TRANSPORTATION ENGINEEREING 2015CIV13

EXPERIMENT NO. 3
Determination of the Angularity Number of the given Aggregate Sample.

Test Standard: BS – 812

Date: 18-Sep-2018

3.1. SIGNIFICANCE
This test is also carried out for determining shape of the aggregates. This test is performed to
determine the angularity number i.e. the absence of roundness or the degree of angularity of
the aggregate specimen.
 The degree of packing of particles of single sized aggregate depends upon the angularity
of aggregate.
 The angularity of the aggregate can be estimated from the properties of voids in a sample
of aggregate compacted in a specified manner.
 The angularity number ranges from zero, for a highly rounded gravel to about 11 for
freshly crushed angular aggregates.
 Higher the angularity number, more angular and less workable is the concrete mix.
 In cement concrete roads (rigid pavements), rounded aggregates are preferred because of
better workability and higher strength.
 In bituminous or water bound macadam construction (like flexible pavements), angular
aggregates with high angularity number are preferred because of high stability due to
better interlocking and friction.
 In road construction, angularity number of 7 -10 is generally preferred.

3.2.RELATED THEORY
3.2.1. What is the Angularity?
It is the absence of roundness. An aggregate particle, which is more rounded, is less angular
and vice versa.
3.2.2. Angularity Number
Angularity Number of an aggregate is the amount (to the higher whole number) by which the
percentage of voids in it after compacting in a prescribed manner exceeds 33.
 When, “33” is the percentage of volume of voids, they will be perfectly rounded
aggregate.
 When “67” is the percentage of volume of solids, they will be perfectly rounded
aggregate.
The value of angularity number generally lies between 0 & 11 while in road construction;
angularity number of 7 – 10 is generally preferred.

1
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEEREING 2015CIV13

3.2.3. Why 67% for Solids and 33% for voids?

In the case of angular aggregates, the total covered area by the aggregate is found to be 67%
and total voids are 33%. So if the voids are found to be 33% then angularity number is said to
be zero while if voids are more than 33%, take 40% then, angularity number will be 7.

3.3. APPARATUS
1) A metal cylinder of about 3L capacity.
2) Temping rod of circular cross section, 16mm dia and 60cm in length.
3) A metal scoop.
4) A weighing balance.
5) Water and aggregate sample.
6) Graduated cylinder
3.4. TEST PROCEDURE
This procedure is for aggregate size ¾” to No.4 sieve. If aggregate is coarser than ¾”, a
cylinder of large capacity shall be required and amount of compactive effort or energy should
be proportional to the volume of the cylinder.
1) 10 Kg of the sample is taken for the test. The material should be oven dried.
2) The aggregate is compacted in three layers, each layer being given 100 blows using the
standard tamping rod at a rate of 2 blows/second by lifting the rod 5 cm above the
surface of the aggregate and then allowing it to fall freely. The blows are uniformly
distributed over the surface of the aggregate.
3) After compacting the third layer, the cylinder is filled to overflowing and excess
material is removed off with temping rod as a straight edge.
4) The aggregate with cylinder is then weighed.
5) Three separate determinations are made and then the mean weight of the aggregate in the
cylinder is calculated.

3.4.1. Method-1: Solids Point of view

1) Add measured quantity of water in the compacted aggregate until all the voids are filled
and water appears to the surface.
2) Volume of water added is approximately equal to the volume of voids in the compacted
aggregate.
3) Now, empty the cylinder and add measured quantity of water in it. Fill the cylinder to the
surface and note that total volume of water added.

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑

𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 = 𝑥 100 − 33
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
3.4.2. Method-2: Voids Point of view
1) Find the mean weight (W) of the aggregate filling cylinder.
2) Find the specific gravity (Gs) of aggregates.
3) Find the volume of cylinder (C) by completely filling measured quantity of water in the
cylinder.

2
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEEREING 2015CIV13

100𝑊
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 = 67 −
𝐶𝐺𝑠
3.4.3. Which method is preferred?
Method-2: Voids Point Method is mostly preferred because it gives us the most precised
value, as it does not involve the measurements of the dimensions. For the Method-1, if we do
not take while taking the measurements then value may fluctuate from the original value.
If both value are different then take their mean. The maximum difference of 4 is allowed.

3.5. OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

Height of Cylinder 16.3 cm
Dia of Cylinder 15.4 cm
Total Volume 3034.5 ml
Gs 2.67

Volume Angularity
Weights
of Number
Empty Cylinder+ Cylinder+ Water
Aggregates Method- Method-
Cylinder Aggregates Aggregates+Water Added
1 2
(g) (g) (g) (g) (ml)
5078.3 10000 11326.3 4921.7 1355 11 7

Results:
Angularity number of the sample is 9.

3.6.COMMENTS
Value from both the methods are different. The reasons is that we may have not taken the
dimensions correctly or the amount of water is not measured accurately so this value
fluctuates and it goes above 11 while the code says that the value of angularity number must
lie from 0 to 11.