Subgrade/Aggregate

Dr. Sunitha V
 Road Composition

Vehicle

Black Topping

Base Road
Crust
Sub Base

Sub Grade 300mm

450
Embankment

Ground Level
 Soil as Construction Material

• Soil - mineral matter formed by the disintegration of rocks due to

action of water, frost, temperature, pressure or by plant or animal
life
• Soil is an integral part of road pavement
• Soil is used as fill material for embankments, in its natural form
(gravel or sand) or in processed form in base or sub-base
• Knowledge of soil properties is necessary to select the
embankment material, design pavement structure and drainage
system
• The supporting soil beneath pavement and its special under
courses is called sub grade.
• Undisturbed soil beneath the pavement is called natural sub grade.
• Compacted sub grade is the soil compacted by controlled
movement of heavy compactors.
Sub grade soil
 Function and Significance of
Subgrade Properties
• Basement soil of road bed.

• Important for structural and

pavement life.

• Should not deflect

excessively due to dynamic
loading.

• May be in fill or
embankment.

• Compacted or Natural
Subgrade
Cut and Fill (Embankment) Sections
Subgrade Soil

• Granular or Coarse grained

• Fine Grained
• Organic
 Unsuitable soil materials for subgrade
• Clay soil which contains the value of Liquid Limit more
than 80% and/or Plasticity Index more than 55%,

• It is flammable materials (oily), and organically clay soil,

• Contain lots of rotten roots, grass and other vegetation,

• Soil which is soft and unstable because it is too wet or

dry which makes it difficult to compact properly.
 Properties Associated with Subgrade Soil

• Volume change with water

• Load - Sustaining Power
• Compression under static load
• Workability during wet periods
• Ease of drainage
• Compactibility
Desirable Properties of Soil as Subgrade
Material

• Stability.
• Incompressibility.
• Minimum changes in volume and stability under adverse condition of
weather and ground water.
• Permanency of strength.
• Good drainage.
• Ease of compaction.
Classification & Identification of soil as
subgrade material

• Index Properties
Size distribution (IS:2720 Part 4 – 1985)
Liquid limit
Plasticity Index
Shrinkage Limit
Field Moisture Equivalent – adsorbed
water
Compacted Dry Density
Centrifuge Moisture Equivalent
 Soil Types
• The wide range of soil types available as highway construction materials
have made it obligatory on the part of the highway engineer to identify and
classify different soils.
• Broadly, the soil types can be categorized as Laterite soil, Moorum / red soil,
Desert sands, Alluvial soil, Clay including Black cotton soil.
Soil Types
 Characteristics of Soil

• IS Limits of particle size

• Gravel 75 mm to 4.75 mm
• Sand
 Coarse 4.75 mm to 2.00 mm
 Medium2.00 mm to 0.475 mm
 Fine 0.475 mm to 0.075 mm
• Silt 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm
• Clay Less than 0.002 mm
• Clay minerals
• Electrochemically active
• Crystal sheets in clay - Tetrahedral or silica and
Octahedral or alumina
 Soil Survey

 The objective of soil survey is to determine the soil types occurring

along alignment and to locate the sources of borrow soil for
embankments
 Soil sampling at an interval of 200 m

 Soil samples to be evaluated for different geotechnical properties

 Types of Soil in India

 Alluvial soils
 Fine sands
 Coastal soils
 Black cotton soils
 Red gravelly soils
 Index Properties of Soil

 Grain size analysis

 Liquid limit
 Plastic limit
 Grain Size Analysis

 Wet sieve analysis to be applicable to all soils

 Sieve analysis - for particles larger than 75 micron
 Mechanical shaker or manual shaking as per availability
 Sedimentation analysis for particles finer than 75 micron sieve
 Grain Size Distribution

Determination of GSD:
• In coarse grain soils …... By sieve analysis
In fine grain soils …... By hydrometer analysis

hydrometer

stack of sieves

sieve shaker

soil/water suspension

Sieve Analysis Hydrometer Analysis

Free Swell Index: It indicates the expansive
qualities of soil. It gives the amount of volume increase of soil on coming in
contact
with water

Liquid Limit: % of water content at which the

soil enters liquid state

Plastic Limit: % of water content at which the

soil enters plastic state

Plasticity Index = Liquid Limit - Plastic Limit

It indicates the presence of negative charged clay minerals. It indicates the
water absorption and retention capacity of the soil
Definition of sand and gravel
as per Code IS: 1490 – 1987
Sand and gravel are defined as Cohesion less aggregates of
angular, sub-angular, sub-rounded, rounded, flaky or flat
fragments of more or less unaltered rocks or minerals.

According to the system,

gravel is the fraction of the material between 80mm IS sieve
size and 4.75mm IS sieve size.
Sand is a fraction of the material between 4.75mm IS sieve
size and 75 micron IS sieve size.
 Grain Size Analysis
 Types of gradations - well graded, poorly graded and gap
graded
 Coefficient of uniformity - shape parameter Cu = D60/D10
 Poorly graded soils Cu = 2 or 3, well graded soils Cu = 15
or more
 Coefficient of curvature Cc=(D30)2/D10XD60
Grain size analysis (Contd)
 Applications of Grain Size Analysis

 Soil classification
 Grain size distribution pattern
 Proportioning soils for mix
design
 Liquid Limit
 Plasticity is an important property of clayey
soils
 Minimum moisture content at which a soil
will flow when subjected to a very small
shearing force
 Boundary between liquid and plastic states
 Determined by using Casagrande apparatus
or cone penetrometer
 Soils with high liquid limit are unsuitable as
embankment material
Casagrande’s liquid limit apparatus
Liquid Limit

Soil passing 425 micron IS sieve

Adjust free fall of cup to 10 mm
Maximum depth of soil paste in the cup – 10 mm
Dividing the soil in the cup
Rotating of the crank at the rate of 2 rev. / sec.
Noting down the number of blows when the
bottom of the groove meets along a distance of
about 10 mm
Determination of moisture content
Repeat the test with number of blows between 10
and 40 blows
 Determination of
Liquid Limit

M.C (%)

25 blows

No. of blows (Semi log scale)

Liquid limit is the moisture content at which 25 blows of the liquid limit
apparatus would just close the standard groove of soil sample
Liquid limit (Cone Penetrometer)
 Plastic limit
 Minimum moisture content at which a soil mass remains in
plastic state
 Boundary between plastic and semi-solid state
 Laboratory test is to roll the soil into thread of 3 mm diameter
 Apparatus: Glass plate, glass rod of 3 mm diameter, cups for
determining moisture content and oven
 Plastic limit
 20 gm of soil passing 425 micron IS sieve
 Formation of soil ball
 Rolled between fingers and the glass plate
 Rate of rolling between 80 and 90 strokes/min.
 Rolling continued till the diameter of thread is 3 mm
 Soil kneaded back and rolled again
 Procedure continued till the thread crumble at a diameter of 3 mm
 Determination of moisture content of soil when thread crumbles
 Applications of Liquid Limit and Plasticity Index

 Identification and classification of soil

 Compressibility of soil
 Plasticity index = Liquid limit – Plastic limit
 Limits specified in road works
• For earth work liquid limit < 70, PI < 45
• For sub-base course liquid limit < 25, PI < 6
• For binding material in WBM or WMM, PI < 6
 Consistency Limits

Characteristic Soils at equal Soils at equal PI

LL with with increasing
increasing PI LL
Dry strength Increases Decreases

Permeability Decreases Increases

Compressibility About the Increases

same
Rate of volume Decreases –
change
 Soil Classification

 A soil is given the name of the constituent that has

significant influence on its behaviour
 Other constituents are indicated by adjectives
 Soil classification - means to understand behaviour of soil
mass
 Does not consider the properties of intact material
 Soil Classification
Textural classification based on grain size
• IS System

System based on grain size, liquid limit and

plasticity index
• HRB Classification
• Unified soil classification
 HRB Soil Classification
 Soils classified into seven groups A-1 to A-
7 (Total 12 subgroups)
 Group index introduced to identify fine
grained soils
 Group index = 0.2 a + 0.005 ac + 0.01 bd
a = Percentage of soil passing 75 micron sieve greater than 35
and not exceeding 75 (0 to 40)
b = percentage of soil passing 75 micron sieve greater than 15
and not exceeding 55 (0 to 40)
c = Liquid limit greater than 40 and not exceeding 60 (0 to 20)
d = Plasticity index greater than 10 and not exceeding 30 (0
to 20)
 HRB Soil Classification
General Granular soils less than 35 per cent passing 75 m Fine grained soils more than 35 per cent
classification sieve passing 75 m sieve
Classification A1 A3 A2 A4 A5 A6 A7
group
Sub A-1-a A-1-b A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7 A-7-5 A-7-6
classification
Sieve analysis
(per cent
passing)
2 mm sieve 50
max
420 m sieve 30 50 51 min
max max
75 m sieve 15 25 10 max 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 36 min 36 min
max max max max max max min min min
Liquid limit - - - 40 41 40 41 40 41 40 41 min 41 min
max min max min max min max
PI 6 6 Non 10 10 11 11 10 10 11 11 min 11 min
max max plastic max max min min max max min PI < (LL-30) PI > (LL-30)
Group index 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 8 12 16 20 max 20 max
max max max max max
 Unified Soil Classification
Soils classified into three groups - coarse grained,
fine grained and organic soils
Symbols used in this system are
• Coarse grained soils
 G = Gravel and gravelly soils
 S = Sand and sandy soils
 W = Well graded, fairly clean material
 P = Poorly graded material
• Fine grained soils
 M = Inorganic silts
 C = Inorganic clays
 O = Organic silts and clays
Plasticitychart used for identifying fine grained soils
Type of soil is indicated by a suitable combination of
symbols
 Unified Soil Classification
Major division Symbol Brief description of soil type Laboratory test results

Gravel, ‘G’ Clean gravel with less GW Well graded gravels and gravel sand mixes Cu > 4, Cc = 1 to 3
more than half than 5% fines
of the coarse GP Poorly graded gravels and gravel sand mixes Not meeting Cu and Cc
Coarse grained materials
(more than 50% particles

fraction larger requirements of GW

retained on 75 m sieve

than 4.76 mm Gravels with GM Silty gravels and gravel sand mixes Atterberg limits below A
sieve appreciable percent of line or PI less than 4
fines (more than 5%)
GC Clayey gravels and gravel sand mixes Atterberg limits above A
line or PI greater than 7
Sands, ‘S’ more Clean sands with less SW Well graded sands and gravely sands Cu > 6, Cc = 1 to 3
than half of the than 5% fines
coarse fraction SP Poorly graded sands and gravely sands Not meeting Cu and Cc
finer than 4.76 requirements of SW
mm sieve Sands with SM Silty sands and sand-silt mixes Atterberg limits below A
appreciable percent of line or PI less than 4
fines (more than 5%)
SC Clayey sands and sand clay mixes Atterberg limits above A
line or PI greater than 7
Silts and clays with liquid limit less than ML Inorganic silts, clayey silt or fine sand Classification by
Fine grained materials

50 (L) plasticity chart

particles retained on

CL Inorganic clays, gravely, sandy or silty

OL Organic silt and silty clays

(Less than 50%

75 m sieve

Silts and clays with liquid limit more than MH Inorganic silt elastic and micaceous silts
50 (L)
CH Inorganic fat clays

OH Organic silt and clays

Highly organic soils Pt Peat and other highly organic soil

Unified Soil Classification
SOIL COMPACTION

•Definition

• Process of increasing the density of soil

by packing the particles closer together
with a reduction in the volume of air.

•Measurement of Compaction

• In terms of Dry density of the soil

 Need for soil compaction
• Increase in strength
• Reduction in compressibility
• Reduction in tendency for subsequent changes in moisture content
• Reduction in Erodability
• Reduction in frost susceptibility
Types of compaction

• Laboratory Techniques
• Static compaction
• Dynamic or Impact compaction
• Kneading
• Vibratory compaction

Usaually static or Dynamic compaction is adopted in the laboratory

Comparison betn static and Dynamic compaction
 Standard/Modified Proctor Compaction Test
 Conducted for determination of
Optimum quantity of water (OMC) with which soil
shall be compacted in the field
Maximum achievable density (MDD) in the field
 Types of compaction test
Standard proctor test
Modified proctor test
 2250 c.c mould
1000 c.c mould

4.89 kg hammer

Mould and Hammer Used for Compaction Test

 Comparison of Compaction Tests
Standard Proctor Test
Soil passing 20 mm / 37.5
mm IS sieve
Soil compacted in 3 layers,
25 blows / 55 blows
Soil compaction by 2.6 kg
hammer, 31 cm is height of
fall
Adopted for rural roads
specifications
Used for Internal roads in
urban areas and village
roads
Modified Proctor Test
Soil passing 20 mm / 37.5
mm IS sieve
Soil compacted in 5 layers,
25 blows / 55 blows
Soil compaction by 4.9 kg
hammer, 45 cm is height of
fall
Adopted for MoRTH
specifications
Used for NH, SH, MDR and
arterial roads in urban area
OMC/MDD curves for standard and modified compaction tests
 Field Compaction

• Tamping Machines (Dynamic or Impact)

• Pneumatic or sheepfoot roller (Kneading)
• Smooth wheel rollers (static)
• Vibratory Rollers (vibratory)

Tamping Machines – Rammers provide impact load, used for compacting smaller areas
Free falling type or driven by petrol engine
Weight varies betn 30 to 1000 kgs
Suitable for compacting cohesive soils over smaller areas
 Field Compaction
• Sheep foot Roller – consist of steel drums with projecting lugs
apply pressure upto 4 kg/cm2 or more
suitable for compacting heavy clays and silty clays
can increase the weight by ballasting
loaded weight per drum ranges between 3 to 13 tonnes
 Field Compaction
• Vibratory roller – similar to smooth wheel rollers
with the drums made to vibrate.
• Higher compaction is achieved in less no. of passes
• Compaction done to greater depths
• Output is many times higher than conventional
rollers
• Although expensive, long term cost becomes
economical because of higher output and improved
performance.
Primary Factors in selection of Compaction
Equipment
• Material - type
• Lift thickness
• Density requirements
• % of moisture required
• Productivity required
FACTORS AFFECTING COMPACTION

Compactive Effort

Moisture content

Soil Type

Lift thickness

Method of preparation

Underlying layer
MEASUREMENT OF DRY DENSITY

Ø Sand Replacement method

(IS 2720-Part 28 )

Ø Core Cutter method

(IS 2720-Part 28 )
SAND REPLACEMENT METHOD
Field density testing of sub grade material
Conducting Field Density Test as per IS: 2720 part 28 by sand replacement method.
Calibrated Sand passing 1mm and retained on 600 micron IS sieves is to be used
Field Density by Core-Cutter Method

 Suitable for fine grained soils

 Core cutter : 10 cm diameter, 13 cm long
 Steel dolly : 10 cm diameter, 2.5 cm height
 Rammer : 14 cm diameter,7.5 cm height
Handle Length = 90 cm
Weight = 9 kg
Field Density by Core-Cutter Method

 Place the core cutter on the compacted soil

 Drive into compacted soil by using hammer
 Trimming the soil filled in the cutter
 Clean the cutter and determine the weight of the cutter with soil
 Determine the moisture content of soil
 Test is unsuitable in case of coarse grained soils (gravels and soils
containing stone particles)

 Field dry density 

Relative compaction (%)    X 100
Laboratory maximum density 
MEASUREMENT OF MOISTURE CONTENT

Ø Oven drying method

Ø Rapid Moisture determination
methods
1)Calcium carbide method

2) Torsion Balance moisture

Meter

3) Sandbath method

(IS 2720 Part2)

INFRA RED TORSION RAPID MOISTURE
BALANCE METER METER METHOD
Resistance to deformation depends on

Moisture Content
Density
Internal Structure
Applied Stress
STRENGTH VS MOISTURE CONTENT
Methods of Determination of Soil
Strength
 Laboratory Methods
 Triaxial Method
 California Bearing Ratio Method
 Dynamic/Resilient Modulus Method

 In-situ Methods
 Plate Load Test
 California Bearing Ratio Method Test
 Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) Test
TRI AXIAL COMPRESSION TEST
 Tri axial Compression Test

• Preparation of specimen - Cylindrical soil samples ; 2:1

ratio (38mm dia & 76mm height)
• Compaction - static or dynamic
• Principle – specimen subjected to all round pressure
(σ3), then the axial stress is increased till the specimen
fails in shear.
• Procedure – the cylindrical specimen is enclosed in a
water tight rubber membrane inside a transparent
perspex cylinder.
 Tri axial Compression Test
 Specimen is capped with a metal disc at top & a
porous stone disc at bottom.
 The pressure of water inside the chamber is
brought to a desired value (σ3)
 Vertical load is provided to the specimen by a
piston
 Test is repeated for different lateral pressures (σ3).
 Total compressive pressure at failure (σ1),
confining pressure (σ3) and the deformation of the
specimen is measured.
 Analysis is done by Mohr’s diagram.
 STRESS – STRAIN DIAGRAM

Stress

Strain %
Young’s Modulus or Modulus of Elasticity E = stress / strain ( E
determined for a strain value of 3.3 % and σ3= 1.4 kg/cm2)
 Tri Axial ShearTests

 Three types of shear test procedures depending on drainage conditions

 Unconsolidated - Undrained (UU) Quick test
 Consolidated Undrained (CU) Consolidated quick
 Consolidated drained (CD) slow test
 Unconsolidated - Undrained (UU) Quick test
 Initial stress(confining pressure)
 no consolidation
 no drainage
 Consolidated Undrained test (CU)
 Consolidation during initial stress application
 No drainage during shearing stress application
 Consolidated drained test
(slow test ) (Tests on sand)
 Consolidation permitted through out the test
 No pore pressure developed at any stage of test
California Bearing Ratio test

 Developed by California state highway department for the evaluation of

subgrade strength.
 Used for the design of flexible pavements

 Principal - load required to cause a plunger of std size (5 cm) to penetrate a

specimen of soil at a std rate is measured either before or after the soil has
been soaked for 4 days.
 California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
 Measure of resistance of a material to penetration of
standard plunger under controlled density and moisture
conditions

Apparatus
Cylindrical mould : 15 cm diameter, 17.5 cm height
Displacer disc : 4.77 cm height
Height of sample : 127.3 mm
Compaction : Static or dynamic
Loading rate : 1.25 mm/minute
Plunger : 5 cm diameter
CBR mould, displacer disc and other accessories
Procedure
• A cylindrical plunger is caused to penetrate a Pavement Component
material at 1.25 mm / min.
• The load values to cause 2.5 & 5.0 mm penetration is recorded.
• These values expressed as percentages of std load values at respective
deformation levels to obtain CBR value.
 CBR Test
 Soil sample sieved on 20 mm IS sieve
 Static compaction – at MDD/OMC or at specified density
 Dynamic compaction – light / heavy compaction
 Collection of samples for moisture content determination after trimming
 Filter paper on top of sample and then placing the perforated plate
 Placing of annular weights of 2.5 kg each
 Soaked for 4 days
 Sample allowed to drain for 15 minutes
 The mould with annular weights placed under the penetration plunger
 Arrangement of proving ring, and dial gauge
 Application of seating load of 4.0 kg
 Application of load through plunger at the rate of 1.25 mm/minute
CBR test in progress
CBR Test

Load-
Penetration
curve

 Load carried by soil sample at defined penetration level 

CBR(%)    X 100
 Load carried by standard crushed stones at same penetration 
CBR Test

Application / Discussion

 Test is meant for soil and granular material

 Design of road pavement

 Higher the CBR, lesser the thickness of pavement

 Depends on dry density and moisture content

 Placement of annular weights during testing

 Initial concavity of the curve

 Variation in test values

CBR Testing Machine
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test

• Strength measure for unbound

50 mm materials
diameter • Piston advanced at 1.3 mm / min. rate
piston • Measure load at 2.5 mm penetration
(P2.5)
• CBR = 100(P2.5/Pstd)

180
Saturated
mm
Specimen

150 mm
 standard loads adopted for different
penetrations for the standard material
with a C.B.R. value of 100%
Penetration of Plunger (mm) Standard Load (kg)

2.5 1370

5.0 2055

7.5 2630

10.0 3180

12.5 3600
APPRAISAL OF CBR TEST AND DESIGN
 Strength Number and Cannot be Related Fundamental
Properties
 Material Should Pass Through 20 mm Sieve
 Surcharge Weights to Simulate Field Condition
 Soaking for Four Days- Unrealistic
 CBR Depends on Density and Moisture Content of Sub-grade
Soil
 Design Based on Weakest Sub-grade Soil Encountered
 Resilient Modulus Test
• Resilient Modulus ,MR = Applied Deviator Stress/ Recoverable Axial
Strain

100
Resilient Modulus, MR

10

1 10 100
Sum of Principal Stresses, q

Typical MR Response for Granular Material

Typical Resilient Modulus Response for the
Fine Grained Soil

16000
Resilient Modulus, MR

12000

8000

4000

0 10 20 30 40
Deviator Stress, s1 – s3
Plate Bearing Test
PLATE BEARING TEST
 PLATE BEARING TEST

• Seating load of 0.07 kg/cm2 ( 320 kgs for the 750 mm

dia plate ) is applied and released . (0.007 N/mm2)
• A load to cause a settlement of 0.25 mm is given and
the rate of settlement is less than 0.025 mm/min. the
readings of settlement & load are recorded.
• The load readings are taken at every 0.25 mm
increment of settlement of subgrade.
PLATE BEARING TEST

Procedure repeated till the settlement reaches 0.175 cm

A Graph is plotted with mean settlement, mm vs mean bearing

pressure and the pressure p corresponding to 1.25mm is read

K = p/ = p / 0.125 kg/cm3

CORRECTION FOR THE PLATE SIZE
• When a plate of smaller dia i.e 30 cm is used, then suitable
correction is applied for K value
•  = 1.18 (p * a) / E for rigid plate
• K=k1 * a1/a
where K is corrected value for the 750mm plate
a1 is the smaller diameter plate (30 cm)
k1 is the modulus of sub grade reaction
for a1

CORRECTION FOR WORST SUBGRADE MOISTURE

Ks = K ps / p
AGGREGATES
 Desirable Properties of Road Aggregates

Desirable Property Test

Resistance to crushing or strength Crushing test

Resistance to abrasion or hardness Los Angeles abrasion
value
Resistance to impact or toughness Aggregate impact test
Good shape factors to avoid too flaky Combined flakiness and
and elongated particles elongation index
Resistance to weathering Soundness test
Good adhesion with bituminous Stripping test
materials
Resistance to polishing action under Polished stone value
traffic
 Aggregate Impact Test (AIV)
Significance: Resistance of the stone aggregates to fracture under repeated
impacts

Apparatus
Cylindrical steel cup (10.2 cm
diameter and 5 cm length)
Cylindrical measure ( 7.5 cm diameter
and length = 5 cm)
Tamping rod
Sieves (12.5 mm, 10 mm and 2.36
mm)
Impact test apparatus with metal
hammer of weight = 14 kg, 10 cm
diameter with suitable vertical guide
bars giving height of free fall equal to
38 cm
Aggregate Impact Test

High impact value Low impact value

 Aggregate impact test
 Cubical shaped non weathered aggregates show
higher resistance to impact
 For determining suitability of porous aggregates
wet impact test is conducted

Classification of aggregate Aggregate impact

value
Exceptionally strong Less than 10 %
Strong 10 – 20 %
Suitable for road construction 20 – 30 %
Weak for road construction More than 30 %
 Aggregate impact test
Type of pavement Maximum
aggregate
impact value
MoRTH specifications
Bituminous macadam, Bituminous penetration 30%
macadam, BUSG, Surface dressing, OGPS, MSS
Dense bituminous macadam, SDBC 27%
Bituminous concrete 24%
WBM / WMM / CRM 30%
Rural Roads Manual
Sub-base course 50%
Base course 40%
Bituminous surface course 30%
 Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test

 Indirect measure of the strength or quality of

aggregate
 Stones having low specific gravity are weaker
compared to those having higher specific gravity
 Water absorption measures the porosity
 Stones having higher water absorption are
generally considered unsuitable
 Apparatus
• Digital balance, Oven
• Wire basket with maximum 6.3 mm mesh, hanging
arrangement for suspension
• Container for filling water and for suspension of basket
• Tray and absorbent clothes
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test
 About 2 kg of aggregate is washed thoroughly and
placed in wire basket immersed in distilled water
 Minimum cover of 5 cm of water above top of
basket
 Removal of entrapped air in the aggregates (Lifting
the basket 25 mm above the bottom of the tank, 25
times, dropping at the rate of one drop/second)
 Aggregates kept immersed in water for 24 hours
 Weight of saturated aggregates in water = W1 gm
 Aggregates removed and surface dried on
absorbent cloth
 Weight of wire basket suspended in water = W2 gm
 Weight of saturated surface dried aggregate = W3
gm
 Aggregates kept in oven for 24 hours at 1100C
 Dry weight of aggregates = W4 gm
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test
Calculations
• Weight of saturated aggregate in water = (W1 – W2) gm
• Weight of water equal to volume of aggregate = (W3- (W1 – W2) ) gm

Dry weight of aggregate W4

Specific gravity  
Weight of equal volume of water (W3  (W1  W2 ))

Dry weight of aggregate W4

Apparent Sp. gravity  
Weight of equal volume of water (W4  (W1  W2 ))
(Excluding air voids)

(W3  W4 )
Water absorption  X 100
W4
 Limits for water absorption
Type of pavement Maximum water absorption limit
for aggregates

MoRTH specifications
Bituminous macadam, Bituminous 2%
penetration macadam, BUSG, DBM,
SDBC, Bituminous concrete
Surface dressing, Open graded 1%
premix surfacing, MSS, Seal coat
WBM/WMM/CRM/GSB In case water absorption is more
than 2% soundness test to be done
Rural Roads Manual
Sub-base course (WBM) 6%
Base course 3%
Bituminous surfacing 2%
 Aggregate Crushing Value Test
Measures resistance to crushing (simulated
by gradually applied compressive load) under
roller during construction and surface
abrasion due to traffic
Weak aggregates adversely affect the
pavement structure
Apparatus
• Steel cylinder (15.2 cm diameter)
• Plunger (Piston diameter = 15 cm)
• Cylindrical measure (11.5 cm diameter, H = 18 cm)
• Tamping rod (1.6 cm diameter, L = 45 to 60 cm)
• Compression machine of minimum 50 ton capacity
Aggregate Crushing Value Test

To conduct the test, aggregate sample passing

12.5 mm and retained on 10 mm sieve is taken
Dried in oven for four hours at a temperature 1000
C to 1100 C
Aggregates are filled in 3 layers in measuring
cylinder
Each layer tamped with 25 strokes of tamping rod
Surplus aggregates struck off and net weight of
aggregates is noted
 Aggregates are transferred to cup and
compacted by tamping in three layers with 25
strokes of tamping rod
Surface leveled, plunger inserted, cylinder with
sample and plunger placed under compression
machine
Load applied at rate of 4ton/min till total load is 40
tonnes
Crushed aggregates sieved through 2.36 mm sieve
Aggregate impact value is determined as ratio of
weight of aggregate particles passing 2.36 mm
sieve to the original weight of aggregates
(expressed as percentage)
TEN PER CENT FINES VALUE TEST
10 per cent fines test – conducted to determine crushing
load required to powder 10 per cent of the material
According to MoRTH specifications and Rural Roads Manual
– 10 per cent fines value of GSB in soaked condition should
not be less than 50 kN
Test procedure similar to crushing value test
• Two repetitions of the test are done to obtain percentage of fines in the
range 7.5 to 12.5
• Load required to produce 10 per cent fines = 14 x/ (y+4)
where x = maximum load in tons
y = mean per cent of fines from two tests
 Soundness Test / Durability Test
To determines the resistance of aggregates to
weathering action
Test simulates accelerated weathering condition

The effect of weathering (wet-dry, freeze-thaw) is

quickened by soaking the aggregates in Sodium
sulphate/Magnesium sulphate solution
Aggregates for Soundness test

Sieve size Weight of fraction

before test, gm
Passing Retained
63 40 3000
40 20 1500
20 10 1000
10 4.75 300
Soundness Test / Durability Test
Preparation of Sodium sulphate or Magnesium sulphate
saturated solution
Each fraction immersed in prepared solution in separate
containers for 16 to 18 hours
Temperature of solution should be 270C
After immersion period, aggregates drained for 15 minutes
and then oven dried, this completes one cycle
Repeat the test to specified number of cycles
After final cycle, the samples washed thoroughly to remove
traces of sulphate and then dried
Coarse aggregate fractions are sieved through designated IS
sieves and corrected per cent loss in weight is computed
After 5 cycles, IRC SP:20 / MoRTH has specified maximum
permissible loss for bituminous layers:
Sodium sulphate = 12%
• Magnesium sulphate = 18%
Soundness Test / Durability Test
Sieve size Grading Weight of Designated Per cent Corrected
of fractions sieve for passing per cent
sample before test sieving finer loss
Passing Retained (%) (gm) after the sieve
test
63 40 20 3000 31.5 mm 4.8 0.96

40 20 45 1500 16.0 mm 8.0 3.6

20 10 23 1000 8.0 mm 9.6 2.2

10 4.75 12 300 4.0 mm 11.2 1.34

Total 100 5800 8.10

 Shape test
Determination of combined flakiness and elongation
index
Flaky and elongated particles break down under heavy
loads
Angular / cubical shape of particles increase stability
due to better interlocking

Length gauge

Thickness gauge
 Shape test
Passing Retained Weight of Weight of Weight of Weight of
IS sieve on IS 200 pieces each fraction non-flaky each fraction
(mm) sieve of each passing aggregates for retained on
(mm) fraction thickness elongation length gauge
gauge test

63 50 X1 Y1 – –
50 40 X2 Y2 X2–Y2 Z1
40 25 X3 Y3 X3–Y3 Z2
31.5 25 X4 Y4 – –
25 20 X5 Y5 X5–Y5 Z3
20 16 X6 Y6 X6–Y6 Z4
16 12.5 X7 Y7 X7–Y7 Z5
12.5 10 X8 Y8 X8–Y8 Z6
10 6.3 X9 Y9 X9–Y9 Z7
X Y X-Y Z
Shape test
Weight of flaky aggregates
Flakiness index 
Total weight of aggregates

Y
A(%)  x 100
X
Weight of elongated aggregates
Elongation index 
Total weight of non flaky aggregates

Z
B(%)  x 100
X- Y
Combined Flakiness and Elongation Index = A%+B%
 Shape test
Type of pavement Maximum combined
flakiness and
elongation index
MoRTH specifications
Bituminous layers 30%
WBM / WMM / CRM 30%
Rural Roads Manual
Sub-base course (Flakiness index) 40%
Base course (Flakiness index) 30%
Bituminous layers (Combined index) 35%
 Los Angeles abrasion value
 Test carried out to find the suitability of aggregates to
resist abrading action due to traffic
 Measures the resistance to wear or hardness
 Road aggregates should be hard enough to resist the
abrasion due to traffic
 Particles between the wheel and road surface causes
abrasion on road aggregates
 Percentage wear of aggregates is found by relative
rubbing and ponding action between aggregates and
steel balls used as abrasive charge
Los Angeles abrasion value
Apparatus
Hollow steel cylinder
(Diameter = 70 cm,
inside length = 50 cm)
Removable cover for
loading of the test
sample
Steel shelf projecting
radially 8.8 cm into the
cylinder
Abrasive charge of
cast iron spheres (4.8
cm diameter, weight
ranging from 390 to
445 gm)
Los Angeles abrasion value
Aggregate grading & abrasive charge
Grading 80-63 63-50 50-40 40-25 25-20 20- 12.5- 10-6.3 6.3- 4.75- Number Weight
12.5 10 4.75 2.36 of of
spheres charge

A – – – 1250 1250 1250 1250 – – – 12 5000

B – – – – – 2500 2500 – – – 11 4584

C – – – – – – – 2500 2500 – 8 3330

D – – – – – – – – – 5000 6 2500

E 2500 2500 5000 – – – – – – – 12 5000

F – – 5000 5000 – – – – – – 12 5000

G – – – 5000 5000 – – – – – 12 5000

Los Angeles abrasion value
 Selected aggregates with corresponding abrasive
charge is put into machine and cover is closed
 Machine is rotated at a speed of 30 to 33 revolutions
per minute
 Total number of revolutions – 500 for grading A to D,
1000 for grading E, F and G
 After completing designated revolutions, machine is
stopped and abraded aggregates with stone dust is
collected from the machine
 Abraded sample is sieved through 1.7 mm sieve
 Washing of coarser fraction and oven drying
 Los Angeles abrasion value is determined as ratio of
weight of aggregate particles passing 1.7 mm sieve to
the original weight of aggregates (expressed as
percentage)
 Los Angeles abrasion value
Type of pavement Maximum Los
Angeles
abrasion value
MoRTH specifications
Bituminous macadam, Bituminous penetration 40%
macadam, BUSG, MSS, Surface dressing,
Open graded premix surfacing
Dense bituminous macadam, SDBC 35%
Bituminous concrete 30%
WBM / WMM / CRM 40%
Rural Roads Manual
Bituminous surface course 40%
 Stripping value of road aggregates
 Stripping is the removal of bituminous binder from the
aggregate due to water
 Aggregates having silica, possess a weak negative charge
and hence have greater affinity for water
 200 gm of aggregate passing 20 mm sieve and retained on
12.5 mm is heated to 1500C
 5 per cent by weight of bitumen is heated to 1600C,
thoroughly mixed with aggregates and transferred to 500 ml
beaker
 Coated aggregates allowed to cool for 2 hours
 Distilled water is added to immerse the coated aggregates
 The beaker is covered and kept in water bath maintained at
400C
 After 24 hours beaker is taken out, cooled, extent of stripping
is estimated visually while the specimen is still under water
 Stripping value is calculated as ratio between uncovered
area of aggregates (assessed visually) to the total area of
aggregates (expressed as percentage)
Stripping value of road aggregates
 Visual assessment may lead to poor
reproducibility
 Use of antistripping agent
 As per MoRTH specifications minimum retained
coating should be 95 per cent for aggregates to
be used in bituminous layers
 In case the stripping value exceeds this limit,
water sensitivity test is to be carried out
 As per Rural Roads Manual, maximum stripping
value permissible is 75 per cent for aggregates to
be used in bituminous layers
Polished stone value test
 To determine liability of aggregates to polish under traffic loading
 Accelerated polishing machine
 Road wheel on which aggregate samples are mounted and rotated to
attain speed of 24 kmph
 Solid rubber tyred wheel with normal load of 725 N, to polish the
aggregates
 Mechanism for feeding emery and water for abrasion
 Friction tester (British pendulum tester)
 Test is purely comparative and it is to be related by long term field
experience
 MoRTH specifications for polished stone value for bituminous concrete,
SDBC, open graded premix surfacing, MSS – 55 (minimum) surface
dressing – 60 (minimum)
 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF AGGREGATES FOR SUB-BASE, BASE
COURSE AND BITUMINOUS SURFACING LAYERS (As per Rural Roads
Manual)
Layer Test Test Method Requiremen
t (Percent.
Max.)
Sub-base Aggregate Impact IS: 2386 (Part 4) 50
course value -1963
Flakiness Index IS: 2386 (Part 1) 40
-1963
Moisture or water IS: 2386 (Part 3) 06
absorption -1963

Base Aggregate Impact IS: 2386 (Part 4) 40

course value -1963
Flakiness Index IS: 2386 (Part 1) 30
-1963
Moisture or water IS: 2386 (Part 3) 03
absorption -1963
 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF AGGREGATES FOR SUB-BASE, BASE
COURSE AND BITUMINOUS SURFACING LAYERS (As per Rural Roads
Manual)
Bituminous Los Angeles abrasion IS: 2386 (Part 4) - 40
Surfacing value 1963
Aggregate Impact value IS: 2386 (Part 4) - 30
1963

Combined Flakiness and IS: 2386 (Part 1) - 35

Elongation Index 1963

Stripping value IS: 6241- 1971 15

Soundness Loss with IS: 2386 (Part 5) – 12

Sodium Sulphate (5 1963
cycles) 18
Loss with Magnesium
Sulphate (5 cycles)

Water absorption IS:2386 (Part 3) – 02

1963