Pavement Engineering

ECG 524
Topic 2

1. Aggregate Specific Gravities

2. Gradations
3. Blending
4. Batching
5. Combined Specific Gravities
1. Specific Gravities of Aggregates

Itis important to get the specific

gravities of both coarse and fine
aggregates

The SG results are needed to calculate

the blended aggregate specific gravity
 Specific Gravity Tests for
Aggregates

Two tests are needed:

Coarse aggregate (retained on the 4.75

mm sieve)

Fine aggregate (passing the 4.75 mm

sieve)
 Specific Gravity, G
Ratio of the mass to volume of an object to
that of water at the same temperature

SGapparent > SGeffective > SGbulk

Mass Solid
Volume
G=
Mass Water
Volume
Apparent Specific Gravity
SGapparent = The ratio of weight oven dry aggregates to the volume of
aggregates plus volume of impermeable voids, at stated
temperature

Mass of oven dry aggregate

Gsa =
Vol of aggregate
Bulk Specific Gravity

Surface Voids Mass of oven dry aggregate

Gsb =
Vol of agg. + perm. pores

Vol. of water-permeable pores

SGbulk = The ratio of weight oven dry aggregates to the

volume of aggregates plus permeable pores, at
the stated temperature
 Effective Specific Gravity
Mass oven dry agg
Gs, eff =
Vol of agg. + perm. pores not absorb. asphalt

Surface Voids SGeff = The ratio of weight oven dry aggregate

to the volume of aggregate plus
permeable pores that not absorbed
with asphalt, at a stated temperature.

Solid Agg. Vol. of water-perm. voids

Particle not filled with asphalt

Absorbed asphalt
 Phase Diagram
Phase: a change in state (e.g. solid, liquid, gas)
Oven dry weight of agg = Ws
Unit weight of water, w = 1 g/cm3

Vap Water
Vpp permeable
Vpp - Vap pores
Gsa = Ws / (Vs x w )

Aggregate
Gsb = Ws / (Vs + Vpp) w
Vs Solids
Gse = Ws / (Vs + Vpp -Vap) w
 Coarse Aggregate Specific
Gravity
ASTM C127
1. Dry aggregate
2. Soak in water for 24 hours
3. Decant water
4. Use pre-dampened towel to get SSD condition
5. Determine mass of SSD aggregate
6. Determine mass under water
7. Dry to constant mass
8. Determine oven dry mass
 Coarse Aggregate Specific
Gravity

This photograph shows a sample of aggregate soaking (ready to test), a

towel for drying, a spray bottle for pre-wetting the towel, the wire basket
for obtaining the weight of SSD aggregate under water, and the water
tank under the scale platform.
 Coarse Aggregate Specific
Gravity

The sample of coarse aggregate is being dried. Note the

area of aggregate not being worked is covered with the towel
so it will not dry out.
 Coarse Aggregate Specific
Gravity Calculations
Gsb = A / (B - C)
A = mass oven dry
B = mass SSD
C = mass under water

Gsa = A / (A - C)

Water absorption, %
Absorption % = [(B - A) / A] * 100
 Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity
ASTM C128
1. Dry aggregate
2. Soak in water for 24 hours
3. Spread out and dry to SSD
4. Add 500 g of SSD aggregate to pycnometer of known
volume
Pre-filled with some water
5. Add more water and agitate until air bubble have been
removed
6. Fill to line and determine the mass of the pycnometer,
aggregate and water
7. Empty aggregate into pan and dry to constant mass
8. Determine oven dry mass
 Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

A presoaked sample of fine aggregate is dried back to saturated surface dry

condition using a gently moving warm current of air. In this case, a standard
hair dryer is used. Saturated surface dry is determined using the cone test.

An area is cleared in the center of the work area and the cone is filled to
overflowing with the aggregate. The aggregate is then tamped down.
Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

The aggregate is considered to be saturated surface dry when the sand

cone slumps when the brass form is removed.
Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity

Once the saturated surface dry condition

has been achieved, a 500 gram sample
(weighed) is placed in a partially filled
volumetric glass flask of known volume.

The sample is then agitated until the foam

and air bubbles have subsided.

The flask is then filled with water up to the

volumetric mark used for calibration and
the mass of the pycnometer (flask),
aggregate, and water recorded.
 Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity
Calculations
Gsb = A / (B + D - C)
A = mass oven dry
B = mass of pycnometer filled with water
C = mass pycnometer, SSD aggregate and water
D = mass SSD aggregate

Gsa = A / (B + A - C)

Water absorption, %
Absorption % = [(D - A) / A] * 100

Bulk SSD = D/(B+D-C)

 2. Aggregate Gradation

Use 0.45 Power Gradation

Chart
Blend Size Definitions
maximum size
nominal maximum size
Gradation Limits
control points
restricted zone
Types of Gradations
* Uniformly graded
- Few points of contact
- Poor interlock (shape dependent)
- High permeability
* Well graded
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
* Gap graded
- Only limited sizes
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
 0.45 Power Grading Chart
Percent Passing
100

80

60 Example:

40 4.75 mm sieve plots at (4.75)0.45 = 2.02

20

0
0 1 2 3 4
Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power
 0.45 Power Grading Chart
Percent Passing
100

80
max
60
size
40

20
maximum density line
0
0 .075 .15 .425 1.18 3.35 5.0 10.0 14.0 20.0

Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power

100 Aggregate Size Definitions 100
100 99
90 89
NominalMaximum
72 72
65 Aggregate Size 65
48 one size larger than the first 48
36 sieve to retain more than 10% 36
22 22
Maximum Aggregate Size
15 15
9 one size larger than nominal 9
4 maximum size 4
Percent Passing
100
max density line

control point nom max

max size
size

0
.075 .3 2.36 12.5 19.0

Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power

 Gradation
Percent Passing
100

Design Aggregate Structure

0
.075 .3 2.36 12.5 19.0
Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power
 Gradation Limits for Asphalt Concrete
(JKR/SPJ/2008)
AC14 For HMA pavements these are the definitions for gradations AC10
20
14 Nominal Maximum 14
10 10
Aggregate Size
5 5
3.35 one size larger than the first 3.35
sieve to retain more than 10%
1.18 1.18
0.425 Maximum Aggregate Size 0.425
0.150 one size larger than nominal 0.150
0.075 maximum size 0.075
 Mix Type Wearing Wearing Binder Course
Course Course
Mix AC10 AC14 AC28
Designation
BS Sieve Size Percentage Passing by Weight
28.0 100
20.0 100 72-90
14.0 100 90-100 58-76
10.0 90-100 76-86 48-64
5.0 58-72 50-62 30-46
3.35 48-64 40-54 24-40
1.18 22-40 18-34 14-28
0.425 12-26 12-24 8-20
0.150 6-14 6-14 4-10
0.075 4-8 4-8 3-7
 Superpave Mix Size
Designations
Superpave Nom Max Size Max Size
Designation (mm) (mm)

37.5 mm 37.5 50
25 mm 25 37.5
19 mm 19 25
12.5 mm 12.5 19
9.5 mm 9.5 12.5
 Gradations Considerations
- Max. size < 1/2 AC lift thickness
- Larger max size
+ Increases strength
+ Improves skid resistance
+ Increases volume and surface area of aggregate
which decreases required AC content
+ Improves rut resistance
+ Increases problem with segregation of particles

- Smaller max size

+ Reduces segregation
+ Reduces road noise
+ Decreases tire wear
 Washed sieve analysis
Part 1 - Washing
1. Dry aggregate and determine mass
2. Wash and decant water through 0.075 mm sieve until
water is clear
3. Dry aggregate to a constant mass
Part 2 - Sieving
1. Place dry aggregate in standard stack of sieves
2. Place sieve stack in mechanical shaker
3. Determine mass of aggregate retained on each sieve
Part 3 - Computation
1. Add mass washed into mass passing 0.075 mm
2. Calculate percent passing as usual
Washed Sieve
 Mechanical Sieve

Individual Sieve Stack of Sieves

 3. Blending Stockpiles

Basic formula for combining

stockpiles to achieve a target
gradation is:

p = Aa + Bb + Cc + .
where:
p = percent of material passing given sieve size
A, B, C, .. = percent passing given sieve for each agg.
a, b, c, = decimal fraction of A, B, C, to be used
 Blending Stockpiles
Plot individual gradations
Plot specification limits
Can be used for initial assessment
Can blend be made from available
materials?
Identification of critical sieves
Est. trial proportions
 Gradation of Combined aggregate (grading A)

120.00

100.00

80.00
% Passing

Grading A
60.00
JMF

40.00

20.00

0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Sieve size
 RUBBERIZED ASPHALT TEST SECTION, ROUTE FT2, SECTION NO. 340 - 344, KUANTAN
HOT BIN COMBINATION :
GRADING A

Source B.S Sieve (% Passing)

20 14 10 5 2.36 1.18 0.43 0.15 0.075 Pan
Bin A 100.000 67.836 4.418 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.00
Bin B 100.000 97.937 80.060 1.146 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.00
Bin C 100.000 100.000 99.790 79.480 5.923 0.423 0.106 0.106 0.110 0.00
Bin D 100.000 100.000 100.000 97.890 83.810 55.020 26.460 10.750 4.700 0.00
Bin E 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 95.650 82.300 0.00

Source % Using B.S Sieve (% Passing) using

20 14 10 5 2.36 1.18 0.43 0.15 0.075 Pan
Bin A 9 9.00 6.11 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Bin B 31 31.00 30.36 24.82 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Bin C 19 19.00 19.00 18.96 15.10 1.13 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.00
Bin D 39 39.00 39.00 39.00 38.18 32.69 21.46 10.32 4.19 1.83 0.00
Bin E 2 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.91 1.65 0.00
Total %
100 100.00 96.47 85.18 55.63 35.81 23.54 12.34 6.13 3.50 0.00
(actual)
Total %
(target) 100 95 87 58 30 22 14 10 5
 Trial and Error Steps

Select critical sieves in blend

Determine initial proportions which will
meet critical sieves
Check calc. blend against specification
Adjust if necessary and repeat above
steps
 Blending of Aggregates

Reasons for Blending

Obtain desirable gradation
Single natural or quarried material not
enough
Economical to combine natural and
process materials
 Blending of Aggregates

Numerical Method
Trial and Error
Basic Formula
 Blending of Aggregates

P = Aa + Bb + Cc + .
Where:
P = % of material passing a given sieve
for the blended aggregates A, B, C,
A, B, C, = % material passing a given sieve
for each aggregate A, B, C, ..
a, b, c, . = Proportions (decimal fractions)
of aggregates A, B, C, to be
used in Blend
 Blending of Aggregates
P = Aa + Bb +
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 (A)100 (B)100
No. 4 90 100
No. 8 30 100
No. 16 7 88
No. 30 3 47
No. 50 1 32
No. 100 0 24
No. 200 0 10
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2 First Try
(remember trial & error)
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 100 50 100 100 * 0.5 = 50 100
No. 4 90 45 100 90 * 0.5 = 45 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 100 30 * 0.5 = 15 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 88 7 * 0.5 = 3.5 40 - 80
No. 30 3 1.5 47 3 * 0.5 = 1.5 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 1 * 0.5 = 0.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 0 * 0.5 = 50 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 0 * 0.5 = 0 2 - 10
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 100 50 100 50 100 100
No. 4 90 45 100 50 95 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 100 50 65 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 88 44 47.5 40 - 80
No. 30 3 1.5 47 23.5 25 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 16 16.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 12 12 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 5 5 2 - 10
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 100 50 100Lets Try 50 100 100
No. 4 90 45 100 and get 50 95 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 100a little closer
50 65 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 to
88the middle44 of 47.5 40 - 80
the target values.
No. 30 3 1.5 47 23.5 25 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 16 16.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 12 12 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 5 5 2 - 10
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 30 % 70 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 100 30 100 70 100 100
No. 4 90 27 100 70 97 80 - 100
No. 8 30 9 100 70 79 65 - 100
No. 16 7 2.1 88 61.6 63.7 40 - 80
No. 30 3 0.9 47 32.9 33.8 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.3 32 22.4 22.7 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 16.8 16.8 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 7 7 2 - 10
 4. Batching of Aggregates
Why Batch?
We want to reproduce the desired
gradation for Mix Design

Things We Need To Know To Batch

% of Each Stockpile in Blend %
% Retained For Each Sieve of Each
Stockpile
 5. Combined Aggregate
Specific Gravities

Once the percentages of the stockpiles

have been established, the combined
aggregate specific gravities can also be
calculated
Combined Specific Gravities

1
G=
P1 + P2 + . Pn
100 G1 100 G2 100 Gn
Questions - ?
 Exercise 1

Aggregates A, B, and C were combined with

proportions of 50, 45, and 5 percent,
respectively, to meet HMA specifications. The bulk
specific gravity of A, B, and C is
2.652, 2.681, and 2.920, respectively. Determine
the bulk specific gravity of the total
blend.
 Exercise 2
The water absorption of a gravel coarse aggregate is 1.9 percent
and its apparent specific gravity is 2.725. Determine its bulk
specific gravity.
TIPS:

Gsa = apparent specific gravity

Gsb = bulk specific gravity

The volume of external pores is equal to the volume of absorbed water when the
aggregate is in SSD (saturated surface dry) condition.
Also, volume of water (ml) = weight of water (grams) since the specific gravity of water is
1.0.

Assume for this example that the weight of dry aggregate is 100 grams.
Gsa = dry weight of aggregate/vol
of aggregate (excluding external
pores)

Gsb = dry weight of aggregate/vol

of aggregate + vol of external
pores
 Exercise 3
An aggregate has a bulk specific gravity of 2.603 and an apparent
specific gravity of 2.814. Calculate its water absorption.

TIPS:

Assume that the weight of dry aggregate is 100 grams.

Find bulk volume of aggregate including external pores

Find volume of aggregate excluding external pores

 Exercise 4
The aggregates, No. 1 and 2, are to be blended to produce a mix
which will satisfy the specification limits. The gradations of the two
aggregates and the specification limits are as follows. Determine
the aggregate blend proportions by trial and error.

Sieve Size Aggregate #1 Aggregate #2 Specification

(mm) Limits
14.0 100 100 100
10.0 90 100 80-100
5.0 30 100 65-90
3.35 7 88 40-80
1.18 3 47 20-65
0.425 1 32 7-40
0.15 0 24 3-20
0.075 0 9 2-10