TRANSPORTATION ENGINEEREING 2015CIV13

EXPERIMENT NO. 5
To Perform LOS ANGELES Abrasion Test on Aggregates.
Test Standard: ASTM C-31-14, AASHTO T-96
Date: 02-OCT-2018

5.1. SIGNIFICANCE
This test method covers a procedure for testing of coarse aggregates for resistance to
degradation using the Los Angeles Abrasion testing machine.
 Due to the movement of traffic, the road stones used in the surfacing course are subjected
to wearing action at the top. Resistance to wear or hardness is hence an essential property
for road aggregates, especially when used in wearing course. Thus, road stones should be
hard enough to resist the abrasion due to traffic. When fast moving traffic fitted with
pneumatic tyres move on the road, the soil particles present between the wheel and road
surface causes abrasion on the road stone. Steel tires of animal drawn vehicles, which rub
against the stones, can cause considerable abrasion of the stones on the road surface.
Hence, in order to test the suitability of road stones to resist the abrasion action due to
traffic, tests are carried out in the laboratory.
 Los Angeles abrasion test is used to find out the percentage wear due to relative rubbing
action between aggregate and steel balls used as abrasive charges. Pounding action of
these balls also exists while conducting the test. The test is considered more dependable
as rubbing and pounding action simulate field conditions.

5.2.RELATED THEORY
5.2.1. What is Abrasion?
It is the resistance of a material against wear, scratching or degradation is known as abrasion.
5.2.2. Pounding Action
It is the striking action of an object on a surface for a short instant of time is called pounding
action.
5.2.3. LOS ANGELES Abrasion Test
The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to find the percentage wear due to relative
rubbing action between aggregates and steel balls used as abrasive charge. The pounding
action of these balls also exits while conducting the test. Some investigators believe this test
to be more dependable as rubbing and pounding action simulate the field conditions where
both abrasion and impact occur. Los Angeles abrasion test has been standardized by the
ASTM and AASHTO. Standard specifications of Los Angeles abrasion values are also
available for various types of pavement constructions.
5.2.4. LOS ANGELES Abrasion value
It is an indicative of the abrasion strength of the aggregates.
It can be expressed as;
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 #12
𝐿𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 =
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

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5.2.5. LOS ANGELES Machine

It consists of a hollow steel cylinder closed at both ends, having inside diameter of 28” and
length of 20”. The cylinder is mounted on stub shafts in such a way that it rotates about
horizontal axis at 30-33 rpm.
An opening in cylinder with dust tight cover is provided for the introduction of test sample. A
steel shelf extending full length of the cylinder and projecting 3.5” inward is mounted on
interior surface of the cylinder.
The machine should be driven to produce 30-33 rpm.

(Fig 5.1) LOS ANGELES Machine

5.3. APPARATUS
1) LOSS ANGELES Abrasion Machine
2) Coarse Sieve Shaker
3) Weighing balance
4) Sieve #12
5) Abrasive Charges ( m=439.8 g)

5.4. PROCEDURE
1) Sieve the sample in the coarse sieve shaker.
2) Clean the aggregates and dry them in an oven at 105-110°C to constant weight.
3) Conforming to anyone of the grading A to D or 1-3 as per table (a).
4) The grading or gradations used in the test should be nearest to the grading to be used in
the construction.

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5) Aggregates weighing 5 kg for grading A. B, C or D and 10 kg for grading 1, 2, or 3 may

be taken as test specimen and placed in the testing cylinder.
6) The abrasive charge is also chosen in accordance with table (b) depending on the grading
of the aggregate and is placed in the cylinder of the machine.
7) The cover is then fixed dust-tight.
8) The machine is rotated at a speed of 30 to 33 revolutions per minute.
9) The machine is rotated for 500 revolutions for gradations A. B, C and D, for gradations
1, 2 and 3; it shall be rotated for 1,000 revolutions.
10) The machine should be balanced and driven in such a way as to maintain uniform
peripheral speed.
11) After the desired number of revolutions, the machine is stopped and the material is
discharged from the machine taking care to take out entire stone dust.
12) Using a sieve # 12, the material is sieved and the material that is retained on sieve #12 is
weighed.

Table (a): Grading of Test Samples

Sieve Sizes Mass of Indicated Sizes (g)

Passing Retained A B C D 1 2 3
76.2 mm 63.5 mm
__ __ __ __ 2500 ± 50 __ __
(3 in) (2.5 in)
63.5 mm 50.8 mm
__ __ __ __ 2500 ± 50 __ __
(2.5 in) (2 in)
50.8 mm 37.5 mm
__ __ __ __ 5000 ± 50 5000 ± 50 __
(2 in) (1.5 in)
37.5 mm 25.0 mm
1250 ± 25 __ __ __ __ 5000 ± 25 5000 ± 25
(1.5 in) (1.0 in)
25.0 mm 19.0 mm
1250 ± 25 __ __ __ __ __ 5000 ± 25
(1.0 in) (3/4 in)
19.0 mm 12.5 mm
1250 ± 10 2500 ± 10 __ __ __ __ __
(3/4 in) (1/2 in)
12.5 mm 9.5 mm
1250 ± 10 2500 ± 10 __ __ __ __ __
(1/2 in) (3/8 in)
9.5 mm 6.3 mm
__ __ 2500 ± 10 __ __ __ __
(3/8 in) (1/4 in)
6.3 mm 4.75 mm
__ __ 2500 ± 10 __ __ __ __
(1/4 in) (#4)
4.75 mm 2.36 mm
__ __ __ 5000 ± 10 __ __ __
(#4) (#8)
TOTAL 5000 ± 25 5000 ± 20 5000 ± 20 5000 ± 10 10000 ± 100 10000 ± 75 10000 ± 50

Table (b): No. of Abrasive Charges for Above Samples

Weight of Charges
Abrasive Charges No. of Revolutions No. of Spheres
(g)
A 500 12 5000 ± 25
B 500 11 4584 ± 25
C 500 8 3320 ± 20
D 500 6 2500 ± 25
1 1000 12 5000 ± 25
2 1000 12 5000 ± 25
3 1000 12 5000 ± 25

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5.5. OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

Grading A
No. of Abrasive Charges 12
Total Weight 5000 g
Final Weight Retained on #12 sieve 3774.5 g

𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 #12

𝐿𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 =
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
5000 − 3774.5
𝐿𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = 𝑥 100
5000
𝐿𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = 25%

Result:
Los Angeles Abrasion value of the sample is 25%.
5.6. Limiting Values of LOS ANGELES Abrasion
Larger the LAA value, softer will be the aggregate and smaller the value, harder will be the
aggregate.
For wearing surface: Use the value 10 % from (0% - 10%), this is because even though 0 %
will provide a good hard surface but its coefficient of friction will be too high that it will
severely damage the tires.
For sub grade, sub base and base coarse: Provide aggregate of lower LAA value to provide
hardness.
According to AASHTO T 96:
For sub-base: The coarse aggregate should have a percentage wear by the Los Angeles
abrasion not more than 50 %
For base coarse: The coarse aggregate should have a percentage wear by the Los Angeles
abrasion not more than 40 %

5.7. COMMENTS
The LOS ANGELES Abrasion (LAA) value of our sample is came out to be 25%, which is less
than 50% and 40%, so it can be used in sub base, base coarse and wearing surface.