Civil Engineering Department

CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

Experiment No. VI
LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST
1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the basic principle, significance and procedures for the Los Angeles
Abrasion Test for coarse aggregates (C.A.).
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Familiarize to the Los Angeles Machine.
2.2 Determine the basic procedure in conducting the L.A. Abrasion Test
2.3 Determine the use and significance of the L.A. Abrasion Test.
3. Discussion:
The course aggregates serve a very important role in the over-all capacity of the concrete in terms
of its resistance in surface abrasion and wear. As with accordance with ASTM C 131 and C 535
(Abrasion Resistance) the Los Angeles Abrasion Test is being performed to test the resistance of
the coarse aggregates in abrasion and wear. The test is widely used as an indicator for the coarse
aggregate for its tendency to break and disintegrate during the handling of the fresh concrete. It
involves ball milling the aggregate with specified number steel ball depending to the grading of the test
sample for a given time, sieving the material over a 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve, and weighing the mass
loss.
4. Resources:
1 unit Los Angeles Abrasion Machine
1 set of Sieve
1 Weighing Scale
1 Scoop
2 Pans
15 kg of Coarse Aggregates with size of 37.5 mm (11/2 in.) or smaller
5. Procedure:
Preparation of materials
1. Wash the 15 kg of coarse aggregates and remove all the adherent coatings and dust.
2. Divide the 15 kg of C.A. into three equal batches.
3. Oven dry the three sample at 110°±5°C (230°±9°F) for 60 minutes.
4. Then grade the three samples in accordance with ASTM C 33.
Actual Testing
5. Place the three test sample at a time with the specified number of steel balls and charge the
Los Angeles machine.
6. Rotate the machine at a speed of 30-33 rev/min for 500 revolutions.
7. After the prescribed number of revolutions discharge the materials from the machine and
perform a preliminary separation of the sample on a sieve coarser than 1.70 mm (No. 12).
8. Wash the material coarser than 1.70 mm (No. 12), oven dry at 110°±5°C (230°±9°F) for 60
minutes and weigh the material.
9. Sieve the finer portion on a 1.70 mm (No. 12) in a manner conforming to ASTM C 136 and
weigh the material.
10. Then record all the readings and calculate the necessary data.

Course:CE405 Experiment No.:VI

 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
Group No.:6 Section:CE41FB2
Group Members:Begaso, Raffy Date Performed:08/09/2018
De Guzman, Rigor Dominic Date Submitted:08/14/2018
Mendoza, Ivy Jane Instructor:Engr. Alphanorwen Aseo
Olayres, Jed
Tamayo III, Andres
6. Data and Results:
6.1 Grading of Test Samples
Sieve Size (Square opening) Mass (g)
Passing Retained on Trial 1 Trial2 Trial 3
37.5 mm (1 ½ in) 25.0 mm (1 in) ** ** **
25.0 mm (1 in) 19.0 mm (3/4 in) 242 79 66
19.0 mm (3/4 in) 12.5 mm (1/2 in) 119 767 1058
12.5 mm (1/2 in) 9.5 mm (3/8 in) 671 685 704
9.5 mm (3/8 in) 6.3 mm (1/4 in) ** ** **
6.3 mm (1/4 in) 4.75 mm (No. 4) 1120 1149 1176
4.75 mm (No. 4) 2.36 mm (No. 8) 453 466 488
Total (Σ) 2605 3146 3492
(In accordance with ASTM C 131 Table 1)
6.2Specification and Data
Dry Weight
Specified Dry Weight Maximum
Grading Retained on Sieve Abrasiona
Trial No. of of Passing Abrasion
Used No. 12 (After Loss (%)
Spheres Sieve No.12 Loss (%)
Washing)
1 B 11 163 526 30.99 59.4
2 B 11 166 531 31.26 59.4
3 B 11 170 534 31.84 59.4
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
*𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠 = × 100%
𝐷𝑟𝑦𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑜.12
6.3 Computation

Trial 1:
689−526
Abrasion Loss = × 100% = 30.99 %
526

Trial 2:
697−531
Abrasion Loss = × 100% = 31.26 %
531

Trial 3:
704−534
Abrasion Loss = × 100% = 31.84 %
534

7. Conclusion:
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

The L.A. abrasion test is used to ensure that the aggregates used in the mixing of asphalt/concrete is
resistant to breaking/crushing/abrasion when submitted to loads. Mixing untested aggregates into an
asphalt/concrete mix would mean higher risk of obtaining deformities/decreased lifespan and decreased
performance. Meanwhile, testing the aggregates before mixing would allow engineers to carefully choose
which batch of aggregates to use depending on the allowed percentage of abrasion loss.
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

8. Assessment:
BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members
Members do not Members always
Manipulative occasionally
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed
skills. skills.
skills
Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-
Experimental
to set-up the set-up the materials up the material with
Set-up
materials. with supervision. minimum supervision.
Members
Members do not Members always
occasionally
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills.
process skills.
Members do not Members follow
Safety Members follow safety
follow safety safety precautions
Precautions precautions at all times.
precautions. most of the time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not Members finish on Members finish ahead of
Management /
finish on time with time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of
incomplete data. data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members have
Members do not
defined Members are on tasks
know their tasks and
responsibilities most and have defined
have no defined
Cooperative and of the time. Group responsibilities at all
responsibilities.
Teamwork conflicts are times. Group conflicts are
Group conflicts have
cooperatively cooperatively managed at
to be settled by the
managed most of the all times.
teacher.
time.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace workplace with
Neatness and workplace at all times
during and after the occasional mess
Orderliness during and after the
experiment. during and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Members require
Ability to do Members require Members do not need to
occasional
independent supervision by the be supervised by the
supervision by the
work teacher. teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 = × 100
24
9. Reference(s):
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
ASTM C535 “Standard Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Large-Size Coarse Aggregate
by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine”

ASTM C136

ASTM C33
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
Documentation:

The students are tasked to get a sample of a 15kg course aggregates with at least a size of 37.5 mm (11/2
in.) or smaller.

The sample is washed and separated into 3 equal parts and oven-dried.
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual

After it have been oven-dried it we use the Los Angeles Abrasion Test Machine using 11 steal balls.

After the sample have been processed it is sieve with a set of sieves and is weight.
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual
 Civil Engineering Department
CE41FB2/CE405 - Construction Materials and Testing Laboratory Manual