M6 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS
Standard Specification for
Fine Aggregate for Portland Cement Concrete
AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 6-93
1. SCOPE 3.1.3 If the sulfate soundness 5.3 The fine aggregate shall have not
requirement is waived (Section 8.5), more than 45 percent passing any sieve
3.1.4 In the case of the sulfate and retained on the next consecutive
1.1 This specification covers the quality sieve of those shown in Section 5.1, and
and grading of fine aggregate for portland soundness test (Section 8.1), which salt is
to be used. If none is stated, either salt its fineness modulus shall be not less than
cement concrete used in pavements or 2.3 nor more than 3.1.
bases, highway bridges, and incidental may be used.
structures. 3.1.5 If the supplementary requirement 5.4 Fine aggregate failing to meet the
for reactive aggregates applies (see sieve analysis and fineness modulus
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be requirements of Sections 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3,
regarded as the standard. Section S 1), and
may be accepted provided that concrete
3.1.6 Any exceptions or additions to made with similar fine aggregate from
this specification. the same source has an acceptable
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
performance record in similar concrete
4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS construction; or, in the absence of a
2.1 AASHTO Standards: demonstrable service record, provided
M 80 Coarse Aggregate for that it is demonstrated that concrete of the
Portland Cement Concrete 4.1 Fine aggregate shall consist of natural class specified, made with the fine
sand or manufactured sand or aggregate under consideration, will have
M 92 Wire Cloth Sieves for Testing combinations thereof, having hard,
Purposes relevant properties at least equal to those
strong, durable particles. of concrete made with the same
T2 Sampling Aggregates 4.2 Fine aggregate from different sources ingredients, with the exception that a
T 11 Amount of Material Finer of supply shall not be mixed or stored in reference fine aggregate be used which is
Than 75-µm Sieve in the same pile. selected from a source having an
Aggregate acceptable performance record in similar
T 21 Organic Impurities in Fine concrete construction.
5. GRADING
Aggregate for Concrete NOTE 1-Fine aggregate that conforms to the
T 27 Sieve Analysis of Fine and grading requirements of a specification,
Coarse Aggregates 5.1 Fine aggregate, when tested by means prepared by another organization such as a
of laboratory sieves, shall conform to the state transportation agency, which is in general
T 71 Effect of Organic Impurities following requirements, except as use in the area, should be considered as having
in Fine Aggregate on Strength provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3: a satisfactory service record with regard to
of Mortar those concrete properties affected by grading.
T 103 Soundness of Aggregates by NOTE 2-Relevant properties are those
Freezing and Thawing Sieve MassPercent Passing
properties of the concrete which are important
9.5 mm (⅜ in.) 100
T 104 Soundness of Aggregates by to the particular application being considered.
4.75 mm (Nº 4) 95 to 100
STP 169B1 provides a discussion of important
Use of Sodium Sulfate or 2.36 mm (Nº 8) -
concrete properties.
Magnesium Sulfate 1.18 mm (Nº 16) 45 to 80
600 µm (Nº 30) -
T 112 Clay Lumps and Friable 300 µm (Nº 50) 10 to 30
Particles in Aggregate 150 µm (Nº 100) 2 to 10 6. UNIFORMITY OF GRADING
T 113 Lightweight Pieces in
Aggregate 6.1 For continuing shipments of fine
5.2 The minimum percent shown above
T 161 Resistance of Concrete to for material passing the 300-µm (Nº 50) aggregate from a given source, the
Rapid Freezing and Thawing and 150-µm (Nº 100) sieves may be fineness modulus shall not vary more
reduced to 5 and 0, respectively, if the than 0.20 from the base fineness
aggregate is to be used in airentrained modulus. The base fineness modulus
3. ORDERING INFORMATION shall be that value that is typical of the
concrete containing more than 237
kilograms of cement per cubic meter (400 source. If necessary, the base fineness
3.1 The purchaser shall include the lb/yd3) or in nonair-entrained concrete modulus may be changed when approved
following information in the purchase containing more than 297 kilograms of by the purchaser.
order or contract when applicable: cement per cubic meter (500 lb/yd 3) or if NOTE 3-The base fineness modulus should be
3.1.1 Reference to this Specification, an approved mineral admixture is used to determined from previous tests, or if no
M 6, and year of issue, supply the deficiency in percent passing previous tests exist, from the average of the
these sieves. Air-entrained concrete is fineness modulus values for the first 10
3.1.2 Whether the deleterious samples (or all preceding samples if less than
here considered to be concrete containing
substances limits for Class A or Class B
air-entraining cement or an air-entraining
apply, and limits on other deleterious 1
agent and having an air content of more Significance of Tests mid Properties of Concrete
substances (Section 7.1 and Note 3), and Contrete Making Materials. STP 169B.
than 3 percent.
ASTM,1978.
1
M6 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS
10) on the order. The proportioning of a 8.2 Fine aggregate failing to meet the the particles of coal and lignite. Only
concrete mixture may be dependent on the requirements of Section 8.1 may be material that is brownish-black, or black,
base fineness modulus of the fine aggregate to accepted, provided that concrete of shall be considered coal or lignite. Coke
be used. Therefore, when it appears that the
comparable properties, made from shall not be classed as coal or lignite.
base fineness modulus is considerably
different from the value used in selecting similar aggregate from the same source, 9.1.5 Material finer than 75µm (Nº
proportions for the concrete mixture, a suitable has 200) -T 11.
adjustment in the mixture may be necessary. given satisfactory service when exposed 9.1.6 Organic impurities-T 21. 9.1.7
to weathering similar to that to be Effect of organic impurities on strength-T
encountered. 71.
7. DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES
8.3 Fine aggregate not having a 9.1.8 Sulfate soundness-T 104. 9.1.9
demonstrable service record and failing Soundness (unconfined freezing and
7.1 The amount of deleterious substances to meet the requirements of Section 8.1 thawing)-T 103.
shall not exceed the following limits (see may be accepted, provided it gives
table entitled "Deleterious Substances satisfactory results in concrete subjected 9.1.10 Freezing and thawing of
Limits"): to freezing and thawing tests. (See T concrete-T 161.
NOTE 4-The purchaser or specified, due to 161.)
knowledge of the requirements of the work 8.4 Fine aggregate failing to meet the SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENT
and the constituents of locally available requirements given in Section 8.1 may, at
aggregate, should insert appropriate the option of the purchaser or specifier,
requirements when needed. The following supplementary
be subjected to an alternate freezing and
requirement applies only when
7.2 Organic Impurities: thawing test of unconfined aggregate and
specifically stated in the order or
may be accepted provided it gives
7.2.1 Fire aggregate shall be free of contract.
satisfactory results.
injurious amounts of organic impurities.
Except as herein provided, aggregates NOTE 5-The purchaser or specified should
S1. REACTIVE AGGREGATE
subjected to the test for organic determine the details of the evaluation and
impurities and producing a color darker criteria for determining satisfactory
than the standard shall be rejected. performance in Sections 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4.
S1.1 Fine aggregate for use in concrete
7.2.2 A fine aggregate failing in the test 8.5 The requirements for soundness that will be subject to wetting, extended
may be used, provided that the given in Section 8.1 may be waived in exposure to humid atmosphere, or contact
discoloration is due principally to the the case of aggregate for use in structures with moist ground shall not contain any
presence of small quantities of coal, or portions of structures not exposed to materials that are deleteriously reactive
lignite, or similar discrete particles. weathering. with the alkalies in the cement in an
amount sufficient to cause excessive
7.2.3 A fine aggregate failing in the test
expansion of mortar or concrete, except
may be used, provided that, when tested 9. METHODS OF SAMPLING AND that if such materials are present in
for the effect of organic impurities on TESTING injurious amounts, the fine aggregate
strength of mortar, the relative strength at
may be used with a cement containing
7 days calculated in accordance with T 71
9.1 Sampling and testing of fine less than 0.60-percent alkalies calculated
is not less than 95 percent.
aggregate shall be in accordance with the as sodium oxide equivalent (Na2O +
following methods of the American 0.658K2O) or with the addition of a
8. SOUNDNESS Association of State Highway and material that has been shown to prevent
Transportation Officials: harmful expansion due to the alkali-
aggregate reaction. (See Appendix XI of
8.1 Except as provided in Sections 8.2 9.1.1 Sampling-T 2,
AASHTO M 80.)
through 8.5, fine aggregate subjected to 9.1.2 Sieve analysis and fineness
five cycles of the soundness test shall modulus-T 27, NOTE Sl-This supplementary requirement
have a weighted average loss not greater would normally be specified only in areas
9.1.3 Clay lumps and friable particles- having a history of reactive aggregate, except
than 10 percent when sodium sulfate is
T 112, for unusually critical structures, to save costs
used or 15 percent when magnesium
9.1.4 Coal and Lignite-T 113, using a and delays due to unnecessary testing.
sulfate is used.
liquid of 2.0 specific gravity to remove
Deleterious Substances Limits
Class A, Maximum, Mass Percent Class B, Maximum, Mass Percent
Clay lumps and friable particles 3.0 3.0
Coal and lignite 0.25 1.0
Material finer than 75-µm (Nº 200) sieve:
a. In concrete subject to surface abrasion not more than 2.0 4.0
b. All other classes of concrete, not more than 3.0 5.0
Other deleterious substances (such as shale, alkali, mica, coated
Note 3 Note 3
grains, and soft and flaky particles)
