Patent · US Expired

Test method and apparatus for determining the surface saturated dry condition of aggregates

US6568249B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 2001
Grant dateMay 27, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N33/42
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the saturated, surface dry (SSD) condition point of aggregates includes warm air-drying of a water saturated aggregate sample of known initial weight. The sample is rotated in an open mesh screened drum, and heated ambient air is passed radially through the drum and the sample to remove water. Initially surface water is removed, followed by pore water. The loss in water weight and the exit air relative humidity (EAH) is tracked by sensors and recorded. The EAH values change significantly at the SSD point. Following SSD point determination, the test procedure continues until all free water is removed from the sample to determine total moisture content of the sample.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.