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Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
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Home > Tools > Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What characteristics of the aggregate are of principal concern in affecting the strength of the concrete? A. Particle shape, surface texture, size range of the particles, combination of sizes (grading), and strength and elastic modulus of the aggregate are important. A very high modulus aggregate will contribute to volume stability but increase brittleness. A compressible aggregate will increase the volume change due to shrinkage, but will also increase the strain capacity before fracture, thus reducing cracking. References: SP-1(02); E-1(16); ACI 221R-96; ACI 213R-14; ASTM C33 Topics in Concrete: Aggregate; Concrete Fundamentals; Materials
Q. What characteristics of the aggregate are of principal concern in affecting the strength of the concrete?
A. Particle shape, surface texture, size range of the particles, combination of sizes (grading), and strength and elastic modulus of the aggregate are important. A very high modulus aggregate will contribute to volume stability but increase brittleness. A compressible aggregate will increase the volume change due to shrinkage, but will also increase the strain capacity before fracture, thus reducing cracking.
References: SP-1(02); E-1(16); ACI 221R-96; ACI 213R-14; ASTM C33
Topics in Concrete: Aggregate; Concrete Fundamentals; Materials
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