1

INTRODUCTION
Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means are guided
and given to the students. However the answers to the assignment are left to the students to
solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity is hope to slowly introduced
and inculcate independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder task
of open ended laboratory activities.
In these laboratory activities, students are required to set-up an aggregate tests in order to
evaluate the strength (Toughness and durability) characteristic of aggregate. Students are
encouraged to develop their critical analysis skills by analyzing and presenting the experimental
results appropriately.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the test are:
a) To ascertain the degradation property of aggregates by abrasion
b) To determine the aggregates impact value (AIV) of aggregate


PROBLEM STATEMENT
Pavement structure comprises of several layers, surfacing, base, sub-base and sub-grade. The
most important layer which has direct contact with traffic is surfacing layer. The surfacing layer
consists of aggregate and binder. The aggregates must possess adequate strength and
durability to withstand moving load. Soft aggregates will be quickly ground to dust while harder
aggregates have higher resistance to abrasion and grinding effects. Laboratory tests are carried
out to determine the characteristics of such aggregates.



2

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Aggregates play an important role in the design and construction of highway and air-field
pavements. They are also major part of rigid (concrete) and flexible (asphalt) pavements.
Aggregate is a combination of sand, gravel, crushed aggregate or other materials of mineral
composition. Aggregates used in road construction should be strong enough to resist crushing
and abrasion action under traffic wheel loads. If the aggregate is weak, the stability of pavement
structure is likely to be adversely affected.
Abrasion test is measure of resistance to degradation of known mass of coarse aggregates of
standard grading resulting from a combination of action including abrasion and grinding in a
rotating steel drum. The test will give a measure of aggregates hardness, as specified and
required for use in both road and highway pavement construction projects. The test will also
determine the strength quality of the aggregates.
Toughness is the property of material to resist impact. Due to the traffic loads, the aggregates is
subjected to the pounding action or impact and there is a possibility of aggregate breaking into
smaller pieces. The road aggregates should therefore be tough enough to resist fracture under
sudden impact and moving loads.











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Aggregate impact value test
APPARATUS:
1. Aggregate impact test machine
2. Cylindrical steel cup
3. Tamping rod
4. Weighing machine
5. 2.36mm sieve
PROCEDURE:
1. An empty cylindrical steel cup has been weighed and it weight has been record.
2. The aggregate of are filled into the cylindrical steel cup by 3 layer.
3. Weighed of each layer filled with aggregate was recorded and will be tamped down by
using tamping rod for 25 times until level to the surface level.
4. The aggregate sample has been transferred into the brass plate.
5. Hammer was released to fall freely on the aggregate and repeated until 15 blows.
6. The samples have been sieved by 2.36mm sieve.
7. The weights of retain aggregate were measured and recorded










4

LA abrasion test
APPARATUS:
1. Los Angeles Abrasion Testing Machine
2. Weighing machine.
3. Sieves
4. Steel Ball
PROCEDURE:
1. Total 5000g of aggregate were used as a sample. 2500g from each 14 to 10mm and 14
to 20mm size of aggregate.
2. The aggregate has been washed, dried and weighed.
3. 11 steel ball were used and has been weighed each one of it.
4. All 5000g of aggregates and 11 steel ball were placed inside the LA abrasion test
machine
5. The drum of the LA abrasion machine will rotate about 500 revolution at a speed of
rotation 30 to 33 rpm.
6. After completing the 500 rotation. The sample aggregate and also the steel balls has
been taken out from the drum of the machine.
7. The sample of the crushed aggregate was refrained by using 1.70mm size of sieve
8. The left sample on the sieve has been washed and dried in the oven at temperature
between 105 to 110
o
C for 24 hours
9. The sample has been taken out from the oven and waited for the sample to cold down
its temperature.
10. The sample has been weighed and the new weight has been recorded.






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RESULTS
1. Aggregate impact Value Test
Layer 1 Layer 2 Layer 3
Weight of mould (g) 789.2
Increcement weight of mould + sample (g) 861.9 967.4 1081.1
Weight of sample (g) 72.7 178.2 291.9
Weight of sample after tamping (g) 72.7 178.3 292.1
Weight of sample after Aggregate Impact
Test and sieve through 2.36 mm sieve
openings (g)
250.9
Impact value of aggregate (%) 85.9 %

Sample calculation
Weight of mould : 789.2 g
Weight of mould + aggregate sample : 861.9 g
Weight of aggregate sample : 861.9 g 789.2 g
: 72.7 g
Final weight of three layer aggregate sample
after manually tamping, W1 : 292.1 g
Weight of sample after Aggregate Impact Test
and sieve through 2.36 mm sieve openings, W2 : 250.9 g
Impact value of aggregate : (W2 / W1) x 100 %
: (250.9 / 292.1) x 100 %
: 85.9 %




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2. LA abrasion test
Weight of 20 - 14 mm aggregate sample (g) 2500.0
Weight of 14 10 mm aggregate sample (g) 2500.0
Weight of 11 steel balls (g)










Overall weight of 11 steel balls (g)
1. 377.2
2. 375.2
3. 432.0
4. 382.0
5. 378.2
6. 426.0
7. 432.9
8. 432.6
9. 424.0
10. 433.7
11. 429.0
4522.8
Overall weight of aggregate sample + steel balls (g) 9522.8
Weights of aggregate sample after sieve (g) 2629.0
Weight of wet aggrerate sample (g) 2748.0
Weight of aggregate sample after 24 hours oven-dry
heating (g)
2622.7
Aggregate Abrasion value (%) 4.78

Sample calculation
Initial weight of aggregate sample, A : 5000 g
No of revolution of drum : 500 rev
Weight of aggregate sample after sieve : 2629.0 g
Weight of wet aggregate sample : 2748.0 g
Weight of dry aggregate sample, B : 2622.7 g
Aggregate abrasion value : (A - B) / A x 100 %
: ( 5000 - 2622.7 ) / 5000 x 100
: 47.55 %
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DISCUSSION
There were two tests were done during the laboratory practice. The first test was aggregate
impact test in which this test was to determine the impact value (AIV) of aggregate. Before
aggregates to be used as road materials, they must possess some properties or characteristics
where toughness was one of the main properties required for the aggregates to bear the impact
loads.
In this test, the aggregates of 14 mm were being weighted in three layers where the
aggregates need to be tamped for 25 times by using a tamping rod for each layer. The total
weight before being tamped by aggregate impact apparatus was 929.1g. Then the sample was
tamped in the apparatus where the sample was subjected to a total manual-controlled 15 blows.
By using the sieve, the sample was then being weighed again and the new record after the
impact was 250.9g. This indicate the percentage impact value of aggregate was 85.95% thus
shows that the aggregate were very weak for the road surfacing.
The second test that was done during the laboratory practice was aggregate abrasion
test where in this test the objective is to ascertain the degradation property of aggregates by
abrasion. There are 11 steel balls were used to abrasion and impact the aggregates when the
drum was rotating. The total weight of the aggregates including the steel balls 9522.8g before
being put in the LA Abrasion machine. After about 500 revolutions the machine was stopped
and then the aggregates were being sieved and weighted again. The new record after sieve
was 2629 g. The aggregates then being washed and weighed in which the wet sample was now
2748 g.
For the next 24 hours, the aggregates were being heated at 105C to 110C to obtain
constant weight. The new weight was taken and the new record of the sample was 2622.7g.
Therefore the aggregate abrasion value was 47.55%. This shows that the aggregates physical
property were lower and less resistance to abrasion thus less hardness. The aggregates were
not coarse enough for road surfacing due to easily breaking, crashing and degradation. The
abrasion value was being compared to the IRC specifications where the suitable type of
pavement for the aggregates are WBM base course with bituminous surfacing and bituminous
bound macadam which has 50 % maximum permissible abrasion val


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CONCLUSION
For aggregate impact test, the result obtained is 85.9% which is more than 35% of
aggregate impact value. The aggregates used can be classified as weak for road surfacing
because it exceed 35%. Thus, the objective of the test is achieved.
While for the LA Abrasion test, result obtained is 47.55%, more than JKR requirement
which is maximum value is 20%. The aggregates used for the experiment is not suitable for
road surfacing because the aggregates is not strong enough to satisfied JKR specification. Half
of the initial weight of aggregate passing through sieve of size 1.70mm which can be conclude
that the size of aggregate is not suitable for road surfacing. The objective of the test is achieved.

REFERENCES
1. http://www.engineeringcivil.com/aggregate-impact-value.html
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/86556617/Los-Angeles-Abrasion-Test
3. http://transportationengineering2012onwards.blogspot.com/2013/09/aggregate-impact-
value-test.html
4. http://theconstructor.org/building/building-material/determination-of-los-angeles-
abrasion-value/1361/









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APPENDIX
1. Aggregate Impact Value Test

Weighing machine 1.70mm sieve

Steel balls LA Abrasion test machine
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Aggregate sample

2. LA Abrasion Test


Los Angeles Abrasion Testing Machine