DIVISION 5 – SUBBASE AND BASE COURSES SECTION 0510 AGGREGATE SUBBASE AND BASE

Materials of different sizes which are to be blended to meet the required gradation for base
course and sub-base shall be kept in separate stockpiles. Blending shall be carried out on a
properly prepared surface such that no contamination occurs. Blended materials shall be
stored in a separate stockpile. Blending shall not be permitted in-situ on the roadway.
All stockpiles are to be labelled with markers indicating the material type in the stockpile.
Materials previously approved but rendered unacceptable due to inadequate storage or
handling will be rejected.
2.4 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
The aggregate for sub-base, base course and aggregate capping layer shall consist of hard,
durable particles and shall be crushed stone, crushed slag, or crushed or suitable natural
material and filler of natural or crushed sand or other finely divided mineral matter. The
aggregate shall be free from vegetable matter and lumps or balls of clay, and shall be of such
nature that it can be readily compacted to form a firm and stable sub-base. The materials
shall comply with the requirements given in tables below which is using British Standard.
Table 1 Properties of unbound materials
Code Description Summary of specification
GB1, A Fresh, crushed rock Dense graded, unweathered crushed
stone, non-plastic parent fines
GB1, B Crushed rock, gravel or boulder Dense grading, PI<6, soil or parent fines
GB2, A Dry-bound macadam Aggregate properties as for GB1,B(see
text), PI<6
GB2, B Water-bound macadam Aggregate properties as for GB1,B(see
text), PI<6
GB3 Natural coarsely graded granular Dense grading, PI<6
material including processed and CBR after soaking > 80
modified gravels
GS Natural gravel CBR after soaking >30
GC Gravel or gravel-soil Dense graded, CBR after soaking >15

Notes 1. These specifications are sometimes modified according to site conditions,

material type and principal use (see text)
2. GB=Granular road-base, GS=Granular sub-base, GC=Granular capping layer
Table 2 Grading limits for graded crushed stone roadbase materials (GB1,A;GB1,B)
BS test sieve Percentage by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
(mm) Dmax = 37.5mm Dmax = 28mm Dmax = 20mm
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 5 - 12 5 - 12 5 – 12

Note 1. Corresponds approximately to the UK specification for wet-mix macadam

(Department of transport, 1986)
2. For paver-laid materials a lower fines content may be accepted.
DIVISION 5 – SUBBASE AND BASE COURSES SECTION 0510 AGGREGATE SUBBASE AND BASE

Table 3 Mechanical Strength requirements for the aggregate fraction of crushed stone
roadbads(GB1,A; GB1,B) as defined by the Ten Per cent Fines Test
Climate Typical annual Minimum 10% Minimum ratio
rainfall fines values wet/dry test
(mm) (kN) (%)
Moist tropical, wet tropical >500 110 75
and seasonally wet tropical
Arid and semi-arid <500 110 60

Table 4 Typical coarse aggregate gradings for dry-bound(GB2,A) and water-bound

macadam (GB2, B)
BS test sieve Percentage by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
(mm) M1 M2(1) M3 M4(2)
75 100 100 100 -
50 85-100 85-100 85-100 100
37.5 35-70 0-30 0-50 85-100
28 0-15 0-5 0-10 0-40
20 0-10 - - 0-5

Note 1. Corresponds to nominal 50mm single-sized roadstone.

2. Corresponds to nominal 37.5mm single-sized roadstone. To aid the entry of fines,
the coarser end of this grading is preferred.
Table 5 Recommended particle size distributions for mechanically stable natural
gravels and weathered rocks for use as roadbase (GB3)
BS test sieve Percentage by mass of total aggregate passing test sieve
(mm) Dmax = 37.5mm Dmax = 20mm Dmax = 10mm
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

Table 6 Recommended plasticity characteristics for granular sub-bases (GS)

Climate Liquid Limit Plasticity Index Linear Shrinkage
Moist tropical, wet tropical <35 <6 <3
Seasonally wet tropical <45 <12 <6
Arid and semi-arid <55 <20 <10

Table 7 Typical particle size distribution for sub-bsases (GS) which will meet strength
requirments
BS test sieve Percentage by mass of total will meet strength
(mm) requirements
50 100
37.5 80 – 100
20 60 – 100
5 30 – 100
1.18 17 – 75
0.3 9 – 50
0.075 5 - 25

The materials shall comply with the requirements given in tables below which is using
AASHTO.
DIVISION 5 – SUBBASE AND BASE COURSES SECTION 0510 AGGREGATE SUBBASE AND BASE

Table 8 Grading Requirement for Aggregate

Standard Mass Percent Passing
(mm) Dmax = 37.5mm Dmax = 25mm Dmax = 19mm
50 100 - -
37,5 95 - 100 100 -
25 - 79 - 90 100
19 58 - 78 67 - 83 90 - 100
9,5 39 - 59 49 - 64 58 - 73
4,75 24 - 39 34 - 54 39 - 59
2,36 15 - 30 25 - 40 30 - 45
0,425 7 - 19 12 - 24 13 - 27
0,075 2 - 12 2 - 12 2 – 12

Table 9 Aggregate Subbase and Base Properties

No. Properties Aggregate Test Method
Base Subbase
1 Los-Angeles wear of aggregate (LA), % d 35 d 40 AASHTO T96
2 Soaked CBR at maximum dry density t 100 - AASHTO T193
3 Liquid Limit (WL), % d 25 d 35 AASHTO T89(*)
4 Plasticity Index (Ip), % d6 d6 AASHTO T90 (*)
5 PP Index = Plasticity Index Ip x % material d 45 d 60
passing portion 0.075mm
6 Percent by weight of aggregate with d 18 d 20 AASHTO D4791
diamond or flattened shapes, % (**)
7 Compacted Density (Kyc), % t 98 t 98 AASHTO T180
Note:
(*). Liquid Limit, Plasticity Index are specified by test with material passing sieve 0.425 mm.
(**). Aggregate with diamond or flattened shapes has thickness or width less than 1/3 length or
equivalent;
Test is conducted with various sieves of diameter of more than 4.75mm and accounting for more
than 5% of sample quantity.
Aggregate with diamond or flattened shapes content of taken sample is average results certified
for each sieve.
Aggregate with a Dmax = 37.5mm is appropriate for Sub-base
Aggregate with a Dmax = 25mm is appropriate Base Course
Aggregate with Dmax = 19mm (Aggregate Capping layer) shall be used for levelling and strengthening
existing pavement structure in the rehabilitation of roadway sections.
2.4.1 SELECTED SUBGRADE MATERIALS AND CAPPING LAYERS(GC)
These materials are often required to provide sufficient cover on weak subgrades. They
requirements are less strict than for sub-bases. A minimum CBR of 15per cent is specified at
the highest anticipated moisture content measured on samples compacted in the laboratory at
the specified field density. This density is usuall

3. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
As stated in the Conditions of Contract no works may be covered up or put out of site unless
the work has been accepted by the Engineer.
3.1 SUBMITTALS
The Contractor shall make all submittals for approval well in advance of his programmed
start of the particular works. The Contractor’s submittals to the Engineer shall include the
following:
a) Two samples of 50 kg weight each of the proposed material, one of which shall be
retained by the Engineer for reference throughout the Contract Period;