AF2903 Highway Construction and Maintenance

Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

Road Aggregates Characterization

Tatek Fekadu Yideti
PhD Student in Highway and Railway Engineering
Department of Transportation Science

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1
 Aggregates

Aggregate is the major component of all materials used in road

construction

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Aggregates
is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in
construction

include sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete

and geosynthetic aggregates

components of composite materials such as concrete and

asphalt concrete

serves as reinforcement to add strength to the overall

composite material

are widely used in drainage applications such as foundation

drains, retaining wall drains, and road side edge drains

are also used as base material under foundations, roads

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 Where do we use Aggregates in Highway
Engineering?

Asphalt – wearing course, base course

high fracture resistance
good interlocking
hardness
surface friction
light reflective
Base Material
good fracture resistance
good interlocking
drainage
Sub-Base Material
medium fracture resistance
good interlocking
drainage

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Where do Aggregates come from?

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 Classification

1. Igneous rocks

Origin :- Natural aggregates

Grain size
Coarse grained
Medium grained
Fine grained

Composition
Acidic > 66% of silica.
Intermediate 55 to 66% silica.
Basic < 55% silica.

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Classification
2. Sedimentary rocks

Calcareous

Chalk, Lime stone

Siliceous
Sandstone
Flint, chert
Argillaceous
Clay, shell etc.

3. Metamorphic rocks
Artificial aggregate - by product of industrial processes
eg. Blast furnace slag

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 Sources of Aggregates

Gravel Sand and Filler

Rock quarry Rock quarry

On site material On site material
Gravel pit Sand pit
Mines Dredging (river and salt
Slag from ore processing water)
Processes mine material

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Rock Quarry

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 Gravel Pit

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On Land Dredging

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 Marine Dredging

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Aggregate Production at Quarries

Blasting of bedrock

Primary crushing stage

Jaw crusher

Secondary crushing stage

Gyratory or cone crusher
Screen

Tertiary crushing stage

Cone crusher
Impact crusher (VSI)
Screens

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 Blasting

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Crushing

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 Source Aggregate Characterization

Gradation

Toughness and Abrasion Resistance

Particle Shape and Surface Texture

Durability and Soundness

Cleanliness and Deleterious Materials

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Aggregate Gradation
In a gradation and size analysis, a sample of dry aggregate of
known weight is separated through a series of sieves with
progressively smaller openings
Once separated, the weight of particles retained on each sieve is
measured and compared to the total sample weight
Particle size distribution is then expressed as a percent
retained/passing by weight on each sieve size

Percent retained

Percent passing

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 Aggregate Gradation

Aggregate gradation influences almost every important property

including:

Stiffness
Stability
Durability
Permeability
Workability
fatigue resistance
skid resistance and
resistance to moisture damage

(Roberts et al., 1996)

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Aggregate Gradation

It is often expressed in graphical form

Using concepts of Maximum density gradation
A special graph referred to as the FHWA (Federal Highway
Administration) 0.45 power graph.
This gradation would involve a particle arrangement where
successively smaller particles are packed within the voids between
larger particles

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10
 Fuller and Thompson's Equation
(Interactive Equation)
A widely used equation to describe a maximum density
gradation for a given maximum aggregate size. It is developed
by Fuller and Thompson in 1907.

n
d
p    * 100
 D
Where:
P = percent passing (%)
d = aggregate size being considered
D = maximum aggregate size
n = parameter which adjusts curve for fineness or coarseness
(for maximum particle density n ≈ 0.5 according to Fuller and
Thompson)

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The 0.45 Power Maximum Density Graph

In the early 1960s, the FHWA introduced the standard gradation

graph used in the HMA industry today

This graph uses Fuller and Thompson's equation with n = 0.45 and
is convenient for determining the maximum density line and
adjusting gradation (Roberts et al., 1996)

This graph is slightly different than other gradation graphs because

it uses the sieve size raised to the nth power (usually 0.45) as the x-
axis units. Thus, a plot of Fuller and Thompson's maximum density
equation with n = 0.45 appears as a straight diagonal line

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 Calculations for a 0.45 Power Gradation Curve

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The 0.45 Power Maximum Density Graph

Gradation Curve
100 Maximum Density
Line
90

80 Dense- Graded
70
Uniformly- Graded
60
% passing

50 Open- Graded
40

30
Gap- Graded
20
Fine- Graded
10

0
0 1 2 4 5.6 8 11.2 16 22.4 31.5
Coarse- Graded
Sieve size,^0.45 [mm]

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 Coarse Aggregate and their Sieve Sizes

Sieve Designation Opening (in) Openeing (mm)

3 in 3.00 75.0
2 in 2.00 50.0
1½ in 1.50 37.5
1 in 1.00 25.0
3/4 in 0.75 19.0
½ in 0.50 12.5
3/8 in 0.375 9.50

Retained on 4.75 mm (No.4) ASTM D692

Retained on 2.36 mm (No.8) Asphalt Institute
Retained on 2.00 mm (No.10) HMA Book

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Fine Aggregate and their Sieve Sizes

Sieve Designation Opening (in) Opening (mm)

No. 4 0.187 4.75

No. 8 0.0937 2.36
No. 16 0.0469 1.18
No. 30 0.0234 0.60
No. 50 0.0117 0.30
No. 100 0.0059 0.15
No. 200 0.0030 0.075

Passing 4.75 mm (No.4) ASTM D1073

Retained on 2.36 mm (No.8) Asphalt Institute
Mineral filler
At least 70% pass 0.075 mm ASTM D242

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 Maximum and Nominal Aggregate Sizes

%P %R %P %R
100 0 Nominal maximum size 100 0
100 0 One size larger than the first sieve to 99 1
92 8 retain more than 10 % 88 11
72 20 72 16
65 7 65 7
48 17 Maximum size 48 17
36 12 36 12
One size larger than nominal
22 14 22 14
maximum size
15 7 15 7
9 6 9 6
4 5 4 5
0 4 0 4

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Uniformly Graded Aggregate

Uniformly graded refers to a gradation that contains most of the particles

in a very narrow size range. The curve is steep and only occupies the narrow
size range specified. All the particles are the same size.

Particle-to-particle contact
High void content
Low but variable density
High stability if confined
Low stability when unconfined
Difficult to compact

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 Uniformly Graded Aggregate

100

80
% Passing

60

40

20

0
0,01 0,1 1 10 100

Sieve Size, mm

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Open-Graded Aggregate

Open graded refers to a gradation that contains only a small

percentage of aggregate particles in the small range

Few particle-to-particle contact

High void content
Low but variable density
High stability if confined
Low stability when unconfined
Difficult to compact

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 Open-Graded Aggregate

100

80
% Passing

60

40

20

0
0,01 0,1 1 10 100

Sieve size, mm

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Dense-Graded Aggregate

Dense or well-graded refers to a gradation that is near the 0,45 power

curve for maximum density and contains optimum amount of aggregates
from all ranges.

Particle-to-particle contact
Low void content
High density
High stability if confined
High stability when unconfined
Difficult to compact

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 Dense-Graded Aggregate

100

80
% Passing

60

40

20

0
0,01 0,1 1 10 100

Sieve Size, mm

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Gap-Graded Aggregate

Gap graded refers to a gradation that contains only a small percentage

of aggregate particles in the mid-size range. The curve is flat in the mid-
size range

No particle-to-particle contact
High void content
Lower density
Low stability if confined
Low stability when unconfined
Easy to compact

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 Gap-Graded Aggregate

100

80
% Passing

60

40

20

0
0,01 0,1 1 10 100

Sieve Size, mm

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Example
Percentage Passing Calculation
Sieve Aggregate Aggregate Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative
Designation weight percent weight percent percent
retained retained retained retained passing
(g) (%) (g) (%) (%)
12.5 0 0 0 0 100
9.5 480 4.8 480 4.8 95.2
4.75 1540 15.6 2020 20.4 79.6
2.36 2240 22.6 4260 43 57
1.18 1300 13.1 5560 56.1 43.9
0.6 1650 16.7 7210 72.8 27.2
0.3 740 7.5 7950 80.3 19.7
0.15 720 7.3 8670 87.6 12.4
0.075 930 9.4 9600 97 3
0 300 3 9900 100 0
Total 9600
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 Toughness/Abrasion Resistance

Common test methods for characterizing aggregate

toughness/abrasion resistance

Los Angeles Abrasion (AASHTO T96, ASTM C131)

Aggregate Impact Value (British)

Aggregate Crushing Value (British)

Micro-Deval Abrasion (French/Canadian)

Degradation in the SHRP Gyratory Compactor

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Los Angeles Abrasion test

The Los Angeles (L.A.) abrasion test is a common test

method used to indicate aggregate toughness and abrasion
characteristics (AASTO T96, ASTM C131)
Resistance of coarse aggregate abrasion and mechanical
degradation during handling, construction and use
For the L.A. abrasion test, the portion of an aggregate sample
retained on the 1.70 mm sieve is placed in a large rotating drum
that contains a shelf plate attached to the outer wall
A specified number of steel spheres are then placed in the
machine and the drum is rotated for 500 revolutions at a speed of
30 - 33 revolutions per minute (RPM)

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 Los Angeles Abrasion test

The material is then extracted and separated into material passing

and retained on the 1.70 mm sieve
The retained material is then weighed and compared to the original
sample weight. The difference in weight is reported as a percent of the
original weight and called the "percent loss"

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Los Angeles Abrasion test

Aggregate Type L.A Abrasion value

General Values
Hard, igneous rocks 10
Soft limestone's and sandstones 60

Ranges for Specific Rocks

Basalt 10 - 17
Dolomite 18 – 30
Gneiss 33 – 57
Granite 27 - 49
Limestone 19 – 30
Quartzite 20 - 35

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 Aggregate Crushing Value

The aggregate crushing value

indicates the ability of an aggregate
to resist crushing

The lower the figure the stronger

the aggregate, i.e. the greater its
ability to resist crushing

The aggregate passing 12.5 mm

sieve and retained on 10 mm sieve
is selected for standard test

Compression testing machine with

a load of 40 tonnes is applied for 10
minutes

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Aggregate Crushing Value

The aggregate crushing value is defined as a ratio of the weight, of

fines passing the specified sieve (2.36 mm) to the total weight of the
sample expressed as a percentage.

Aggregate crushing value > 35 weak for pavement

Aggregate crushing value < 10 exceptionally strong

Rock group Crushing value

Basalt 14
Granite 20
Lime stone 24
Quartzite 16

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 Aggregate Impact Value

Toughness of an aggregate is its resistance to failure by impact

Rock group Impact value

Basalt 15
Granite 19
Lime stone 23
Quartzite 21

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Durability/Soundness
AASHTO T 104 and ASTM C 88
Estimates resistance of aggregate to
breakdown or disintegration when
subjected to weathering action
Successively wetting and drying
aggregate in saturated solutions of
either sodium sulfate or magnesium
sulfate solution
Result is total percent loss over
various sieve intervals for a prescribed
number of cycles
Maximum loss values typically
range from 10 to 20 % per 5
cycles

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 Soundness

Before After

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Cleanliness and Deleterious Materials

Deleterious material is the mass percent of contaminants such as

clay limps, shale, wood, mica, and coal in the blended aggregate
Aggregates must be relatively clean when used in HMA or PCC
To test for clay lumps or friable particles
A sample is first washed and dried to remove material passing the
0.075-mm (No. 200) sieve. The remaining sample is separated into
different sizes and each size is weighed and soaked in water for 24
hours
Particles that can be broken down into fines with fingers are
classified as clay lumps or friable material. The amount of this
material is calculated by percentage of total sample weight
The test can be performed for both fine and coarse aggregates

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 Volumetric relationships of Aggregate
Materials

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Phase Diagram
To compute mass (or weight) and volume of the three different phases

Va air Ma=0
Vv
Vw Water Mw
Vt Mt

Vs Aggrega
te Ms

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 Phase Diagram

M= mass of unbound materials

Va air Ma=0
V = volume
Vv
s= solid solids
Vw Water Mw
w= water Vt Mt
a= air
v = voids Aggrega
Vs
te Ms
t = total

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Gravimetric water content (w)

Gravimetric water content (w) is a measure of the water present in the
granular mix by weight . It is defined as the ratio of the mass of water, MW
to the mass of the solids,

MW Va air Ma=0
w * 100% Vv
MS Vw Mw
Water
Vt Mt
Expressed as percentage
Range from 0 to 100 %
Vs Aggrega
te Ms

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 Volumetric water content (θv)
Volumetric water content (θv) is defined as the ratio of the volume of
water, Vw to the total volume of the aggregate,Vt

Vw
v  * 100% Va air Ma=0
Vt Vv
Vw Water Mw
Vt Mt
Expressed as percentage
Range from 0 to 100 %
Vs Aggrega
te Ms

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Porosity (n)
Porosity (n) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids over the
total volume of aggregate mix

Va air Ma=0
VV
n * 100% Vv
Vw Mw
Vt Water
Vt Mt

Theoretical range : 0 to 100 % Vs Aggrega

te Ms

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 Void ratio (e)
Void ratio (e) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids over the
volume of aggregate

VV Va Ma=0
e  Vv
air
VS
Vw Water Mw
Vt Mt
e
n 
1 e Vs Aggrega
Ms
te

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Degree of saturation (S)

Degree of saturation (S) is the percentage of the void volume filled
by water

Vw
S * 100% Va air Ma=0
Vv Vv
Vw Water Mw
Dry aggregate materials S = 0%
Vt Mt
Fully saturated S = 100 %
Unsaturated (0% <S<100%)
Vs Aggrega
te Ms
Note:

Gw  Se

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 Densities ()
Densities is the unit mass of a material
Units : g/cm3, kg/m3, lb/ft3, t/m3, g/ml,
Density of water (ρw = 1.0 g/cm3 =1000 kg/m3 =62.4 lb/ft3)
Bulk density (m) is the density of the aggregate materials in the
current state. MT
m 
VT
Dry density (d) is the density of the aggregate materials in dry state
MS
d 
VT
Solid density (s) is the density of the aggregate materials in solid
state
MS
S 
VS
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Specific Gravity (G)

Specific gravity is the ratio of density of aggregate mix to the density
of water

S MS S 
MS
GS  GS 
w VS  w VS

dVt
GS  d 
MS G
 S W
VS  w Vt 1 e
VS d
 Unit volume of aggregate
Vt GS w
VV 
 1 d Unit volume of voids
Vt GS  w

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 Example

1. A cubic meter of aggregate in its natural state weighs 17.75kN,

after being dried it weighs 15.08kN. The specific gravity of the
aggregate is 2.70. Determine the degree of saturation (S), void
ratio (e), porosity (n), and gravimetric water content (w) the
aggregate as its natural state.

Given

Total volume of aggregate Vt =1m3

Total weight of aggregate Wt = 17.75kN
Dry weight of aggregate Ws = 15.08kN
Specific gravity of aggregate Gs = 2.70

Solution (on whiteboard)

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Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

Questions?

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