Introduction-

Transportation engineering plays a vital role in civil engineering. In this

experiment report we performed three different practicals and all the
experiment produced desirable results. In experiment one we calculated
the toughness of aggregates as toughness is property of aggregates to
resist impact loads so toughness helps to select the aggregates. To
check the quality of aggregates we have done Los Angeles test. This
test is very important to check the performance of aggregates in
pavements. The third and final experiment was done to find water
absorption and particle density. Particle density and water absorption
helps to determine various properties of aggregates like strength etc.
Experiment-1 Determination of aggregate impact value

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to perform a test to find out the impact
value of the pavement aggregate.

Concepts and significance:

The measurement of the resistance of an aggregate to a sudden shock
or impact is known as aggregate impact value and the property of a
material to resist impact is called its toughness. When there is
movement of vehicles on the road, this causes the impact on the
aggregates which results in braking of the aggregates into smaller
pieces. The aggregate impact value test is carried out to measure the
characteristic of toughness into the disintegrated material due to the
impact.

Apparatus and accessories:

The apparatus and accessories that are to be used for the experiment
should comply with IS: 2386(Part IV) – 1963

1. A testing machine weighing 45 to 60kg and having a metal

base with a plane lower surface of not less than 30cm in
diameter. It is supported on level and plane concrete floor of
minimum 45cm thickness. The machine should also have
previsions for fixing its base.

2. A cylindrical steel cup of internal diameter 102mm, depth

50mm and minimum thickness of 6.3mm

3. A metal hammer weighing 13.5 to 14.0kg the lower end is

cylindrical in shape, is 50mm long. 100.0mm in diameter,
with a 2mm chamfer at the lower edge and case hardened.
The hammer should slide freely between vertical guides and
be concentric with the cup. The free fall of the hammer
should be within 380 ± 5mm.
 4. A cylindrical metal measure having internal diameter of
75mm and depth of 50mm for measuring aggregates.

5. Tamping rod 10mm in diameter and 230mm long, rounded at

one point end.

6. A balance of capacity not less than 500g, readable and

accurate up to 0.1g.

7. 10 mm sieve to take the fine aggregate away from the

course aggregates after the crushing test.

Figure 1: Impact Testing Machine

Figure 1 is the detailed description of the impact testing machine. The hammer requires the
gravitational force to generate the impact on the aggregate sample that will be placed in the
cylindrical cup.
Procedure:
The test Sample consists of aggregates sized 10.0mm t0 12.5mm. The
aggregates should be dried by heating at 100-110ºC for a period of 4
hours and cooled.

i. Take the sample of aggregate of 12.5mm and sieve it through

12.5mm and 10.0mm IS sieves. The aggregates that passes
through 12.5mm sieve and retains on 10.0mm sieve is to be taken
for the test material.

ii. Pour the aggregates into the measuring cylinder to 1/3 rd depth.

iii. Compact the material by giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded
end of the tampering rod.

iv. Add two more layers of sample aggregate in similar manner, so

that measuring cylinder is full. Then strike off the excessive
aggregates from the measuring cylinder and compact it again by
giving 25 gentle blows.

v. Determine the net weight of the aggregate to the nearest gram ( W 1

).

vi. Bring the impact machine to rest without wedging or packing upon
the level plate, block or floor, so that it is rigid and the hammer
guide columns are vertical.

vii. Fix the cup filled with compacted aggregate firmly in position on
the base of machine.

viii. Raise the hammer until its lower face 380mm above the surface of
the aggregate sample. Give 25 blows at an interval of not less than
one second between successive falls of hammer.

ix. Remove the crushed aggregate sample from the impact machine
and empty the measuring cylinder into the 2.36mm IS sieve and
put it in the sieve shaker machine for 10 minutes.

x. Now weight the fraction passing through the sieve to an accuracy

of 1gm (W 2 ¿. Also weight the fraction of aggregate remaining in the
sieve.
xi. Note down the observations in the pro-forma and compute the
aggregate impact. The mean of two observations, rounded to
nearest whole number is reported as the ‘Aggregate Impact Value’.

Calculation and Test Reports:

The aggregate impact is calculated by dividing the weight of the
aggregate(W ¿¿ 2) ¿ that passed through the 2.36mm sieve after the
sample was passed through the impact testing machine by the weight of
the dry sample after compaction(W ¿¿ 1)¿ multiplied by 100.

Figure 2- Lab 1 results

Total weight of dry sample after compaction ¿ W 1 gm=600 gm

Weight of the sample passing2.36 mm sieve=W 2 gm=130 gm

 W2
Aggregate impact value= ∗100 per cent
W1

130
Aggregate impact value= ∗100 %=21.67 %
600

Figure 3 Lab 1 Container Weight

Figure 4 Lab 1 Container weight with aggregate

The data received from the test is now compared with the aggregate
impact value chart (Table 1), which will now classify the aggregate
toughness property.
 Aggregate Impact Value Classification
<10% Exceptionally Strong
10-20 % Strong
10-30 % Satisfactory for road
surfacing
>35% Weak for road surfacing
Table 1 Aggregate Toughness Classification

The Value obtained from the experiment is 21.67% which falls between
(10-30) % bracket which is classified as the satisfactory impact value for
road surfacing.

Precautions:
1. Have the safety glasses on and maintain the safe distance while
the impact testing machine is in use.
2. Make sure the Weight machine is ‘zero’ before the sample
container is placed on it.
3. While compacting the sample the tamping should be done by
gentle dropping of the tempering rod and should not be done by
hammering action. Also, the action should be uniform all over the
surface not just at one position.
4. The plunger should be checked if it is in the center as it should not
be touching the side wall of the cylinder while performing the
impact test.
5. After the sieving operation from the 2.36mm sieve the total weight
of the retained and the passing aggregate sample should not be
different from the original weight of the sample by more than 1 gm.

Discussion:
The toughness of aggregate is its ability to absorb the external force
before rupture. The compressive strength of aggregate is the strength
aggregate withstands after which the cracks and fails. Impact value
obtained for an aggregate helps in determining the use of the aggregate
and it also helps in selecting the right type of material for the
construction. If the impact value is less than 10 percent then the
aggregate is very strong, if it is between 10%-20% then the aggregate is
strong, if the 10%- 30% then it is satisfactory for road surfacing. Impact
value more than 35% than aggregate is very weak for road surfacing.
The table below shows the standard set for different type of construction
material by the Indian Road Congress for road construction.

Table 2 Indian Road Congress Impact Value for Road Construction

Conclusion:
Impact Value testing is very important as it helps with selecting the right
aggregate type which should have the right impact value required as per
the Australian standards. After conducting the impact test the impact
value received for the aggregate sample is 21.67% which is classified
satisfactory for the road surfacing only. If the value is less than 20% it is
classified as strong aggregate and can be used at more places.

References:
- ECU Transportation Engineering study material

- IS: 2386 (part IV) - 1963