How can humidity influence aggregate base testing results?

Humidity plays a significant role in aggregate base testing results, particularly in relation to density and compaction measurements. When the humidity levels are high, the aggregates can absorb moisture from the air, leading to an increase in their moisture content. This increase can result in a skewing of density measurements because the apparent weight of the aggregates may rise due to the absorbed water, which can create misleading results during compaction tests.

Furthermore, in a highly humid environment, the moisture that aggregates contain can affect the bonding characteristics between particles, potentially impacting how well the material compacts. If the moisture meter reading does not account for this added humidity, it can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the density and compaction effectiveness of the material being tested.

Therefore, the influence of humidity is critical to consider when interpreting testing results since it can directly affect the performance and quality of the aggregate base in construction projects.