Construction aggregates: evaluation and specification

Mitchell, Clive ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-5668. 2015 Construction aggregates: evaluation and specification. In: Third International Forum for Industrial Rocks & Mining conference & exhibition, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, 30 Mar - 1 April 2015.

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Abstract/Summary

Construction aggregate is a fundamental raw material for all countries. However, the testing and specification of aggregate is often overlooked or not considered. This has serious implications for the life and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure which can cost a lot of money in the future to repair or replace and at worst lead to structural failure and risk to human lives. Geological materials have been used in construction since the dawn of time. This is still the case with construction raw materials accounting for the largest volumes of any known production process on the planet. Natural aggregate is the most ubiquitous construction material and is used in buildings, civil engineering projects and transport infrastructure such as roads, railways and airport runways. The suitability of naturally occurring rock for the production of construction aggregate relies on its testing against national and international standards. Construction aggregate broadly comes in two main categories. Hard rock aggregate is typically sourced from igneous rocks such as granite, dolerite and gabbro, sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone, and metamorphic rocks such as gneiss and marble. These are extracted in quarries by drilling, blasting and crushing. Sand and gravel aggregate is typically sourced from unconsolidated sediments of fluvial, lacustrine or marine origin. These are extracted in quarries by mechanical excavators. Both types of aggregate are washed and screened to create the required construction aggregate products. The testing of aggregate not only ensures its suitability for different construction applications it is also the basis for consumer specifications and enables the ongoing assurance that it continues to meet the required properties. This presentation will consider the properties required for construction aggregate, the standards, its suitability for the different applications and the laboratory testing required.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Paper)
Additional Keywords:	construction; aggregate; evaluation; specification; mineral; industry; UK
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	16 Jun 2015 14:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510909

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