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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

BDCS Notes - Aggregates


Aggregates

Two main uses of aggregates in civil engineering:

  1. Underlying material for foundations / pavements
  2. Ingredients in portland cement and asphalt concretes

Aggregates – combination of distinct parts gathered into a mass or a whole. Generally composed of individual parts gathered into a mass or a whole.

In Civil Engineering, an Aggregate is...

…a mass of crushed stone, gravel, sand, etc., predominantly composed of individual particles (which can sometimes include clays and silts).

Largest particle size in an aggregate = 150mm (6 inches)

Smallest particle size in an aggregate = 5 to 10 microns

Sources

Natural sources – Gravel pits, river run deposits, rock quarries. Gravels typically come from pits and river deposits. Crushed stones are the result of processing rocks from quarries.

Manufactured sources – slag waste from steel mills and expanded shale and clays. Produces lightweight aggregates. Heavyweight aggregate use steel slags and bearings. Styrofoam beads can be used as an aggregate in lightweight concrete for insulation.

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