3137

41

Shakers

Gilson Shaker
CIVL 3137

Mary Ann Shaker

42

Sieve Sizes

CIVL 3137

43

Gradation Chart
1" "

Percent Passing (%)

100

3/ "
8

16

30

50

100 200

80
60
40
20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

47

Gradation Example 1

Gradation Example 2

Uniformly Graded Aggregate

1" "

Percent Passing

100

3/ "
8

16

80

30

50

100 200

Uniformly
graded
sand

60
Uniformly
graded
gravel

40
20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

50

Uniformly Graded Aggregate

Narrow range of sizes
Grain-to-grain contact
High void content
High permeability
Low stability
Difficult to compact

CIVL 3137

51

Open-Graded Aggregate
1" "

Percent Passing

100

3/ "
8

16

30

50

100 200
Open
graded
sand

80
60
Open
graded
gravel

40
20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

52

Open-Graded Aggregate
Few fine particles
Grain-to-grain contact
High void content
High permeability
High stability
Difficult to compact

CIVL 3137

53

screenings
CIVL 3137

54

Gap-Graded Aggregate
1" "

Percent Passing

100

3/ "
8

16

30

50

100 200
Open
graded
sand

80
60
Gap
graded
blend

Open
graded
gravel

40
20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

55

Gap-Graded Aggregate
Missing middle sizes
No grain-to-grain contact
Moderate void content
Moderate permeability
Low stability
Easy to compact

CIVL 3137

56

Dense-Graded Aggregate
1" "

Percent Passing

100

3/ "
8

16

30

50

100 200

80
60
40

Dense
graded
gravel

20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

57

Dense-Graded Aggregate
Wide range of sizes
Grain-to-grain contact
Low void content
Low permeability
High stability
Difficult to compact

CIVL 3137

58

Fullers Curve
Fuller, W.B. and Thompson, S.E. The laws of
proportioning concrete," Transactions of the
ASCE, v. 159, 1907.

di
pi
D
CIVL 3137

0.50

pi = percent passing ith sieve

di = opening size of ith sieve
D = maximum particle size

59

CIVL 3137

60

Maximum Density Curve

In 1962 FHWA published a modified version of
Fullers equation with a different exponent.

di
pi
D
CIVL 3137

0.45
0.50

pi = percent passing ith sieve

di = opening size of ith sieve
D = maximum particle size

61

CIVL 3137

62

Dense-Graded Aggregate
1" "

Percent Passing

100

3/ "
8

16

30

50

100 200

80

TDOT 411-D

60
Maximum
Density
Curve for
" NMAS

40
20
0
100

10

0.1

0.01

Opening Size (mm)

CIVL 3137

65

Dense-Graded Aggregate
200

Percent Passing

100

30

3/ "
8

1/ " 5/ "
2
8

"

80
TDOT 411-D

60

Maximum
Density
Curve for
NMAS

40
20
0
0

Opening Size (mm) Raised to the 0.45 Power

CIVL 3137

66

Aggregate Sampling

CIVL 3137

67

Aggregate Sampling

CIVL 3137

68

Aggregate Sampling

CIVL 3137

69

Minimum Sample Size

CIVL 3137

70

Sample Quartering

CIVL 3137

71

Sample Splitting

CIVL 3137

72