Materials Lab

Methods for determination of aggregate crushing value

(ACV)
(BS 812-110: 1990)

Prepared by:

Eng. Mohammed Mousa

The Islamic University of Gaza - IUG

Scope:
This Part of BS 812 describes a method for the determination of
the aggregate crushing value (ACV) which gives a relative
measure of the resistance of an aggregate to crushing under a
gradually applied compressive load. The method is applicable to
aggregates passing a 14.0 mm test sieve and retained on a 10.0
mm test sieve. For other size fractions, there is another
recommended method. The method is not suitable for testing
aggregates with an aggregate crushing value higher than 30, and
in such cases the method for ten per cent fines value described in
BS 812-111 is applicable.
Principle:
A test specimen is compacted in a standardized manner into a
steel cylinder fitted with a freely moving plunger. The specimen is
then subjected to a standard loading regime applied through the
plunger. This action crushes the aggregate to a degree which is
dependent on the crushing resistance of the material. This degree
is assessed by a sieving test on the crushed specimen and is
taken as a measure of the aggregate crushing value (ACV).
Apparatus:
- A compression testing machine.
- A steel cylinder (open-ended) of 15.4 cm internal diameter and
12.5 to 14 cm depth, with plunger and baseplate.
- A cylindrical metal measure of 11.5 cm diameter and 18 cm
depth.
- A tamping rod 16 mm diameter and 60 cm length with both
ends hemispherical.
- A balance of accuracy of 0.1% of the sample weight.
- A set of sieves.
- A well-ventilated oven, thermostatically controlled at a
temperature of 105 ± 5 °C
- A rubber mallet.
- A metal tray.
- A brush, with stiff bristles.
Figure 1: Aggregate crushing value test apparatus
Procedure:
1. Reduce the laboratory sample to produce a test portion of
sufficient mass to produce three test specimen of 14 mm to 10 mm
size fraction.
2. Thoroughly sieve the entire surface dry test portion on the 14
mm and 10 mm test sieves to remove the oversize and undersize
fractions. Divide the resulting 14 mm to 10 mm fraction to produce
three test specimens each of mass such that the depth of the
material in the cylinder is approximately 100 mm after tamping as
described later.
Note: The appropriate quantity of aggregate may be found
conveniently by filling the cylindrical measure in three layers of
approximately equal depth. Tamp each layer 25 times, from a
height of approximately 50 mm above the surface of the
aggregate, with the rounded end of the tamping rod. Level off
using the tamping rod as a straightedge.
3. Dry the test specimen by heating at a temperature of 105 ± 5
°C for a period of not more than 4 h. Cool to room temperature
and record the mass of material comprising the test specimens
before testing.
4. Place the cylinder of the test apparatus in position on the
baseplate and add the test specimen in three layers of
approximately equal depth, each layer being subjected to 25
strokes from the tamping rod distributed evenly over the surface
of the layer and dropping from a height approximately 50 mm
above the surface of the aggregate. Carefully level the surface of
the aggregate and insert the plunger so that it rests horizontally
on this surface. Take care to ensure that the plunger does not jam
in the cylinder.
5. Place the apparatus with the test specimen and plunger in
position, between the platens of the testing machine and load it at
as a uniform rate as a possible so that the required force of 400
kN is reached in 10 minutes ± 30 s.
6. Release the load and remove the crushed material by holding
the cylinder over a clean tray known mass and hammering on the
outside of the cylinder with the rubber mallet until the particles
are sufficiently distributed to enable the mass of the specimen to
fall freely on the tray.
7. Transfer any particles adhering to the inside of the cylinder, to
the baseplate and the underside of the plunger, to the tray by
means of a stiff bristle brush. Weigh the tray and the aggregate
and determine the mass of aggregate used (W1) to the nearest
gram.
8. Sieve the hole of the test specimen in the tray on the 2.36 mm
test sieve until no further significant amount passes during a
further period of 1 min. Weigh and record the masses of the
fractions passing and retained on the sieve to the nearest gram
(W2 and W3 respectively). If the total mass of the two individual
fractions (W2 + W3) differs from the initial mass (W1) by more than
10 g, discard the result and repeat the complete procedure using a
new test specimen.
Note: Mechanical sieving should only be used for aggregates
which do not degrade under its action.

Calculation and expression of results:

𝑾𝟐
Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) = 𝑾𝟏
× 𝟏𝟎𝟎
Calculate the mean of the two results to the nearest whole
number. Report the mean as the aggregate crushing value, unless
the individual results differ by more than 0.07 times the mean
value. In this case repeat the test on two further specimens,
calculate the median of the four results to the nearest whole
number, and report the median as the aggregate crushing value.
Note: The median of four results is calculated by excluding the
highest and the lowest result and calculating the mean of the two
middle results.
Note: The material to be tested should pass 14.0 mm sieve and
retained on 10.0 mm sieve (single size). When this size is not
available, other sizes as listed below may be used.

Table 1: Particulars of test sieves for testing other size fractions of aggregates
Aggregate size (mm) Sieve size for separating
Passing from Retained on fines (mm)
28 20 5
20 14 3.35
14 10 2.36
10 6.3 1.70
6.3 5 1.18
5 3.35 0.850
3.35 2.36 0.600