CEE 3020 Civil Engineering Materials

Question 1
Explain the difference between porosity and void content in an aggregate sample.
Question 2
Coarse aggregate (Gb = 2.620) is placed into a bucket and dry-rodded with a tamping rod.
A total of three iterations (trials) are performed, and the following data is obtained:
Bucket volume = 0.5000 ft3
Bucket weight = 20.30 lb
Trial 1 69.60 lb
Trial 2 68.20 lb
Trial 3 71.6 lb
(a) Calculate the average dry-rodded unit weight (DRUW)
(b) Calculate the void content for the aggregate

Question 3
(a) Combine aggregates A,B,C, and D to meet the Fuller-Thompson maximum density
specifications, + 5%, for -MSA aggregate at the sieve sizes included in the analysis
below. See Fig 1 next page for Fuller-Thompson curve.
RESULTS OF SIEVE ANALYSIS OF AGGREGATES A, B, C and D
Percent Passing by Weight
Sieve
Aggregate A Aggregate B Aggregate C Aggregate D
in.
in.
3/8 in.
#4
#8
#16
#30
#50
#100
#200

100
70
50
18
6
2
1
1
1
1

100
95
70
45
11
3
2
2
1
1

100
95
60
40
25
10
5

100
79
60
39
25

Figure 1. Fuller-Thompson maximum density curve

(a) Plot the grading curve, as percent passing by weight, on a conventional gradation chart
(such as the one shown above)
(b) Determine the specific gravity (SSD) for the blended aggregate if the GSSD for aggregates
A, B, C, and D are 2.67, 2.50, 2.60, and 2.72, respectively.
(c) Determine the absorption for the blended aggregate if the absorptions for aggregates A,
B, C, and D are 0.4%, 1.3% 0.8%, and 2.1%, respectively.

Question 4
Stockpiled sand and gravel are dried to the oven dry (OD) state. 500g of sand loses 35g
of water, and 1500g gravel loses 18g of water.
(a) What is the moisture content of the stockpiled aggregate?
(b) If the absorption of the sand is 1.2% and the absorption of the gravel is 1.6%, characterize
the stockpiled sand and gravel as wet, SSD, or air dry.
Question 5
The weight of a sample of coarse aggregate was measured under various conditions with the
following results:
Oven dry weight in air
1076.3g
Air dry weight in air
1083.3g
SSD weight in air
1089.2g
Weight of saturated sample in water 681.5g
Calculate the (a) air dry moisture content, (b) absorption capacity, (c) effective absorption, (d)
bulk specific gravity, (e) SSD bulk specific gravity, and (f) apparent specific gravity.