5.

PAVEMNET MATERIALS - UNBOUND GRANULAR MATERIALS

5.1 Introduction

Pavement design requires the efficient use of locally available materials if economically
constructed roads are to be built.

Pavement materials include:

Granular materials (aggregates) – which includes crushed rock aggregates obtained from hard
rock sources, natural (pit-run) gravels, gravel-sand-soil mixtures either as dug or semi-processed
(i.e. screening, crushing of oversized stones, mixing with other materials (mechanical
stabilization) and other artificial or modified materials

Binders – surfacing binders such as bitumen and cement; binders used for stabilizing or
modifying the properties of subgrade/subbase/base such as lime, cement, foam bitumen, etc.

Granular materials (aggregates) make up the bulk (by volume and weight) of the pavement
structure and are used in different layers of pavement structure. They may be used alone or in
combination with various types of cementing materials. They provide a number of functions
depending on the layer in which they are used. In general, they have to be stable and hard to
carry the loads by traffic and construction equipment without failure, excessive deformation and
other undue effects, they have to be able to resist wear due to abrasion by traffic and they have
to be durable to resist undue environmental effects (like freezing and thawing, moisture
variations (wetting and drying). The manner in which they do so depends on the inherent
properties and qualities of the individual particles and on the means by which they are held
together (i.e. interlocking, binders, or both).

In Gravel Roads, soil-aggregates form the entire pavement structure; have to be well graded to
furnish adequate stability (strength and stiffness) to carry traffic stresses, should possess
adequate amount of fines and plasticity of fines to bind the coarse aggregates.

Subbase aggregates in flexible pavements are specified mainly by their gradation:- to furnish
adequate load-bearing capacity to carry construction traffic and further reduce traffic stresses on
subgrade, prevent the intrusion of fine particles (filtration as required), improve the subsurface
drainage characteristics of the roadway, etc.

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Base layer aggregates should have such properties and be graded in such a manner that they have
high stability (strength and stiffness), which is the factor of primary importance. Base layers may
also be used for subsurface drainage.

Base/Subbase Aggregates, under rigid pavements, are not specified mainly by their the load-
bearing capacity, but emphasis is also placed on achieving a gradation which will prevent
pumping of the subgrade or intrusion of frost-susceptible materials while at the same time
improving the subsurface drainage characteristics of the roadway.

In high-quality bituminous road surfacing, aggregates comprise of up to about 95 per cent of the
weight of the surfacing. The surfacing aggregates should have adequate stability (as they are
primarily responsible for any load-carrying capacity which the surfacing may have); must be
resistant to abrasion and durable (resistant to adverse weather conditions). Although there are
very many types of bituminous surfacing, in general, the ideal aggregates should have adequate
strength and toughness, ability to crush into chunky particles, free from dust, unduly thin and
elongated particles, and hydrophilic (water loving) characteristics, and should have particle size
and gradation appropriate to the type of construction. These criteria are also important for
concrete, particularly those relating to particle shape and size distribution, since they affect water
requirements and workability of concrete mixes as well as other important concrete properties.

A wide range of materials can be used as unbound base and subbase courses including crushed
quarried rock, crushed and screened, mechanically stabilized, modified or naturally occurring “as
dug” or “pit run” gravels. Their suitability for use depends primarily on the design traffic level of
the pavement and climate. However, such materials must have a particle size distribution and
particle shape which provide high mechanical stability and should contain sufficient fines
(amount of material passing the 0.425 mm sieve) to produce a dense material when compacted.
The use of locally available materials is encouraged, particularly at low traffic volumes. Their
use should be based on the results of performance studies and should incorporate any special
design features which ensure their satisfactory performance.

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5.2 Sources of Aggregates

Sources of aggregates for use in pavement works include:

Hard rock sources (crushed quarried rock) – hard sound bed rock exposures that need
blasting and crushing

Naturally occurring gravels – which includes alluvial deposits, and highly weathered and
fractured residual formations (rippable or can be worked using earth moving machinery such as
Dozers). These may be used as is (pit-run) or may need further processing to be suitable for use
such as crushing over sized stones and screening and/or other modifications such as mechanical
stabilization.

The principal sources of road aggregates in Ethiopia include natural sand and gravel deposits,
and crushed rock. Pulverized concrete and asphalt pavements and other recycled and waste
materials are not used, but could be the future source of pavement materials.

Crushed aggregates - Hard rocks are important sources of aggregates. There are different types
of rocks, all composed of grains of crystalline minerals held together in a variety of ways. The
Property of a rock depends upon the properties of its constituent minerals and nature of bond
between them (i.e. composition, grain size and texture of the rock) which in turn depends on its
mode of origin. Geologists classify rocks into three major types according to their mode of
origin/formation. These are Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic rocks.

Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of molten material (magma). Some
classifications/definitions related to igneous rocks are given below:

Extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks (Basalts, Rhyolite, Trachyte) – which formed on or near the
surface of the earth’s crust due to rapid cooling of magma and hence rocks are fine grained
(glassy or vitreous/like a glass (without crystal) or partly vitreous and partly crystalline (with
small grain sizes)).

Intrusive (Plutonic) igneous rocks (Granite, Gabbro) – formed by the cooling of magma below
the earth’s surface, and hence are crystalline (the crystals may be big enough to be visible by the
naked eye).

Acidic Rocks – igneous rocks with high silica (Sio2) content > 63%. (granite, rhyolite)

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Intermediate rocks – igneous rocks with intermediate silica content, Sio2 between 52% - 62%.
(andesite, diorite)

Basic rocks – igneous rocks with low silica content, Sio2 between 45 – 52%. (Basalt, gabbro).

Generally speaking, igneous rocks with medium grain sized particles are preferable as source for
aggregates. Coarse grained rocks (grain size >1.25mm) are liable to be brittle and to break down
under compacting roller (not tough). While rocks with too fine grain sizes (<0.125mm) and if
especially vesicular, the aggregates are liable to be brittle and splittery (flaky/elongated shapes).
Acidic rocks tend to be –vely charged and aggregates containing large amounts of feldspar and
quartz in large crystals do not bind well with bitumen (bitumen has a slight –ve charge). Basic
rocks bind well with bitumen. Most common igneous rocks used for production of aggregate are
basalt and granite which are both strong and resistant to wear. But one may need to check the
bonding property of granitic aggregates with bitumen, which may need anti-stripping agent.

Sedimentary rocks are formed from the solidification of chemical or mineral sediments deposited
under ancient seas. They are usually layered since the original material was deposited in this
manner. Sedimentary rocks may be siliceous rocks – formed from disintegrated rock sediments
transported by wind or water, re-deposited as sediments, then consolidated or cemented in to a
new rock type (e.g. conglomerate (consolidated gravel), sand stone (consolidated sand), shales
(consolidated mud/clay, rich in organic matter: silt stone or clay stone). Calcareous rocks – rocks
formed by chemical deposition of organic remains in water (Gypsum, chalk, Limestone).
Indurated sediementary rocks (Fine grained well cemented sand stones, limestones) are used as
aggregate sources. However, they are not entirely satisfactory as high quality aggregates due to
their variable cementation (hence variable strength and durability), their tendency to polish (not
suitable for surfacing aggregates) and risk of alkali aggregate reaction (concrete aggregates).

Metamorphic rocks are igneous or sedimentary rocks that have been changed (metamorphosed)
due to intense heat and pressure into new rocks by the recrystallization of their constituents (e.g.
Quartzite, Gneiss, Schist, Slate, marble, etc.). Schist and slate are highly foliated rocks which are
not desirable as they are fissile and liable to be crushed when compacted with rollers. Quartzite
and gneisses can furnished good aggregates.

The properties of aggregates produced in quarries from bedrock depend on the type of bedrock.
Igneous and metamorphic rocks are usually very hard and make excellent aggregates for most
purposes. Limestone and dolomite are quite common sedimentary rocks. They are softer than

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igneous rocks, but are still acceptable as aggregates for most purposes. Shale, being composed of
clay grains, is very weak and disintegrates easily when exposed to the weather and is a poor
aggregate material.

Natural sand and gravel pits have been used extensively as sources of road aggregates. Sand or
gravel pit is first stripped of topsoil, vegetation, and other unsuitable material from the surface of
the deposit to obtain pit run materials. The material obtained is loose, and is usually excavated
with power shovels or front-end loaders. Often it is crushed, especially if there are cobbles or
boulders in the deposit. The smaller sizes go through the crusher without change, whereas larger
particles are broken down to the desired size. Crushed gravel, as this is called, is a high-quality
aggregate used for many purposes. Sand or gravel deposits might be composed of many different
types of mineral particles-such as limestone, sandstone, and granite--depending on the original
bedrock source of the particles.

Recycled material - the use of pulverized concrete from pavements, sidewalks, and buildings
being demolished is growing in other countries both due to the increased cost of natural
aggregates and the desire to recycle rather than landfill these materials. Recycled concrete is
crushed, processed, and used as base material and in concrete and asphalt paving mixtures.
Asphalt pavements can be recycled and reused in pavements. Pulverized asphalt mixtures are
also used as aggregates in base courses, but the proportion may be limited to about 30-50% as
the strength of the layer can be reduced due to the lubricating effect of the asphalt film on the
particles.

Aggregates produced from bedrock are obtained from quarries. Aggregate production involves
extraction (blasting and breaking to pieces), crushing (reduction to size using
compression/impact crushers) and screening. After stripping and opening the quarry, holes are
drilled from the surface. Then dynamite is placed and detonated in these holes to break the rock
into sizes that can be transported. The rock is then fed to crushers which reduce it (crush it) to
the required sizes in various types of rock crushers. The aggregates are then screened to the
various required sizes.

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5.3 Aggregate tests

Aggregates are obtained from different sources and consequently differ considerably in their
constitutions; inevitably they differ also with regard to their engineering properties. The
properties of aggregate that are important for road construction include its cleanliness
(contamination with dust and other deleterious materials), particle size and shape, gradation,
toughness - resistance to crushing, abradability - wearing/abrasion resistance,
durability/soundness, specific gravity and water absorption, surface texture, tendency to polish,
bonding property with bitumen. Aggregate tests are necessary to determine the suitability of the
material for a specific use and to make sure that the required properties are consistently within
specification limits. The following sub-sections discuss important tests of aggregates and their
significance of application; detailed test procedures can be found in standard material testing
manuals.

Particle Size and Shape

Gradation test: Gradation is the characteristic of aggregates on which perhaps the greatest stress
is placed in specifications for highway bases, cement concretes, and asphalt mixes. Hence,
gradation test, also called sieve analysis, screen analysis or mechanical analysis, is the most
common test performed on aggregates to evaluate the suitability of the aggregate materials with
respect to their grain size distribution for a specific use. Gradation is determined by separating
the aggregates into portions, which are retained on a number of sieves or screens having
specified openings, which are suitably graded from coarse to fine. The results obtained may be
expressed either as total percentage passing or retained on each sieve or as the percentages
retained between successive sieves.

The theoretical maximum density of aggregates is obtained when the grain size distribution
follow the Fuller maximum density equation of the form

n
d 
p  100 
D
(5.1)

in which, p is the percent passing sieve size "d", "D' represents the maximum aggregate size in
the material, and n is a constant which varies between 0.45 and 0.5 for maximum density. The
assumption in this relationship is that the voids between the larger particles are filled with still

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smaller particles, until the smallest voids are filled with a small amount of fines. Strength, or
resistance to shear failure, in road bases and other aggregate layers that carry load is increased
greatly if the mixture is dense graded. The larger particles are in contact with each other,
developing frictional resistance to shearing failure, and tightly bound together due to the
interlocking effect of the smaller particles. When aggregate particles are to be bound together by
cement or bitumen, a variation in the grading of an aggregate will result in a change in the
amount of binder required to produce a material of given stability and quality. Proper aggregate
grading contributes to the uniformity, workability and plasticity of the material as it is mixed.

Often the fines content must be limited, because they are relatively weak, and require an
excessive amount of binder to cover them. If fines are present as dust on larger particles, they
weaken the bond between the cement and those particles. Fines in highway bases may lead to
drainage and frost- heaving problems. Also, excessive amounts of fines may result in weak
mixtures, as the large particles are not in contact with each other. The strength of the mixture
would then depend only on friction between the small particles, which is much less than between
large particles. In practice, the required gradation is not found naturally, particularly, if the
aggregates are pit-run materials. In such cases, combining two or more aggregates of different
sources satisfies the gradation requirement for a specific use.

Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) Test. Aggregate crushing test evaluates the resistance of
aggregates against the gradually applied load. The test is used to evaluate the crushing strength
of available supplies of rock, and in construction, to make sure that minimum specified values
are maintained. The test is undertaken using a metal plunger to apply gradually a standard load
of 400kN to a sample of the aggregate (10 – 14 mm) contained in a standard test mould. The
amount of material passing 2.36 mm sieve in percentage of the total weight of the sample is
referred to as the Aggregate Crushing value (ACV). Over the range of normal road making
aggregates, ACVs vary from 5 percent for hard aggregates to 30 percent for weaker aggregates.
For weaker aggregates than this, the same apparatus is used to evaluate the Ten Percent Fines
value i.e. the load which produces 10 percent of fines passing 2.36 mm sieve. The value is
obtained by interpolating of the percentage of fines produced over a range of test loads.

Aggregate Impact Test. This test is a means of evaluating the resistance of aggregates to sudden
impact loading. It is carried out by filling a steel test mould with a sample of aggregate (10 – 14
mm) and then the impact load applied is by dropping hammer at a height of 380 mm. The
Aggregate Impact Value (AIV) is the percentage of fines passing 2.36 mm sieve after 15 blows.

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This test produces results that are normally about 105 per cent of the ACV and it can be used for
the same purposes. Both tests give results which are sufficiently repeatable and reproducible for
contract specifications.

Abrasion Test. Abrasion test is the test used to know how the aggregate is sufficiently hard to
resist the abrasive effect of traffic over its service life. The most widely used abrasion test is the
Los Angeles Abrasion Test which involves the use of a steel drum, revolving on horizontal axis,
into which the test sample of chippings is loaded together with steel balls of 46.8 mm diameter.
The Los Angeles Abrasion Value (LAV) is the percentage of fines passing the 1.7 mm sieve after
a specified number of revolutions of the drum at specified speed. The drum is fitted with internal
baffles causing the aggregate and the steel balls to be lifted and then fall as the drum revolves.
The test therefore gives an indication of the impact strength in combination with the abrasion
resistance of the aggregate. For bituminous surface dressings, chippings with an ACV less than
30 are desirable and the stronger they are the more durable will be the dressings. With premixed
bituminous materials and with crushed stone bases, high mechanical strength, though useful, is
not always of paramount importance. The repeatability and reproducibility of this test are
satisfactory and appropriate for use in contract specifications.

Soundness Test. This test procedure is useful in both survey and design for the evaluation of
aggregates to resist disintegration due to weathering. A sample of aggregate is saturated in a
solution of magnesium sulphate or sodium sulphate, and then removed and dried in an oven.
This process is repeated for five cycles. On completion, the percentage lost gives the durability
of the material. The test is not suitable for providing a single criterion for the susceptibility of
aggregates to rapid weathering but it may find a place as part of the evaluation procedure of
aggregates suspected of containing minerals that are weakened by chemical alteration.

Specific Gravity and Water Absorption. The tests are likely to be used both in surveys of
aggregate resources and in design, particularly in the interpretation of compaction tests and in
the design of bituminous mixtures. They may also be used as part of quality control during
construction, particularly when the survey has indicated that aggregate from the chosen source is
subject to variations in density. The test procedure is simple and the tests are repeatable and
reproducible.

Most rocks absorb less than one per cent by weight of water and, up to this level, water
absorption is of no great consequence. However, some rocks can absorb up to 4 percent of water.

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This suggests that the rock may be of low mechanical strength and will be difficult to dry and
heat during processing to make bituminous mixtures. Inadequate drying will cause difficulty in
securing good adhesion between bitumen and stone, and in hot process mixtures, where the stone
must be heated to about 180oC, it causes a large waste of energy.

In the tests, a 4 kilogram sample of the crushed rock of specific nominal size chippings is soaked
in distilled water for 24 hours, weighed in water (WW), surface dried and weighed in air (WS). It is
then oven dried at 105oC for 24 hours and weighed again in air (WD). The specific gravity and the
water absorption are then obtained as follows:

WD WS  WD
Specific gravity  Water absorption (%)   100 (5.2)
WD  Ww WD

Shape Tests. Three mechanical measures of particle shape which may be included in the
specifications for aggregates for road construction, are the flakiness index, elongation index and
angularity number. The flakiness index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles
whose least thickness is less than three-fifths of their mean dimension. The mean dimension, as
used in each instance, is the average of two adjacent sieve aperture sizes between which the
particle being measured is retained by sieving. The elongation index of an aggregate is the
percentage by weight of particles whose greatest length is greater than 1.8 times their mean
dimension. The angularity number of an aggregate is the amount, to the nearest whole number,
by which the percentage of voids exceeds 33 when an aggregate is compacted in a specified
manner in a standardized metal cylinder.

Use of the shape tests in specifications is based on the view that the shapes of the particles
influence both the strength of aggregate particles and internal friction that can be developed in
the aggregate mass. Since, other factors being equal, an aggregate composed of smooth rounded
particles of a certain gradation will contain less voids than one of the same grading but
composed of angular particles, the angularity of an aggregate can be reflected in terms of the
volume of contained voids when the aggregate is compacted. Measurements show that the
angularity number may range from zero for a material of highly rounded beach-gravel particles
to 10 or more for newly crushed rock aggregate.

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5.1.1. Blending aggregates

To meet the gradation requirements of aggregates for particular uses in pavement construction, it
is often necessary to blend two or more aggregates together. Charts and diagrams are available to
do this blending, but the trial-and-error method is simpler and just about as fast as more complex
methods. Consider two aggregates graded and designated as aggregate A and B, and let the
specification limit be as given in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-1.
The use of the trail-and-error method for blending is then illustrated as follows:

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 1: Aggregate gradation to be

combined to meet specification limits

% Passing

Sieve Aggregate A Aggregate B Specification Mid-point Combined aggregate

12.5 mm 100 100 90-100 95 100

No. 10 0 100 40-55 48 48

No. 200 0 14 5-10 8 7

It is clear in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-1 that all the material
passing a No.10 sieve must come from aggregate B, i.e., approximately 48% which leaves 52 %
for aggregate A. Or consider the retained percentage on No.10 sieve for alternative solution. All
materials retained on No.10 must come from aggregate A, which is 52 % require in the
specification, i.e. 52 % from A and 48% from B. In both cases, the proportion which best fits the
specification limits can be satisfied. The following equation may be written to apply the
procedure to any given sieve:

aA  bB  T (5.3)

where, A and B are percentages from aggregates A and B to be blended for satisfying the
specification limits. a and b are the respective sieve analysis values for a given sieve X,
expressed as a decimal fraction, and T is the sieve analysis value in the blended aggregate. The
equation can be used for gradation expressions

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 1. Percentage retained on a given sieve,
2. Percentage passing on a given sieve, and
3. Percentage retained on two or more sieves.

The result of this equation is used to proportion the 1 st trial blend for the trial-and-error method.
The second and the subsequent blends are proportioned by observation until the specification is
satisfied. In the above illustration, the equation can be written for the No.10 sieve, % passing, as:

a p Ap  b p B p  T p
(5.4)

in which the subscript p indicates the percentage passing. The known variables here are ap = 0,
bp = 1, and Tp = 48%, which implies that B = 48%. For percent retained, the equation can be
written as:

a r Ar  br Br  Tr (5.5)

in which the subscript r indicates the percentage retained. The known variables here are ar = 1,
br = 0, and Tr = 52%, which implies that A = 52%.

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Example: Three aggregates are to be blended to meet a specification. The aggregates,
gradations, and the specification are given in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular
Materials-2.

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 2: Aggregate gradation and

specification for the example

Sieve size Aggregate Aggregate Aggregate Specification Spec. Combined

A B C Mid-point gradation

(1st trial)

Passing 12.5 mm 100 100 100 100

9.5 mm 62 100 72-88 80 79

4.75 mm 8 100 78 45-65 55 46

2.36 mm 2 91 52 30-60 45 34

1.18 mm 0 73 36 25-55 40 25

600 m 51 29 16-40 28 18

300 m 24 24 8-25 16.5 11

150 m 4 20 4-12 8 6

75 m 1 18 3-6 4.5 5

Solution:

Most of coarse aggregate will come from aggregate A and most of the fines will be obtained
from aggregate C. To obtain a mixture that is approximately in the middle of the specification,
we first use the equation and continue with more trials. The equation can be written to blend
aggregate A, B, and C for retained on 9.5 mm sieve and passing 75 m sieve as follows:

aA  bB  cC  T (5.3)

For retained materials on 9.5 mm sieve, the known variables are ar = 0.38, br = 0, cr = 0 and Tr =
20%, which implies that A = 53%. Similarly, for passing 75 m, the known variables are ap = 0,
bp = 0, cp = 0.18 and Tp = 4.5%, which results C = 25%, and B = 100 – 53 – 25 = 22. The first
trial blend as seen in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-2 is within the

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specification limit, but on the coarse side. Reducing the contribution of aggregate A and
increasing B, or C or both for the second and the subsequent trials can result in a blend more
close to the middle of the specification.

5.4 Unbound Base and Subbase Materials (ERA Pavement Design Manual Requirements)

Unbound base and subbase courses in pavement structures are granular materials from sand or
gravel deposits or crushed rock from quarries without admixtures. The required properties of
these materials vary with the type of pavement and the depth of the material in the pavement
structure.

Different standard methods of design specify materials of construction differently considering

the traffic load, locally available materials, and environmental conditions. The following
describes the requirements set for different unbound pavement materials for base and subbase
courses as specified in ERA pavement design manual (2002).

1.1.1 Base course

Graded crushed aggregate: This material is produced by crushing fresh, quarried rock usually
termed a 'crusher-run', or alternatively the material may be separated by screening and
recombined to produce a desired particle size distribution, as per the specifications. The rock
used for crushed aggregates should be hard and durable. Laboratory and field experiences have
shown that crushed particles have, in general, more stability than rounded materials due to
primarily to added grain interlock. In addition, crushed materials possess high coefficient of
permeability. Alternate gradation limits, depending on the local conditions for a particular
project, are shown in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-3. After crushing,
the material should be angular in shape with a Flakiness Index of less than 35%, and preferably
of less than 30%. In constructing a crushed stone base course, the aim should be to achieve
maximum impermeability compatible with good compaction and high stability under traffic.

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Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 3: Grading limits for graded crushed
stone base course materials

Test sieve (mm) Percentage by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
Nominal maximum particle size
37.5 mm 28 mm 20 mm
50 100 - -
37.5 95 – 100 100 -
28 - - 100
20 60 – 80 70 - 85 90 – 100
10 40 – 60 50 - 65 60 – 75
5 25 - 40 35 - 55 40 – 60
2.36 15 – 30 25 - 40 30 – 45
0.425 7 – 19 12 - 24 13 – 27
0.075 1 5 – 12 5 - 12 5 – 12
Note 1. For paver-laid materials a lower fines content may be accepted.

To ensure that the materials are sufficiently durable, they should satisfy the criteria given in
Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-4.These are a minimum Ten Per Cent
Fines Value (TFV) and limits on the maximum loss in strength following a period of 24 hours of
soaking in water. Alternatively, if requirements expressed in terms of the results of the Aggregate
Crushing Value (ACV) are used, the ACV should preferably be less than 25 and in any case less
than 29. Other simpler tests e.g. the Aggregate Impact Test may be used in quality control testing
provided a relationship between the results of the chosen test and the TFV has been determined.
Unique relationships do not exist between the results of the various tests but good correlations
can be established for individual material types and these need to be determined locally.

The in situ dry density of the placed material should be a minimum of 98% of the maximum dry
density obtained in the Heavy Compaction. The compacted thickness of each layer should not
exceed 200 mm. Crushed stone base materials described above should have CBR values well in
excess of 100 per cent, and fines passing 0.425 mm sieve should be nonplastic.

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Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 4: Mechanical strength requirements
for crushed stone base defined by TFV

Typical annual rainfall Minimum 10% Minimum ratio

(Mm) fines values (kN) wet/dry Test (%)
>500 110 75
<500 110 60

Requirements for natural gravels and weathered rocks: A wide range of materials including
lateritic, calcareous and quartzitic gravels, river gravels, boulders and other transported gravels,
or granular materials resulting from the weathering of rocks can be used successfully as base
course materials. Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-5 contains three
recommended particle size distributions for suitable materials corresponding to maximum
nominal sizes of 37.5 mm, 20 mm and 10 mm. When the traffic is in excess of 1.5x10 6 ESA,
only the two larger sizes should be considered.

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 5: Recommended particle size

distributions for base course material
Test sieve (mm) Percentage by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
Nominal maximum particle size
37.5 mm 20 mm 10 mm
50 100 - -
37.5 80 – 100 100 -
20 60 – 80 80 – 100 100
10 45 – 65 55 – 80 80 – 100
5 30 – 50 40 – 60 50 – 70
2.36 20 – 40 30 – 50 35 – 50
0.425 10 – 25 12 – 27 12 – 30
0.075 5 – 15 5 – 15 5 – 15

For materials whose stability decreases with breakdown, an aggregate hardness based on a
minimum soaked TFV of 50 kN may be specified. The fines of these materials should preferably
be nonplastic but should normally never exceed a PI of 6. If the PI approaches the upper limit of
6, it is desirable that the fines content be restricted to the lower end of the range. To ensure this, a
maximum Plasticity Product (PP) of 60 is recommended or alternatively a maximum Plasticity
Modulus (PM) of 90 where:

PP = PI x (percentage passing the 0.075 mm sieve)

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 PM = PI x (percentage passing the 0.425 mm sieve)

When used as a base course, the material should be compacted to a density equal to or greater
than 98 per cent of the maximum dry density achieved in the Heavy Compaction. When
compacted to this density in the laboratory, the material should have a minimum CBR of 80%
after four days immersion in water.

In low rainfall areas, typically with a mean annual rainfall of less than 500 mm, and where
evaporation is high, moisture conditions beneath a well sealed surface are unlikely to rise above
the optimum moisture content. In such conditions, high strengths (CBR>80 %) are likely to
develop even when natural gravels containing a substantial amount of plastic fines are used. In
these situations, for traffic loading within 0.7 million equivalent standard axles, the maximum
allowable PI can be increased to 12 and the minimum soaked CBR criterion reduced to 60% at
the expected field density.

Rocks such as basalts, dolerites, and granular materials derived from their weathering,
transportation or other alteration release undesirable plastic fines during construction or in
service. The release of these minerals may lead to a consequent loss in bearing capacity and this
is likely to worsen if water enters the pavement and lead to rapid and premature failure. The state
of decomposition also affects their long-term durability when stabilized with lime or cement.
When weathering is suspected, petrographic analysis to detect secondary (clay) minerals and
soundness tests using sodium or magnesium sulphate should be carried to evaluate the durability
of the materials. Indicative limits based on these tests are (a) a maximum secondary mineral
content of 20%, (b) a maximum loss of 12 or 20% after 5 cycles in the sodium or magnesium
sulphate tests respectively.

Naturally occurring gravels which do not normally meet the normal specifications for base
course materials have occasionally been used successfully. They include lateritic, calcareous and
volcanic gravels. In general their use should be confined to the lower traffic roads. Laterite
gravels with plasticity index in the range of 6-12 and plasticity modulus in the range of 150-250
is recommended for use as base course material for of traffic volume up to 1.5 million equivalent
standard axles. The values towards higher range are valid for semi-arid and arid areas of
Ethiopia, i.e. with annual rainfall less than 500 mm. Cinder gravels can also be used as base
course materials in lightly trafficked (below 0.7x106 ESA) surface dressed roads.

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1.1.2 Sub-base course materials

The sub-base is an important load spreading layer which enables traffic stresses to be reduced to
acceptable levels on the subgrade. It also acts as a working platform for the construction of the
upper pavement layers separating the subgrade and base course. Under special circumstances, it
may serve as a filter or as a drainage layer. The selection of sub-base materials depends on the
design function of the layer and the anticipated moisture regime, both in service and at
construction.

Bearing capacity: A minimum CBR of 30 per cent is required at the highest anticipated
moisture content when compacted to the specified field density, usually a minimum of 95 per
cent of the MDD achieved in the Heavy Compaction. Under conditions of good drainage and
when the water table is not near the ground surface the field moisture content under a sealed
pavement will be equal to or less than the optimum moisture (Light Compaction). In such
conditions, the sub-base material should be tested in the laboratory in an unsaturated state. If
saturation of the sub-base is likely, the bearing capacity should be determined on samples soaked
in water for a period of four days. Materials which meet the recommendations of Table
Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-6 and Table Pavemnet Materials -
Unbound Granular Materials-7 will usually be found to have adequate bearing capacity.

Use as a construction platform: In many circumstances the requirements of a sub-base are

governed by its ability to support construction traffic without excessive deformation or ravelling.
A high quality sub-base is therefore required where loading or climatic conditions during
construction are severe. Suitable material should possess properties similar to those of a good
surfacing material for unpaved roads. The material should be well graded and have a plasticity
index at the lower end of the appropriate range for an ideal unpaved road wearing course under
the prevailing climatic conditions. These considerations form the basis of the criteria given in
Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-6 and Table Pavemnet
Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-7. Material meeting the requirements for severe
conditions will usually be of higher quality than the standard sub-base material.

In the construction of low-volume roads, where cost savings at construction are particularly
important, local experience is often invaluable and a wider range of materials may often be
found to be acceptable. In Ethiopia, laterite is one of the widely available materials and can be
used as a sub-base material. Laterite meeting the gradation requirements of Table

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Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-7 can be used for traffic levels up to 3x106
ESA provided the following criteria is satisfied:

Plasticity Index (%) < 25

Plasticity Modulus (PM) < 500
CBR (%) > 30

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 6: Recommended plasticity

characteristics for granular sub-bases
Climate Typical Annual Liquid Plasticity Linear
Rainfall Limit Index Shrinkage
Moist tropical and wet >500mm <35 <6 <3
tropical
Seasonally wet trop >500mm <45 <12 <6
Arid and semi-arid <500mm <55 <20 <10

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 7: Typical particle size

distribution for sub-bases
Test Sieve (mm) Percentage by mass of total aggregate
passing test sieve (%)
50 100
37.5 80 – 100
20 60 – 100
5 30 – 100
1.18 17 – 75
0.3 9 – 50
0.075 5 – 25

Filter or separating layer: This may be required to protect a drainage layer from blockage by a
finer material or to prevent migration of fines and the mixing of two layers. The two functions
are similar except that for use as a filter the material needs to be capable of allowing drainage to
take place and therefore the amount of material passing the 0.075 mm sieve must be restricted.

The following criteria should be used to evaluate a subbase as a separating or filter layer:

a) The ratio D15(coarse layer) should be less than 5

D85(fine layer)

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where D15 is the sieve size through which 15% by weight of the material passes and D85 is the
sieve size through which 85% passes.

b) The ratio D50 (coarse layer) should be less than 25

D50 (fine layer)

For a filter to possess the required drainage characteristics a further requirement is:

c) The ratio D15 (coarse layer) should lie between 5 and 40

D15 (fine layer)

These criteria may be applied to the materials at both the base course/sub-base and the sub-
base/subgrade interfaces.

1.1.3 Selected subgrade materials and capping layers

These materials are often required to provide sufficient cover on weak subgrades. They are used
in the lower pavement layers as a substitute for a thick sub-base to reduce costs, and a cost
comparison should be conducted to assess their cost effectiveness.

The requirements are less strict than for sub-bases. A minimum CBR of 15 per cent is specified
at the highest anticipated moisture content measured on samples compacted in the laboratory at
the specified field density. This density is usually specified as a minimum of 95 per cent of the
MDD in the Heavy Compaction. Recommended gradings or plasticity criteria are not given for
these materials. However, it is desirable to select reasonably homogeneous materials since
overall pavement behaviour is often enhanced by this. The selection of materials which show the
least change in bearing capacity from dry to wet is also beneficial.

1.1.4 Gravel surface roads

Gravel surface roads are generally roads which are constructed and maintained at low cost using locally
available materials in the near vicinity of the site. Coarse well graded gravel is a very satisfactory
material for constructing cheap all-weather roads. This type of construction is designed for AADT
between 350 and 400 and when the weight of the individual vehicle is in the order of 10 ton. Beyond

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these, they often become not economical. At higher traffic the following problems such as surface pitting,
the formation of transverse corrugation, high cost of replacing or grading, and dust may occur.

The general soil-aggregate mixture used for constructing gravel roads should be stable (support
the loads without detrimental deformation which is the function of particle size distribution and
particle shape, density, and internal friction and cohesion), abrasion resistant, should shed a large
portion of the rain which falls on the surface, posses capillarity properties to replace the moisture
lost by surface evaporation, and low-cost.

Type 1 (Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials-8) is recommended for gravel
wearing course material in the new construction of roads having an AADT greater than 50 and
for all routine and periodic maintenance activities. According to the Tanzanian Design Manual
(1999), gravel wearing course for major roads require a minimum CBR of 25 %. Type 4
materials may be used in the new construction of roads having an AADT less than 50. Minor
gravel roads (AADTdesign less than 20) which are normally community roads are usually
unsurfaced (earth roads) and constructed by labor-based methods. However, for subgrade CBR
values less than 5% and longitudinal gradients of greater than 6%, a gravel wearing course is
recommended. Materials for gravel wearing course shall comply with the requirements for Type
4 material for new construction and Type 1 for maintenance activities. The CBR requirements
may be reduced to 20% if other suitable material is not locally available.

Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound Granular Materials- 8: Gradation requirements for

gravel wear course (ERA, 2001)
Test Sieve Percent(%) by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
Size(mm)
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6
50 - - - 100 - -
37.5 100 - 100 80-100 - -
28 - 100 95 - - - -
100
20 80 - 100 95 - 100 85-100 60-80 100 -
14 - 80-100 65 - - - -
100
10 55 - 100 65 - 100 55 - 45-65 80 - 100 100
100
5 40 - 60 45 - 85 35-90 30-50 60 -85 80-100
2.36 30 - 50 - - 20-40 45-70 50-80

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 2 - 30 - 65 22-75 - - -
1 - 25-55 18-60 - - -
0.425 15 - 30 18 - 45 15-50 10-25 25-45 25-45
0.075 5 - 15 12-32 10-40 5-15 10-25 10-25

Type 1: The grading of the gravel after placing and compaction shall be a smooth curve within
and approximately parallel to the envelopes detailed in Table Pavemnet Materials - Unbound
Granular Materials-8. The material shall have a LAV of not more than 50 at 500 revolutions. The
material shall be compacted to a minimum in-situ density of 95% of the maximum dry density.
The plasticity index should be not greater than 15 and not less than 8 for wet climatic zones and
should be not greater than 20 and not less than 10 for dry climatic zones. The linear Shrinkage
should be in a range of 3-10%.

Type 2 & 3: These materials may be more rounded particles fulfilling the following: the
Plasticity Index lies in a range of 5-12% in wet areas, and in any case less than 16% in other
areas, a minimum crushing under traffic in percentage by weight of particles with at least one
fractured face of 40%, the CBR should be in excess of 20 after 4 days of soaking at 95% of
maximum dry density under Heavy Compaction. For very low traffic, the requirement may be
relaxed to a CBR of 15.

Type 4: This material gradation allows for larger size material and corresponds to the gradation
of a base course material. The use of this gradation of materials is subject to the local experience
and shall be used with PIs in a range of 10-20.

Type 5 & 6: These materials gradations are recommended for smaller size particles. They may be
used if sanctioned by experience with plasticity characteristics as for material Type 1.

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