This European Standard specifies the reference methods used for type testing and in case of dispute, for the determination of particle density and water absorption of normal weight and lightweight aggregates. Other methods may be used for other purposes, such as factory production control, provided that an appropriate working relationship with the reference method has been established. For convenience, some of these other methods are also described in this standard.
The reference methods for normal weight aggregates specified are:
- a wire basket method for aggregate particles retained on the 31,5 mm sieve (Clause 7, except for railway ballast which uses Annex B)
- a pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 31,5 mm test sieve and retained on the 4 mm test sieve (Clause 8)
- a pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 4 mm test sieve and retained on the 0,063 mm test sieve (Clause 9).
In Clauses 7, 8 and 9, three different particle density parameters (oven-dried particle density, saturated and surface dried particle density and apparent particle density) and water absorption are determined after a soaking period of 24 h. In Annex B, the oven-dried particle density parameter is determined after soaking in water to constant mass.
The wire basket method may be used as an alternative to the pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 31, 5 mm test sieve and retained on the 4 mm test sieve. In case of dispute, the pyknometer method described in Clause 8 should be used as the reference method.
NOTE 1 The wire basket method can also be used for single aggregate particles retained on the 63 mm sieve.
NOTE 2 The pyknometer method described in Clause 8 can be used as an alternative for aggregates passing the 4 mm sieve but retained on the 2 mm sieve.
The reference method for lightweight aggregates (Annex C) is a pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 31,5 mm test sieve and retained on the 4 mm test sieve. Three different particle density parameters and water absorption are determined after pre-drying and a soaking period of 24 h.
Three other methods for normal weight aggregates can be used to determine the pre-dried particle density:
- a wire basket method for aggregate particles passing the 63 mm test sieve and retained on the 31,5 mm test sieve (A.3)
- a pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 31,5 mm test sieve and retained on the 0,063 mm test sieve (A.4)
- a pyknometer method for aggregate particles passing the 31,5 mm test sieve, including the 0/ 0,063 mm size fraction (Annex G).
NOTE 3 If water absorption is less than about 1,5 %, the apparent particle density can be assessed using the pre-dried particle density method as defined in Annex A.
The quick method in Annex E can be used in factory production control to determine the apparent particle density of lightweight aggregates.
Guidance on the significance and use of the various density and water absorption parameters is given in Annex H.