Aggregate Properties

Gradation

NCAT 1
Types of Gradations
* Uniformly graded
- Few points of contact
- Poor interlock (shape dependent)
- High permeability
* Well graded
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
* Gap graded
- Only limited sizes
- Good interlock
- Low permeability
NCAT 2
 Aggregate Gradation
• Use 0.45 Power Gradation
Chart
• Blend Size Definitions
– maximum size
– nominal maximum size
• Gradation Limits
– control points
– restricted zone

NCAT 3
 0.45 Power Grading Chart
Percent Passing
100

80

60 Example:

40 4.75 mm sieve plots at (4.75)0.45 = 2.02

20

0
0 1 2 3 4
Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power
NCAT 4
 0.45 Power Grading Chart
Percent Passing
100

80
max
60
size
40

20
maximum density line
0
0 .075 .3 .6 1.18 2.36 4.75 9.5 12.5 19.0
Sieve Size (mm) NCAT
Raised to 0.45 Power 5
 Aggregate Size
100 100
100 Definitions 99
90 • Nominal Maximum Aggregate 89
72 Size 72
65 – one size larger than the first sieve to 65
48 retain more than 10% 48
36 36
• Maximum Aggregate Size
22 22
– one size larger than nominal
15 maximum size
15
9 9
4 4

NCAT 6
Percent Passing
100
max density line

restricted zone

control point nom max

max size
size

0
.075 .3 2.36 4.75 9.5 12.5 19.0

Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power

NCAT 7
 Superpave Aggregate
Gradation
Percent Passing
100

Design Aggregate Structure

0
.075 .3 2.36 12.5 19.0
Sieve Size (mm) Raised to 0.45 Power
NCAT 8
 Superpave Mix Size
Designations
Superpave Nom Max Size Max Size
Designation (mm) (mm)

37.5 mm 37.5 50
25 mm 25 37.5
19 mm 19 25
12.5 mm 12.5 19
9.5 mm 9.5 12.5

NCAT 9
 Gradations
* Considerations:
- Max. size < 1/2 AC lift thickness
- Larger max size
+ Increases strength
+ Improves skid resistance
+ Increases volume and surface area of agg
which decreases required AC content
+ Improves rut resistance
+ Increases problem with segregation of particles
- Smaller max size
+ Reduces segregation
+ Reduces road noise
+ Decreases tire wear
NCAT 10
 Target Gradation
• Acceptable gradation band specified
• Mix design selects a job mix formula (JMF) which falls within band
and meets design criteria
• Superpave
– 5 nominal sizes (37.5, 25, 19, 12.5, and 9.5 mm)
– Four sieve sizes used to set upper and lower limits
– Staying out of the restricted zone in suggested to minimize problems with
natural sands

NCAT 11
 Blending Stockpiles

• Basic formula for combining stockpiles

to achieve a target gradation is:

p = Aa + Bb + Cc + ….

where:
p = percent of material passing given sieve size
A, B, C, .. = percent passing given sieve for each agg.
a, b, c, … = decimal fraction of A, B, C, … to be used
NCAT 12
 Blending Stockpiles

• Plot individual gradations

• Plot specification limits
• Can be used for initial assessment
– Can blend be made from available
materials?
– Identification of critical sieves
– Est. trial proportions

NCAT 13
All possible combinations fall between A and B

Percent Passing, %
100
90
Gradation B
80
70 Control points for
12. 5 nominal max. size
60
50
40 Gradation A
30
20
10
0
0.075 0.3 1 .18 4.75 9.5 12.5 19

Sieve Size, mm
NCAT 14
No poss. combination of A and B will meet spec.

Percent Passing, %
100
Gradation B Gradation A
90
80
70
60
50 Control points for
40 12. 5 nominal max. size
30
20
10
0
0.075 0.3 1 .18 4.75 9.5 12.5 19

Sieve Size, mm
NCAT 15
All poss. combinations pass through cross-over point
Blends containing more A than B will be closer to A
Percent Passing, %
100 Gradation A
90
80
70
60
Gradation B
50
40
30
20 Control points for
12. 5 nominal max. size
10
0
0.075 0.3 1 .18 4.75 9.5 12.5 19

Sieve Size, mm
NCAT 16
 Trial and Error Steps

• Select critical sieves in blend

• Determine initial proportions which
will meet critical sieves
• Check calc. blend against
specification
• Adjust if necessary and repeat above
steps
NCAT 17
Blended Aggregate Specific
Gravities

• Once the percentages of the

stockpiles have been established,
the combined aggregate specific
gravities can also be calculated

NCAT 18
Combined Specific Gravities

1
G=
P1 + P2 + ……. Pn
100 G1 100 G2 100 Gn

NCAT 19
 Blending of Aggregates
• Reasons for Blending
– Obtain desirable gradation
– Single natural or quarried material not
enough
– Economical to combine natural and
process materials

NCAT 20
 Blending of Aggregates
• Numerical Method
– Trial and Error
– Basic Formula

NCAT 21
 Blending of Aggregates
· P = Aa + Bb + Cc + ….
– Where:
• P = % of material passing a given sieve for
the blended aggregates A, B, C, …
• A, B, C, … = % material passing a given
sieve for each aggregate A, B, C, …..
• a, b, c, …. = Proportions (decimal fractions)
of aggregates A, B, C, … to be
used in Blend
NCAT 22
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 “ 100 100
No. 4 90 100
No. 8 30 100
No. 16 7 88
No. 30 3 47
No. 50 1 32
No. 100 0 24
No. 200 0 10
NCAT 23
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2 First Try
(remember trial & error)
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 “ 100 50 100 100 * 0.5 = 50 100
No. 4 90 45 100 90 * 0.5 = 45 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 100 30 * 0.5 = 15 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 88 7 * 0.5 = 3.5 40 - 80
No. 30 3 1.5 47 3 * 0.5 = 1.5 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 1 * 0.5 = 0.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 0 * 0.5 = 50 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 0 * 0.5 = 0 2 - 10
NCAT 24
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 “ 100 50 100 50 100 100
No. 4 90 45 100 50 95 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 100 50 65 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 88 44 47.5 40 - 80
No. 30 3 1.5 47 23.5 25 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 16 16.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 12 12 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 5 5 2 - 10
NCAT 25
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 50 % 50 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 “ 100 50 100Let’s Try 50 100 100
No. 4 90 45 100 and get 50 95 80 - 100
No. 8 30 15 a little closer
100 50 65 65 - 100
No. 16 7 3.5 to
88the middle44 of 47.5 40 - 80
the target values.
No. 30 3 1.5 47 23.5 25 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.5 32 16 16.5 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 12 12 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 5 5 2 - 10
NCAT 26
 Blending of Aggregates
Material Agg. #1 Agg. #2
% Used 30 % 70 % Blend Target
% % % %
U.S. Sieve
Passing Batch Passing Batch
3/8 “ 100 30 100 70 100 100
No. 4 90 27 100 70 97 80 - 100
No. 8 30 9 100 70 79 65 - 100
No. 16 7 2.1 88 61.6 63.7 40 - 80
No. 30 3 0.9 47 32.9 33.8 20 - 65
No. 50 1 0.3 32 22.4 22.7 7 - 40
No. 100 0 0 24 16.8 16.8 3 - 20
No. 200 0 0 10 7 7 2 - 10
NCAT 27
Questions - ?

NCAT 28