Testing of Aggregates

Aggregates are tested for strength, toughness, hardness, shape, and water
absorption.
Aggregates influence the properties of concrete/mortar such as water requirement,

cohesiveness and workability of the concrete in plastic stage, while they influence
strength, density, durability, and permeability, surface finish and colour in hardened
stage.
Aggregate plays an important role in pavement construction. Aggregates influence,

to a great extent, the load transfer capability of pavements. Hence it is essential
that they should be thoroughly tested before using for construction. Not only that
aggregates should be strong and durable, they should also possess proper shape
and size to make the pavement act monolithically. Aggregates are tested for
strength, toughness, hardness, shape, and water absorption.
In order to decide the suitability of the aggregate for use in pavement construction,
following tests are carried out:
Crushing test
Abrasion test
Impact test
Soundness test
Shape test
Specific gravity and water absorption test
Bitumen adhesion test
1. CRUSHING TEST
One of the model in which pavement material can fail is by crushing under
compressive stress. A test used to determine the crushing strength of aggregates.
The aggregate crushing value provides a relative measure of resistance to crushing
under gradually applied crushing load.
The test consists of subjecting the

specimen of aggregate in standard mould
to a compression test under standard
load conditions. Dry aggregates passing
through 12.5 mm sieves and retained 10
mm sieves are filled in a cylindrical
measure of 11.5 mm diameter and 18 cm
height in three layers. Each layer is
tamped 25 times with a standard tamping
rod. The test sample is weighed and
placed in the test cylinder in three layers
each layer being tamped again. The
specimen is subjected to a compressive
load of 40 tonnes gradually applied at the
rate of 4 tonnes per minute. Then crushed
aggregates are then sieved through 2.36 mm sieve and weight of passing material
(W2) is expressed as percentage of the weight of the total sample (W1) which is the
aggregate crushing value.
Aggregate crushing value = (W1/W2)*100
A value less than 10 signifies an exceptionally strong aggregate while above 35

would normally be regarded as weak aggregates.
2. ABRASION TEST
Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates and to
decide whether they are suitable for different pavement construction works. Los
Angeles abrasion test is a preferred one for carrying out the hardness property.
The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test

is to find the percentage wear due to
relative rubbing action between the
aggregate and steel balls used as
abrasive charge.
Los Angeles machine consists of circular

drum of internal diameter 700 mm and
length 520 mm mounted on horizontal
axis enabling it to be rotated. An abrasive
charge consisting of cast iron spherical
balls of 48 mm diameters and weight
340-445 g is placed in the cylinder along
with the aggregates. The number of the abrasive spheres varies according to the
grading of the sample. The quantity of aggregates to be used depends upon the
gradation and usually ranges from 5-10 kg. The cylinder is then locked and rotated
at the speed of 30-33 rpm for a total of 500 -1000 revolutions depending upon the
gradation of aggregates.
After specified revolutions, the material is sieved through 1.7 mm sieve and passed
fraction is expressed as percentage total weight of the sample. This value is called
Los Angeles abrasion value.
A maximum value of 40 percent is allowed for WBM base course in Indian

conditions. For bituminous concrete, a maximum value of 35 percent is specified.
3. IMPACT TEST
The aggregate impact test is carried out to evaluate the resistance to impact of
aggregates. Aggregates passing 12.5 mm sieve and retained on 10 mm sieve is
filled in a cylindrical steel cup of internal dia 10.2 mm and depth 5 cm which is
attached to a metal base of impact testing machine. The material is filled in 3 layers
where each layer is tamped for 25 numbers of blows. Metal hammer of weight 13.5
to 14 Kg is arranged to drop with a free fall of 38.0 cm by vertical guides and the
test specimen is subjected to 15 numbers of blows. The crushed aggregate is
allowed to pass through 2.36 mm IS sieve. And the impact value is measured as
percentage of aggregates passing sieve
(W2) to the total weight of the sample
(W1).
Aggregate impact value = (W1/W2)*100
Aggregates to be used for wearing

course, the impact value shouldnt
exceed 30 percent. For bituminous
macadam the maximum permissible
value is 35 percent. For Water bound
macadam base courses the maximum
permissible value defined by IRC is 40
percent.
4. SOUNDNESS TEST
Soundness test is intended to study the resistance of aggregates to weathering

action, by conducting accelerated weathering test cycles. The Porous aggregates
subjected to freezing and thawing is likely to disintegrate prematurely. To ascertain
the durability of such aggregates, they are subjected to an accelerated soundness
test.
Aggregates of specified size are subjected to cycles of alternate wetting in a

saturated solution of either sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate for 16 18
hours and then dried in oven at 105 to 1100C to a constant weight. After five cycles,
the loss in weight of aggregates is determined by sieving out all undersized
particles and weighing.
The loss in weight should not exceed 12 percent when tested with sodium sulphate
and 18 percent with magnesium sulphate solution.
5. SHAPE TESTS
The particle shape of the aggregate mass

is determined by the percentage of flaky
and elongated particles in it. Aggregates
which are flaky or elongated are
detrimental to higher workability and
stability of mixes.
The flakiness index is defined as the

percentage by weight of aggregate
particles whose least dimension is less than 0.6 times their mean size. Flakiness
gauge is used for this test.
The
elongation index of an aggregate is defined as the percentage by weight of particles
whose greatest dimension (length) is 1.8 times their mean dimension. This test is
applicable to aggregates larger than 6.3 mm. Elongation gauge is used for this test.
6. SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION
The specific gravity and water absorption of aggregates are important properties
that are required for the design of concrete and bituminous mixes. The specific
gravity of a solid is the ratio of its mass to that of an equal volume of distilled water
at a specified temperature. Because the aggregates may contain water-permeable
voids, so two measures of specific gravity of aggregates are used:
Apparent specific gravity and
Bulk specific gravity.
Apparent Specific Gravity, Gapp, is computed on the basis of the net volume of
aggregates i.e the volume excluding water-permeable voids. Thus
Gapp = [(MD/VN)]/W
Where,
MD is the dry mass of the aggregate,
VN is the net volume of the aggregates excluding the volume of the absorbed
matter,
W is the density of water.
Bulk Specific Gravity, Gbulk, is computed on the basis of the total volume of
aggregates including water permeable voids. Thus
Gbulk = [(MD/VB)]/W
Where,
VB is the total volume of the aggregates including the volume of absorbed water.
Water Absorption: The difference between the apparent and bulk specific gravities is
nothing but the water permeable voids of the aggregates. We can measure the
volume of such voids by weighing the aggregates dry and in a saturated surface dry
condition, with all permeable voids filled with water. The difference of the above two
is MW.
MW is the weight of dry aggregates minus weight of aggregates saturated surface

dry condition. Thus,
Water Absorption = (MW/MD)*100
The specific gravity of aggregates normally used in road construction ranges from
about 2.5 to 2.9. Water absorption values ranges from 0.1 to about 2.0 percent for
aggregates normally used in road surfacing.
7. BITUMEN ADHESION TEST
Bitumen adheres well to all normal types of road aggregates provided they are dry
and free from dust. In the absence of water there is practically no adhesion problem
of bituminous construction.
Adhesion problem occurs when the aggregate is wet and cold. This problem can be
dealt with by removing moisture from the aggregate by drying and increasing the
mixing temperature. Further, the presence of water causes stripping of binder from
the coated aggregates. This problem occurs when bitumen mixture is permeable to
water.
Several laboratory tests are conducted to arbitrarily determine the adhesion of

bitumen binder to an aggregate in the presence of water. Static immersion test is
one specified by IRC and is quite simple. The principle of the test is by immersing
aggregate fully coated with binder in water maintained at 400C temperature for 24
hours.
Maximum stripping value of aggregates should not exceed 5%.
Tests for Aggregates
Property of Aggregate Type of Test
Crushing strength Crushing test

Hardness Los Angeles abrasion test
Toughness Aggregate impact test
Durability Soundness test
Shape factors Shape test
Specific gravity and porosity Specific gravity test and water absorption test
Adhesion to bitumen Stripping value of aggregate

Testing of Aggregates

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Aggregates are tested for strength, toughness, hardness, shape, and water

Aggregates influence the properties of concrete/mortar such as water requirement,

Aggregate plays an important role in pavement construction. Aggregates influence,

The test consists of subjecting the

Aggregate crushing value = (W1/W2)*100

A value less than 10 signifies an exceptionally strong aggregate while above 35

The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test

Los Angeles machine consists of circular

A maximum value of 40 percent is allowed for WBM base course in Indian

Aggregate impact value = (W1/W2)*100

Aggregates to be used for wearing

Soundness test is intended to study the resistance of aggregates to weathering

Aggregates of specified size are subjected to cycles of alternate wetting in a

The particle shape of the aggregate mass

The flakiness index is defined as the

6. SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND WATER ABSORPTION

MD is the dry mass of the aggregate,

W is the density of water.

MW is the weight of dry aggregates minus weight of aggregates saturated surface

Water Absorption = (MW/MD)*100

7. BITUMEN ADHESION TEST

Several laboratory tests are conducted to arbitrarily determine the adhesion of

Maximum stripping value of aggregates should not exceed 5%.

Tests for Aggregates

Property of Aggregate Type of Test

Crushing strength Crushing test

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