BS 812-121 Testing Aggregates Soundness
BS 812-121 Testing Aggregates Soundness
BS 812-121 Testing Aggregates Soundness
1989
Testing aggregates —
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UDC [625.07+691.22]:620.168.2
BS 812-121:1989
Contents
Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
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1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Principle 1
4 Sampling 1
5 Apparatus 1
6 Reagents 1
7 Preparation of test portions and specimens 3
8 Procedure 3
9 Calculation and expression of test results 3
10 Precision 4
11 Test report 4
Appendix A Recommended procedure for determining the magnesium
sulphate soundness value for other size fractions of aggregate 5
Appendix B Details of the evaluation of precision data 5
Figure 1 — Baskets for magnesium sulphate soundness testing 2
Table 1 — Recommended test sieves, mesh baskets and mass of
specimens for testing aggregates outside the size range 10.0 mm
to 14.0 mm 5
Table 2 — Precision data for the magnesium sulphate
soundness value x = average MSSV at given statistical levels 6
Publications referred to Inside back cover
© BSI 12-1998 i
BS 812-121:1989
Foreword
This Part of BS 812 has been prepared under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Policy Committee. It forms
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part of a general revision of the 1975 edition of BS 812. As each test, or collection
of tests, is prepared it is intended to issue it as a separate Part or Section of this
standard.
This Part of BS 812 contains the test procedures for the determination of the
“soundness” of aggregates. Soundness tests were not included in previous
editions of BS 812 but have now been included because there is a need, in some
circumstances, for a test to identify certain aggregates which are apparently
suitable for use, when tested by the test procedures described in other Parts of
this standard (e.g. the mechanical strength tests described in BS 812-1101),
BS 812-1111), BS 812-1121) and BS 812-1131), but which fail in service.
The definitive method is based on finding the degree of degradation that occurs
when test portions of an aggregate in the size range 10.0 mm to 14.0 mm are
subjected to cycles of immersion in saturated magnesium sulphate solution
followed by oven-drying. The degree of degradation is expressed as the
magnesium sulphate soundness value. Appendix A recommends procedures for
carrying out the test on test portions of aggregate in size ranges other than the
one used in the definitive method.
The sulphate soundness test has a long history. It is reported that it first
appeared in France around 1818 as a test for classifying the resistance of building
stone to deterioration under freeze-thaw conditions. In North America it has been
incorporated in the ASTM book of standards, designation C88, since 1931. It did
not come into widespread use in the United Kingdom until the late 1970s.
Current experience of the use of the test in the UK relates mainly to aggregates
in materials forming the surfacing of airfields/airports and of highway
pavements.
It is intended that advice on the applicability of this test for given situations and
on the selection of limits will be included in future Parts of this standard.
Similarly it is intended that advice on calibration will be included in Part 1001).
It is intended that other British Standards should call up BS 812 test methods as
the basis for compliance. Nevertheless it is not intended that all aggregates
should be subjected regularly to all the listed tests. Specifications in other
standards should call up only relevant test methods.
Reference should be made to BS 812-101 for general guidance on testing
aggregates, precision of test methods and variance arising from sampling errors.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.
1)
In preparation.
ii © BSI 12-1998
BS 812-121:1989
© BSI 12-1998 1
BS 812-121:1989
6.3.1 For the preparation of this solution use NOTE According to published data on the solubility of
crystalline magnesium sulphate heptahydrate magnesium sulphate a saturated solution at 20 °C contains
a 25.2 % concentration of MgSO4(m/m)which has a relative
(MgSO4.7H2O) general purpose reagent (GPR)
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2 © BSI 12-1998
BS 812-121:1989
7 Preparation of test portions and 8.2 At the end of the immersion period remove the
specimens basket from the solution, cover the container and
leave the basket to drain for a period
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7.1 Reduce the laboratory sample by the procedures of 2 h ± 15 min. Place the basket in the oven
described in clause 6 of BS 812-102:1984 to produce maintained at a temperature of 105 °C to 110 °C for
two test portions of sufficient mass such that each at least 24 h. Remove the basket from the oven
will produce a minimum mass of 500 g of and leave to cool to laboratory temperature
the 10.0 mm to 14.0 mm size range when processed for 5 h ± 15 min.
as described in 7.3.
8.3 Prior to the next immersion break up any salt
7.2 Dry each test portion in the oven at 105 °C cake which may have accumulated at the bottom of
to 110 °C to constant mass and allow to cool in the the container, stir the solution thoroughly with a
desiccator to laboratory temperature. glass rod and allow to settle for 30 min. Check that
7.3 Sieve each dried test portion using the 14.0 mm the density of the solution in the container is still in
and 10.0 mm test sieves to obtain two test the required range and if it is not replace it with
specimens of material, of 500 g approximate mass, unused saturated solution of magnesium sulphate.
in the size range 10.0 mm to 14.0 mm. NOTE In cases where severe disintegration of the aggregate
occurs during the course of the test the relative density recorded
7.4 Wash the test specimens with distilled water may not accurately reflect the degree of saturation of the
until they are seen to be free from dust, allow to solution, because of the suspended fines or ion-exchange effects.
drain and dry in the oven at 105 °C to 110 °C for at Where the density falls outside the range given in 6.3.3 the test
least 24 h. Remove from the oven and allow to cool procedure calls for replacement with a fresh solution of
magnesium sulphate.
in the desiccator.
8.4 Immerse the basket in the saturated solution of
7.5 Repeat the sieving of each specimen using
magnesium sulphate and repeat the process of
the 14.0 mm and 10.0 mm sieves to ensure that only immersion, drainage, oven-drying, cooling and
material in this size range is used. agitation described in 8.1 to 8.3 until five cycles
7.6 Weigh out between 420 g and 430 g of each test have been completed, each cycle taking 48 ± 2 h.
Specimen and record the masses (M1) to the When scheduling the tests, a nominal value of 24 h
nearest 0.1 g. Transfer the specimens to two is used for the oven-drying period.
labelled mesh baskets.
8.5 When the specimen has cooled after the last
NOTE In order to reduce to a minimum any loss by abrasion, cycle of the test, wash the aggregate in the basket
take care to avoid shaking the specimens in their baskets at all
subsequent stages.
with water until it is free of magnesium sulphate.
Check that no magnesium sulphate remains by
7.7 Follow the procedure described in clause 8 for adding a few drops of the barium chloride solution to
each specimen. a 10 mL aliquot of the washings and comparing the
turbidity of this with the turbidity of an equal
8 Procedure volume of fresh tap water.
8.1 Immerse the basket, containing the specimen 8.6 Dry the specimen in an oven at 105 °C to 110 °C
under test, in a container holding the saturated to constant mass and allow to cool in the desiccator
solution of magnesium sulphate, so that the to laboratory temperature. Hand sieve the specimen
aggregate is completely immersed, for a period on a 10.0 mm sieve and record the mass (M2) of
of 17 h ± 30 min. Suspend each basket so that there material retained on the sieve to the nearest 0.1 g.
is a minimum of 20 mm of solution above the
specimen and 20 mm separation from any salt cake 9 Calculation and expression of test
accumulation or from any other basket. Take results
particular care during the process of immersion to
ensure that no whole piece of aggregate is lost from 9.1 Calculate the soundness value S (in %) of each
the basket. Cover the container holding the solution specimen from the following equation, recording
and the test specimen to reduce evaporation and to each value to the first decimal place.
prevent ingress of foreign matter. S = 100 M2/M1
NOTE Clock glasses are suitable covers.
where
© BSI 12-1998 3
BS 812-121:1989
9.2 Calculate the mean of the two results obtained 11 Test report
to give the magnesium sulphate soundness value
The test report shall affirm that the soundness, as
(MSSV) to the nearest whole number.
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4 © BSI 12-1998
BS 812-121:1989
sulphate soundness value for other end of the procedure hand sieve the specimen on the
size fractions of aggregate appropriate sieve.
Table 1 — Recommended test sieves, mesh baskets and mass of specimens for testing
aggregates outside the size range 10.0 mm to 14.0 mm
Size fraction Mass of test Test sieve Mesh baskets
specimen
Passing Retained Mesh size Height Diameter
g mm mm mm mm mm
© BSI 12-1998 5
BS 812-121:1989
Table 2 — Precision data for the magnesium sulphate soundness value x = average MSSV
at given statistical levels
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B.4 Definitions of x , r1, R1, R2, Vr, VL and VS are These may be used to interpolate values of r1, R1
given in clauses 2 and 5 of BS 812-101:1984. The and R2 for levels of percentage retained between
variabilities which result from the sampling and those which appear in Table 1.
sample reduction operations are apportional to Vr
and Vs according to definitions of sampling error B.6 Confidence limits of 95 % for a test result may
and sample reduction error given in clause 2 of be calculated as:
BS 812-101:1984. ± √{R22/2 – r12/4}
B.5 The precision data from Table 1 are when the test result is calculated as the average of
approximately represented by the following two specimens.
simplified equations, where x = MSSV (see 9.2).
r1 = √{0.18 x (100 – x)}
R1 = √{0.31 x (100 – x)}
R2 = √{0.34 x (100 – x)}
6 © BSI 12-1998
BS 812-121:1989
Publications referred to
© BSI 12-1998
BS 812-121:
1989
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