ASTM C70-20

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Designation: C70 − 13 C70 − 20 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T142
Standard Test Method for
Surface Moisture in Fine Aggregate
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C70; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method covers field determination of the amount of surface moisture in fine aggregate by displacement in water.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C128 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
C566 Test Method for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 For definition of terms used in this test method refer to Terminology C125.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is not widely used. However, it is a convenient procedure for field or plant determination of moisture
content of fine aggregate if specific gravity values are known and if drying facilities are not available. It can be used to adjust the
aggregate mass for moisture content and to determine surface moisture contribution to mixing water in portland cement concrete.
4.2 The accuracy of the test method depends upon accurate information on the bulk specific gravity of the material in a saturated
surface-dry condition.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Balance, having a capacity of 2 kg or more and sensitive to 0.5 g or less.
5.2 Flask—A suitable container or flask, preferably of glass or noncorrosive metal. The container may be a pycnometer, a
volumetric flask, a graduated volumetric flask, or other suitable measuring device. The volume of the container shall be from two
to three times the loose volume of the sample. The container shall be so designed that it can be filled to the mark, or the volume
of its contents read, within 0.5 mL or less.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.20 on
Normal Weight Aggregates.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013Feb. 1, 2020. Published February 2013March 2020. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20062013 as
C70 – 06.C70 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/C0070-13.10.1520/C0070-20.
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volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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C70 − 20
5.3 Temperature Measuring Device, capable of accurately measuring the temperature of the water to 60.5 °C throughout a
range of 0 to 50 °C.
6. Sample
6.1 Select a representative sample of the fine aggregate to be tested for surface moisture content. It shall weigh not less than
200 g. Larger samples will yield more accurate results.
7. Procedure
7.1 The surface water content may be determined either by mass or volume. In each case the test shall be made at a water
temperature range of 18 to 29°C.29°C using potable water.
7.2 Determination by Mass—Determine the mass of the container, in grams, filled to the mark with only water. Before placing
the sample into the container, adjust the level of the water so that it will be sufficient to cover the sample without going over the
original mark. Introduce the weighed sample of fine aggregate into the container and remove the entrapped air. Fill the container
to the original mark, and determine the mass in grams. Calculate the amount of water displaced by the sample, as follows:
M 5 M 1M 2 M (1)
d c s
where:
M = mass of water displaced by the sample, g,
d
M = mass of container filled to the mark with water, g,
c
M = mass of sample, g, and
s
M = mass of container and sample, filled to the mark with water, g.
7.3 Determination by Volume—Measure a volume of water, in millilitres, sufficient to cover the sample and place in the
container. Introduce the weighed sample of fine aggregate into the container and remove the entrapped air. Determine the combined
volume of the sample and the water by direct reading when a graduated flask is used. When a pycnometer or volumetric flask of
known volume is used, fill the container to the known volume mark with an additional measured volume of water. The
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