Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Policy Committee (CAB/-) to Technical Committee CAB/2, upon which the following bodies were represented:

Aggregate Concrete Block Association

Association of Consulting Engineers

Association of Consulting Scientists

Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers

Brick Development Association

British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries

British Cement Association

British Ceramic Research Ltd

British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Manufacturers’ Association

British Geological Sciences

British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd

British Ready Mixed Concrete Association

British Steel Industry

Building Employers’ Confederation

Calcium Silicate Brick Association Limited Chartered Institute of Building

Concrete Society

County Surveyors’ Society

Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)

Department of Environment (Property Services Agency)

Department of Transport

Department of Transport (Transport and Road Research Laboratory)

Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales

Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors

Institute of Concrete Technology

Institution of Civil Engineers

Institution of Highways and Transportation

Institution of Structural Engineers

Institution of Water and Environmental Management (IWEM)

Mortar Producers’ Association Limited

Sand and Gravel Association Limited

Society of Chemical Industry

This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Policy Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 31 October 1989

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:

Committee reference CAB/2 Draft for comment 88/10129 DC

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 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 Scope

This Part of BS 812 describes the method for determining the soundness of aggregates by subjecting the aggregate to cycles of immersion in a saturated solution of magnesium sulphate followed by oven-drying. The method is applicable to aggregate passing a 14.0 mm test sieve but is retained on a 10.0 mm test sieve.

NOTE 1 The majority of aggregates can be tested for soundness using this method. Precision has been established for the rock types listed in Table 1. The test may not be suitable for all rock types and reservations have been expressed elsewhere in respect of some carbonate aggregates and some aggregates having a high proportion of magnesium bearing minerals or of cryptocrystalline quartz.

For other size fractions, a recommended method is described in appendix A.

NOTE 2 The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

2 Definitions

3 Principle

4 Sampling

5 Apparatus

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.8

5.9

6 Reagents

6.1

6.2

6.3

7 Preparation of test portions and specimens

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

7.7

8 Procedure

8.1

8.2

8.3

8.4

8.5

8.6

9 Calculation and expression of test results

9.1

9.2

10 Precision

10.1

10.2

11 Test report

Publications referred to

BS 812-121:1989

Testing aggregates - Method for determination of soundness

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Oct 1989