Page 29 - Unit 2: Pavement Material

Civil Engineering Department | DCC3113 : Highway & Traffic Engineering

Type of test The objectives of tests on road construction materials

Water Absorption and Specific Gravity (BS 812:part 2:1975)
• To indicate the strength and porosity of aggregate. Aggregate with high specific gravity
is expected to have high strength. High water absorption suggests the aggregate needs

more time to dry during the mixing process could absorb more bitumen which result in
higher cost of production
• Aggregate is washed and soaked in distilled water 24 hours. Weight in water and record
it as C. Remove the aggregate and dry with damp towel and weight it as B. Then put it in
the oven for 24 hours to dry and weight it as A

Water Absorption (WA) = B - A x 100

A

Specific Gravity (SG bulk ) = A x 100
B - C

Equipment using water
displacement method for SG

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Prepared by : SITI ZURAIFA BINTI MD SAH, zuraifa@pmu.edu.my