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Aggregate Testing
Aggregate Testing
When using rock as aggregate, there are three main aspects to consider to determine
their suitability. These are the composition, texture and degree of alteration of the
rock, the resistance to surface wear (AAV, PSV, etc) and the resistance to impact and
crushing (AIV, ACV, etc).
In general, the best aggregates come from fresh, fine to medium grained igneous rocks,
for example, dolerite, granite and basalt. Granites tend only to fail the criteria if
weathered or mica-rich.
Gritstones are the most useful sedimentary rocks as most others are too easily crushed.
Extensive testing would be required to confidently allow any other sedimentary rocks to
be utilised.
Metamorphic rocks vary too much to be of specific use and many are used simply as fill
material for roads with the exception of high grade, coarse grained gneisses, which
exhibit behaviour similar to that of granite.
The following tests are the most commonly used to provide a range of values from which
both the suitability for and quality of aggregate can be ascertained.
PHYSICAL TESTS
SHAPES AND DIMENSIONS
Flakiness Index (IF)
m (intermediate)
l (longest)
s (smallest)
m (intermediate)
and plotted in one of four quadrants of a Zingg diagram to define shape (bladed,
tabular, prolate and equant)
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1-W
cGa
100 (
67 -
100W
cGa
For aggregates >10mm, a 2kg sample is saturated and weighed in water (mass B)
This sample is then surface dried and weighed (weight A)
It is finally oven dried for 24 0.5hr at 100 - 110, cooled and weighed (weight
C)
Relative Density (oven dried) =
C
A-B
(A - C)
C
A
A-B
x 100
MECHANICAL TESTS
STRENGTH
Aggregate Impact Value (AIV)
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The fines generated are passed through an arbitrary sieve size of 2.36mm to
obtain a fraction of the original weight
This fraction is subtracted from the total weight which gives the percentage of
fines, the AIV
Two tests are carried out to the nearest 1% and shouldn't differ by more than
1
These values should not exceed 30 and <25% is preferable for acceptability
Very similar to the AIV test but provides a measure of resistance to crushing
under gradual continual loading
A ~2kg sample is subjected to continuous loading via a piston in a loading frame
A total load of 400kN is achieved in 10 minutes
The fines are then passed through the 2.36mm test sieve and calculated as a
percentage of the original weight
Two tests are carried out to the nearest 1% and shouldn't differ by more than
1
14x
y+4
DURABILITY
Aggregate Abrasion Value (AAV)
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Helps to predict the susceptibility of rocks to polishing when used in the wearing
surface of a road
The greater the value, the greater the resistance
The apparatus is designed to simulate the action of dust laden tyres on a bonded
aggregate surface
A 200 x 28mm area of aggregate is set in resin to form an arc that can be
mounted on the road wheel of the apparatus
A solid rubber tyre then bears down on the test area with a force of 725N
Corn emery and water are fed to the tyre surface gradually building up to emery
flour
The polish on the resulting specimen surface is tested using a standard pendulum
arc friction tester on which the calibrated scale yields the coefficient of
friction as a percentage, the PSV
Motorways require a minimum PSV of 65 for wearing course material
CHEMICAL TESTS
These tests provide measurements of 'soundness'.
Soundness = the ability of the aggregate to resist excessive volume changes
Magnesium Sulphate Soundness Test (MSSV)
A number of small samples of ~50g each are placed in a wire mesh drum and
rotated in water for 10 minutes then dried and the cycle is repeated
As with the MSSV, the weight loss is expressed as a percentage of the original
weight, the slake durability index
This test is only really relevant to the poorest grades of aggregate for use in
road sub-bases
Organic Content
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Sulphate Content
References
1.
2.
Aggregates: Sand, gravel and crushed rock aggregates for construction purposes
(2nd Ed). M. R. Smith & L. Collis (1993). Geological Society Engineering Geology
Special Publication No. 9.
Geology for Civil Engineers. C. D. Gribble & A. L. McLean.
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