EXPERIMENT NO: 03

DETERMINATION OF THE TEN PERCENT FINES

(BS: 812: 1975 (PART 1, 2, 3))

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3.1 GENERAL

The ten percent fines value gives a measure of the resistance of an aggregate to crushing which is
applicable to both weak and strong aggregate.

The standard ten percent fines shall be made as described in section 3.3 to section 3.7 on
aggregate passing a 14.0 mm BS test sieve and retained on a 10.0 mm BS test sieve. If required,
or if the standard size of aggregate is not available, the test shall be made in accordance with
section 3.8.

3.2 SAMPLING

The sample for this test shall be taken in accordance with clause 5 of part 1 of this standard
(BS 812).

3.3 APPARATUS

The following apparatus is required for the standard test.

3.3.2 A tamping rod as described in section 2.3.2.

3.3.3 A balance as described in section 2.3.3.

3.3.4 BS 410 test sieves as described in section 2.3.4.

3.3.5 A compression testing machine as described in section2.3.5, except that the forces which
is to be applied may vary from 5 kN to 500 kN.
3.3.6 A cylindrical metal measure as described in section 2.3.6.

3.3.7 (if required; see note in section 3.5), a means of measuring to the nearest 1 mm the
reduction in distance between the platens of the testing machine during the test (e.g. a dial
gauge).

3.4 PREPARATION OF THE TEST SAMPLE

The preparation of the test sample shall be as described in 2.4 except that, in the case of weak
materials, particular care shall be taken not to break the particles when filling the measure and
the cylinder.

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NOTE: Sufficient test sample for three of more tests may be necessary.

3.5 TEST PROCEDURE

Put the cylinder of the test apparatus in position on the base-plate and add the test sample in
thirds, each third being subjected to 25 strokes from the tamping rod distributed evenly over the
surface of the layer and dropping from a height approximately 50 mm above the surface of the
aggregate, particular care being taken in the case of weak materials not to break the particles.
Carefully level the surface of the aggregate and insert the plunger so that it rests horizontally on
this surface, taking care to ensure that the plunger does not jam in the cylinder.

Then place the apparatus, with the test sample and plunger in position, between the plates of the
testing machine. Apply forces at as uniform a rate as possible so as to cause a total penetration of
the plunger in 10 min of about:

a) 15 mm for rounded or partially rounded aggregate (e.g. uncrushed gravels)

The figures may be varied according to the extent of the rounding or honeycombing.
NOTE: When an aggregate impact value is available, the force required for the first ten percent
fines test can be estimated by means of the following more conveniently than by the use of the
dial gauge.

Required force (KN) = 4000/ Aggregate Impact Value

This value of force will nearly always gives a percentage fines within the required range of 7.5 to
12.5.

Record the maximum force applied to produce the required penetration. Release the force and
remove the crushed material by holding the cylinder over a clean tray and hammering on the
outside with a suitable rubber mallet until the sample particles are sufficiently disturbed to enable
the mass of the sample to fall freely on to the tray. Transfer fine particles adhering to the inside
of the cylinder and the underside of the plunger to the tray by means of a still bristle brush. Sieve
the whole of the sample in the tray on the 2.36 mm BS test sieve until no further significant
amount passes in 1 minute. Weight the fraction passing the sieve, and express this mass as
percentage of the mass of the test sample. Normally this percentage of fines will fall within the
range 7.5 to 12.5, but if it does not, make a further test loading to a maximum value adjusted as
seems appropriate to bring the percentage fines within the range of 7.5 to 12.5. The formula
given in 3.6 may be used for calculating the force required.

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In all of these operations take care to avoid loss of the fines. Make a repeat test at the maximum
force that gives a percentage fines within the range 7.5 to 12.5.

3.6 CALCULATIONS

The mean percentage fines from the two tests at this maximum force shall be used in the
following to calculate the force required to produce ten percentage fines.

Force required to produce ten percent fines = 14 x / (y+4)

3.7 REPORTING AND RESULTS

The force required to produce ten percent fines shall be reported, to the nearest 10 KN for forces
of 100 kN or more or the nearest 5 kN for loads of less than 100 kN, as the ten percent fines
value.

3.8 DETERMINATION OF THE TEN PERCENT FINES VALUE FOR NON-

3.8.1 General

If required, or if the standard size is not available, test may be made on aggregates of other sizes
which pass a 28.0 mm BS test sieve and are retained on a 2.36 mm BS test sieve. Because of the
lack of experience of the testing sizes other than the standard it has not been possible to give any
indication as to how the results obtained on non-standard sizes would compare with those
obtained in the standard test as in the case of the aggregate crushing value.

3.8.2 Apparatus

The apparatus shall be as described in section 3.3.1 to section 3.3.3 and section 3.3.5 to section
3.3.7.

BS test sieves of appropriate sizes shall be as given in Table 1.1.

3.8.3 Preparation of test sample

The material for tests on non-standard sizes shall consist of aggregate passing and retained on
corresponding BS test sieves given in Table 1.1.

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The procedure shall in other respects follow that given in section 3.4.

3.8.4 Test procedure

Test on non-standard sizes shall follow the procedure given in 3.5 using the appropriate
separating sieve given in table 1.1, it should be noted that the penetration of the plunger may not
accord with the values given in 3.5.

3.8.5 Calculations

Calculations for non-standard sizes shall follow the method given in 3.6.

3.8.6 Reporting of results

Results of tests on non-standard sizes shall be reported as in 3.7 with, additionally, a report on
the size of the aggregate tested.

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 Experiment No: 03
Determination of the Ten Percent Fines Value

Name : Student No:

Type of material : Brick Chips/ Stone Chips/ Gravels/ Boulder/ Rock

Force required to produce T.F.V = 4000kN / A.I.V = kN.

Test No
1 2 3 (if required)
Data
Wt. of Sample (Surface Dry), A gm

Wt. of materials retained on 2.36 mm sieve, C gm

Wt. of materials passing 2.36 mm sieve, B gm

Calculation:

Ten Percent Fines Value (T.F.V) = 14x / (y+4) =

Ten Percent Fines Value (T.F.V):

Signature of the Course Teacher

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