ACI Aggregate Level 2 study materials
ACI Aggregate Level 2 study resources

ACI Aggregate Level 2 flashcards

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33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Fineness modulus
Sum of cumulative percent retained on the 4.75, 2.36, 1.18, 0.600, 0.300, and 0.150 mm sieves divided by 100. Higher values indicate coarser aggregate.
Nominal maximum size
The smallest sieve opening through which 100 percent of the aggregate sample passes. It is one sieve size larger than the maximum size for most specifications.
Bulk specific gravity
Ratio of oven-dry mass to the volume of aggregate including permeable pores, expressed as A/(B−C) where A is dry mass, B is SSD mass, and C is submerged mass.
Apparent specific gravity
Ratio of oven-dry mass to the volume excluding permeable pores. It is higher than bulk specific gravity and uses A/(A−C) in the standard formula.
Absorption
Mass of water absorbed into permeable pores divided by oven-dry mass, times 100. Computed as (SSD mass − oven-dry mass) / oven-dry mass × 100.
Los Angeles abrasion loss
Percent mass lost during 500 revolutions in the LA abrasion machine. Calculated as (initial mass − retained mass) / initial mass × 100.
Sodium sulfate soundness
Percent mass loss after repeated immersion and drying cycles in sodium sulfate solution. Calculated as (initial mass − final mass) / initial mass × 100.
Flat and elongated particles
Particles whose length exceeds a set ratio of thickness, measured with a proportional caliper at 3:1 or 5:1. Reported as mass percent of the sample.
Clay lumps and friable particles
Percent of material that breaks down when wet sieved, computed as mass of retained lumps divided by total dry sample mass times 100.
Percent passing formula
Cumulative percent retained on a sieve divided by total dry mass times 100 gives percent retained. Percent passing equals 100 minus that cumulative percent retained.
Maximum size definition
The smallest sieve through which the entire sample passes, allowing up to 100 percent passing the next larger sieve. It is one size larger than nominal maximum size.
Organic impurities test
Colorimetric comparison of a sodium hydroxide solution above the aggregate against a standard color solution. Darker color indicates possible organic contamination.
Moisture content of aggregate
Mass of water divided by oven-dry mass, times 100. Computed as (wet mass − dry mass) / dry mass × 100.
Bulk SSD specific gravity
Ratio of saturated-surface-dry mass to the volume including permeable pores. Uses B/(B−C) where B is SSD mass and C is submerged mass.
Sieve analysis purpose
Determines particle size distribution by mass retained on each sieve. Results are plotted as percent passing versus sieve opening on a semi-log scale.
Aggregate crushing value
Percent fines produced by a standard compressive load on a confined aggregate sample. Calculated as mass passing the test sieve divided by initial mass times 100.
Proctor dry unit weight
Mass of moist soil divided by mold volume, then divided by (1 + moisture content as decimal). The peak of the curve is maximum dry unit weight.
Optimum moisture content
Moisture content at which the compaction curve reaches maximum dry unit weight. It is read from the peak of the moisture-density curve.
Relative compaction
Field dry unit weight divided by laboratory maximum dry unit weight, times 100. Base acceptance is typically 95 to 100 percent of maximum.
California Bearing Ratio
Test load divided by standard load at the same penetration, times 100. Standard loads are 1000 psi at 0.1 in and 1500 psi at 0.2 in.
Plasticity index
Liquid limit minus plastic limit. It indicates the range of moisture over which the material remains plastic; near-zero PI means non-plastic base.
Liquid limit test
Moisture content at which a soil closes a standard groove under a specified number of blows or cone penetration. Reported as the liquid limit.
Sand equivalent value
Sand reading divided by clay reading, times 100. Higher values indicate cleaner aggregate with fewer plastic fines in the base material.
Sand cone test
Field density method using a calibrated sand to measure the volume of an excavated hole. Dry density is computed from recovered soil mass and moisture.
Nuclear gauge density
Field device that measures wet density and moisture by radiation attenuation. Readings are corrected and converted to dry density for compaction acceptance.
Compaction curve shape
Plastic fines widen the curve and lower maximum dry unit weight. Clean granular base gives a sharper curve with higher maximum dry unit weight.
Base gradation check
Compares percent passing each control sieve to the specification band limits. Material outside the band is rejected or requires adjustment.
Zero air voids curve
Theoretical line of saturation plotted with the compaction curve. Points plotting on or right of it indicate saturation or measurement error.
Moisture content for compaction
Water mass divided by dry soil mass, times 100. Dry density requires dividing wet density by (1 + moisture content as decimal).
Field density correction
Measured wet density is converted to dry density using oven-dry moisture content. Compaction percent compares dry density to laboratory maximum dry density.
Liquid limit one-point method
Estimates liquid limit from a single blow count using a correction factor chart. It is used when the multipoint test is impractical.
Plastic limit test
Moisture content at which a soil thread crumbles at 3 mm diameter. Plastic limit is used with liquid limit to compute plasticity index.
Base course acceptance
Requires gradation within the band, plasticity index within limits, and relative compaction at or above the specified percentage of maximum dry density.