Ahmad Reshad

Roll No.: 191702

Tests on Aggregate
1. AGGREGATE IMPACT TEST
Objective: To determine the aggregate impact value of coarse aggregate. 

Background:
Toughness of the aggregate is defined as its resistance to impact. One of the properties
important in considering the suitability of an aggregate for road making is its resistance to
sudden shock load or impact, which in some aggregates differs from its resistance to a slow
compressive load. This can be ascertained in the laboratory by determining the aggregate
impact value.
In this test a specimen is compacted, in a standardized manner, into an open steel cup. The
specimen is then subjected to a number of standard impacts from a dropping weight. This
action breaks the aggregate to a degree, which is dependent on the impact resistance of the
material. This degree is assessed by sieving the impacted specimen and is taken as the
Aggregate Impact Value (AIV).

Figure 11.1.1: Impact hammer

Apparatus:
1. Impact testing machine, the machine consists of a metal base with a plane lower surface
supported well on a firm floor. A detachable cylindrical cup, a metal hammer capable of
sliding freely between vertical guides, and fall concentric over the cup. There is an
arrangement for raising the hammer and allowing it to fall freely between vertical guides

Transportation Division 1 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702
from a height of 38 cm in the test sample cup. A key is provided for supporting the
hammer while fastening or removing the cup.
2. A cylindrical measure.
3. Tamping rod.
4. IS sieves of 12.5 mm, 10 mm and 2.36 mm size.
5. Balance, oven, rubber mallet, metal tray and brush etc.

Procedure:
1. The test sample consists of aggregates passing 12.5 mm and retained on 10 mm sieve.
Wash the sample and dry at 100 to 110oC for 4 hours and cool to room temperature.
2. Measure the empty weight of cylindrical measure (M1).
3. Fill the cylindrical measure by the aggregate sample in 3 equal layers, each layer being
given 25 tamping. Struck off the aggregate sample by tamping rod weigh and record the
mass of sample (M2).
4. Place the impact testing machine with its bottom plate flat on the floor so that hammer
guides are vertical, fix the cup firmly in its position on the base of the machine and
transfer the entire sample in the cup.
5. Raise the hammer (380 mm height of fall) and allow it to fall freely on the aggregates.
The sample is subjected to a total of 15 such blows, each being delivered at an interval of
not less than one second.
6. Remove the crushed aggregate from the cup and sieve from 2.36 mm sieve. The fraction
passing the sieve is weighed (M3). The fraction retained on the sieve is also weighed (M4).
If M3+M4 differs M2-M1 by more than 1 gm. Discard the results and repeat the test.

Observations and Calculations:

The aggregate impact value is expressed as the percentage of the fines formed in terms of
total weight of the sample.
Table 1: Aggregate impact value
  Sample 1 Sample 2
Weight of aggregate + Weight of
1591 1586
cylindrical measure (W1), (gm)
Weight of cylindrical measure (W2),
1246 1246
(gm)
Weight of aggregates (W1-W2), (gm) 345 340

Transportation Division 2 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702

Weight of aggregate retained on 2.36

272 270
mm sieve (W4), (gm)
Weight of aggregates passing 2.36 mm
73 70
sieve (W5), (gm)

100∗W 5 100∗73
Aggregate impact value (AIV1) = = = 21.16 %
W 1−W 2 345
100∗W 5 100∗70
Aggregate impact value (AIV2) = = = 20.59 %
W 1−W 2 340
Average Aggregate Impact value = 20.88 %

Results and Discussions:

11.1.7 Applications:
The aggregate impact test is considered to be an important test to assess the suitability of
aggregates as regards the toughness for use in pavement construction. It has been found that
for majority of aggregates, the aggregate crushing and aggregate impact values are
numerically similar within close limits. But in case of fine-grained highly siliceous aggregate
which are less resistant to impact than to crushing, the aggregate impact values are higher
than the aggregate crushing values.
Various agencies have specified the maximum permissible aggregate impact values for the
different types of pavements; those recommended by the Indian Road Congress are shown
above. For deciding the suitability of soft aggregates in base course construction, this test has
been commonly used. A modified impact test is also often carried out in the case of soft
aggregates to find the wet impact value after soaking the test sample.

11.1.8 Precautions:
1. The machine shall be rigidly fixed to the floor with guide columns vertical.
2. Before giving hammer blows check whether the metal cup is tightly bolted to the
machine.
3. The blows should preferably be given @ 1 per sec.
4. After impact, remove the crushed aggregate carefully using a stiff bristle brush.
11.1.9 References:

1. AGGREGATE IMPACT VALUE (IS:2386-Part IV-1963)

Transportation Division 3 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702
http://civilblog.org/2013/05/07/aggregate-impact-value-is2386-part-iv-1963/
2. SS (1974). SS73:1974 Specification for methods for sampling and testing ofmineral
aggregates, sand and fillers - Determination of aggregate impact value, aggregate
crushing value and ten percent fines value. Singapore Standard, Singapore.
3. Millard, R.S. (1993). Road building in the Tropics. Transport Research Laboratory State-
of-the-art Review 9, HMSO, London.

Transportation Division 4 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702

2. SHAPE TESTS

Objective: To determine the combined flakiness and elongation index of the given
aggregates.

Apparatus:
i. Weigh balance
ii. Metal Gauges: Thickness gauges and Length gauge.

Fig 11.3.1 Thickness gauge

Transportation Division 5 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702

Fig 11.3.2 Length gauge

iii. Sieves – IS Sieves of sizes of sizes 63 mm, 50 mm, 40 mm, 31.5 mm, 25 mm, 20 mm,
16 mm, 12.5 mm, 10 mm, and 6.3 mm.

Theory:
The particle shape of aggregate is determined by the percentages of flaky and elongated
particles. In the construction of bituminous and cement concrete types, the presence of flaky
and the elongated particles are considered undesirable as they may cause inherent weakness
with possibilities of breaking down under heavy loads.

The flakiness index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles in it whose least
dimension (thickness) is less than three-fifth of their mean dimension.

The elongation index of an aggregate is the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest
dimension (length) is greater than one and four-fifths times their mean dimension.

Procedure:
Flakiness Index:
i. The sieves are arranged such that the largest size sieve (63mm) is at the top and the
smallest size sieve (6.3mm) is at the bottom.
ii. The given aggregates are sieved and weight of each fraction to be tested is taken.
iii. In order to separate flaky aggregate, each fraction is then gauged for thickness
through the respective opening on the thickness gauge.

Transportation Division 6 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702
iv. The flaky aggregate passing the respective opening are collected and accurately
weighed. The aggregate which didn’t pass is used for elongation index.
v. The procedure is repeated for other fractions having weighs W2, W3 etc. the flaky
aggregate in them having weights w2,w3 respectively.
vi. Flakiness Index = (w1+w2+w3+…………) x100 / (W1+W2+W3+…….) percent
= 100 w/W percent
Elongation Index:
i. Aggregates which didn’t pass from respective gauge was
ii. Take the entire fraction separately; gauge them one by one through the corresponding
slot provided in the gauge. Keep the particles retained by the length separately. The
aim should be to retain as much as possible to avoid testing bias.
iii. Weigh the particles retained on length gauge.
iv. Elongation index is the total weight of the material retained on the various length
gauges, expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the sample gauged.
v. Each piece of these are tried to be passed through the specified gauge length of 58.5
mm with its longest side and which do not pass the gauge are separated and the total
weight determined = X1g. Similarly the weight of each fraction of aggregate passing
and retained on specified sieve sizes are found, W 1, W2, W3,……. And the total
weight of sample determined = W1+W2+W3+……..=W g. Also the weight of material
from each fraction retained on the specified gauge length are found = X1, X2, X3 and
the total weight retained determined = X1+X2+X3+……= X g.
vi. The elongation index is the total weight of the material retained on the various length
gauges, expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the sample gauged.
Elongation Index = (X1+X2+X3+……………) x100/ W1+W2+W3+……………
= 100x(X/W) percent

Observations and Calculations:

Table 11.3.1 Flakiness and Elongation indices

Weight of
Weight of
aggregates
aggregate
Weight of in each
IS sieve, mm Thickness in each
aggregate fraction
gauge size, fraction
retained retained
(mm) passing
(g) on the
the gauge,
gauge,
(w)g
(X)g
Passing Retaine

Transportation Division 7 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal
 Ahmad Reshad
Roll No.: 191702
d
63 50 0 0 0 -
50 40 0 0 0 -
40 31.5 0 0 0 -
31.5 25 0 0 0 -
25 20 2742 13.5 120 479
20 16 1465 10.8 116 187
16 12.5 795 8.55 76 234
12.5 10 412 6.75 50 145
10 6.3 134 4.89 20 41
Sum=554 Sum=108
Sum=T Sum=W Sum=382
8 6

Flakiness Index = (382/5548)*100 = 6.88 %

Elongation Index = X/(T-W)*100 = 1086/(5548-382)*100 = 21.02 %
Combined Flakiness and Elongation Index= 6.88 +21.02 = 27.90 %

Discussions:
References:
i. Flakiness and Elongation index test (shape test) IS 2386- part-1
ii. Pavement materials: Aggregates- nptel_ceTEI_L22
iii. http://theconstructor.org/transportation/shape-tests/1397/

Transportation Division 8 PMEL Lab.

NIT Warangal