Which statement about SSD conditioning is true?

Which statement about SSD conditioning is true?

• A. Shaking the basket to release any entrapped air as it is placed in the water bath is not recommended due to potential sample loss.
• B. The specified time period for the sand to soak in the water is 24-48 hours.
• C. An SSD condition is one in which the aggregate contains only small amounts of free water on its surface.
• D. This procedure requires approximately 1 kg of oven dried sand to begin the test.

Answer: (D)

In SSD conditioning you start from a known dry mass so you can control moisture and calculate how much water the aggregate will absorb. Beginning with about 1 kilogram of oven-dried sand gives you a practical, representative sample that is easy to handle and allows accurate mass balance as you saturate the pores to reach the saturated surface-dry state. This starting quantity keeps the test manageable while ensuring the results reflect the material’s behavior without the complication of an unknown initial moisture content. The SSD condition means the pores are filled with water but there is no free water accumulating on the surface, so statements implying a fixed long soak or the presence of surface free water aren’t aligned with the standard procedure.

In SSD conditioning you start from a known dry mass so you can control moisture and calculate how much water the aggregate will absorb. Beginning with about 1 kilogram of oven-dried sand gives you a practical, representative sample that is easy to handle and allows accurate mass balance as you saturate the pores to reach the saturated surface-dry state. This starting quantity keeps the test manageable while ensuring the results reflect the material’s behavior without the complication of an unknown initial moisture content. The SSD condition means the pores are filled with water but there is no free water accumulating on the surface, so statements implying a fixed long soak or the presence of surface free water aren’t aligned with the standard procedure.