Bulk Specific Gravity Formula:
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Definition: Bulk specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a material's volume (including both voids and solid particles) to the weight of an equal volume of water at a specified temperature.
Purpose: It's a fundamental measurement in materials science and engineering used to characterize the density and quality of construction materials like asphalt and concrete mixes.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula compares the material's weight in air to its apparent weight loss when submerged in water, which equals the weight of the displaced water (Archimedes' principle).
Details: This measurement is critical for:
Tips:
Q1: What's a typical bulk specific gravity for asphalt mixes?
A: Typically ranges from 2.2 to 2.5 depending on aggregate type and mix design.
Q2: Why must weight in air be greater than weight in water?
A: This ensures the material is denser than water (specific gravity > 1), otherwise it would float.
Q3: How does temperature affect the measurement?
A: Water density changes with temperature, so tests should be conducted at standardized temperatures (usually 25°C).
Q4: What's the difference between bulk and apparent specific gravity?
A: Bulk includes voids in the material, while apparent specific gravity considers only the solid volume.
Q5: How precise should my measurements be?
A: For accurate results, measure to at least 0.1 gram precision, especially for small samples.