Aggregate Crushing Value Test

Experiment No. 1

1. CONCEPT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEST

The Aggregate crushing value gives a relative measure of the resistance of
an aggregate to crushing under a gradually applied compressive load. It is the
percentage by weight of the crushed (or finer) material obtained when the test
aggregates are subjected to a specified load under standardized conditions, and
is a numerical index of the strength of the aggregate used in road construction.
Aggregates with lower crushing value indicate a lower crushed fraction under
load and would give a longer service life to the road and hence a more economical
performance. Weaker aggregates if used would get crushed under traffic loads,
would produce smaller pieces not coated with binder and these would be easily
displaced or loosened out resulting in loss of the surface/layer. In short the
aggregates used in road construction must be strong enough to withstand crushing
under roller and traffic.

2.OBJECTIVES
(i) To determine crushing value of given road aggregates;
(ii) To assess suitability of aggregates for use in different types of road
pavements.

3.APPARATUS
The apparatus for the standard aggregate crushing test as per IS: 2386-1963
(Part IV) consists of the following:
(i) The test mould-a 15.2 cm diameter open-ended steel cylinder with
square base plate; plunger having a piston of diameter 15 cm, with a
hole provided across the stem of the plunger so that a rod could be
inserted for lifting or placing the plunger in the cylinder.
(ii) A straight metal tamping rod of circular cross-section 16 mm in diameter
and 45 to 60 cm long, rounded at one end.
(iii) A balance of capacity 5 kg, readable and accurate upto 1 gm.

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 2 Laboratory Manual in Highway Engineering

(iv) IS sieves of sizes 12.5 mm, 10 mm, 2.36 mm.

(v) A compression testing machine capable of applying load upto 40 tonnes
at a uniform rate of 4 tonnes per minute.
(vi) A cylindrical measure having internal diameter of 11.5 cm and height
18 cm.

13-
14
cm
cm 2
.
15

11.5 cm
Mould

Cylindrical
18 cm
measure
Rod

15 cm

Plunger
Fig. 1.1 Aggregate crushing value test apparatus

4. PROCEDURE
The Aggregate Sample: The material for the standard test consists of aggregates
sized 10.0 mm to 12.5 mm. The aggregates should be in surface dry condition
before testing. The aggregates may be dried by heating at 100 110C for not
more than 4 hours and cooled to room temperature before testing, if necessary.
(i) Sieve the material through 12.5 mm and 10 mm IS sieves. The aggregates
passing through 12.5 mm sieve and retained on 10.0 mm sieve comprise
the test material.
(ii) Take about 3.25 kg of this material.
(iii) Pour the aggregates to fill about just more than l/3rd depth of the
measuring cylinder.
(iv) Compact the material by giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded end
of tamping rod.
(v) Add two more layers in similar manner, such that the cylinder is full.
(vi) Remove the excess material with a straight edge. The quantity contained
in the measuring cylinder is that amount of aggregates which will be
used to prepare the test specimen.
(vii) Empty the cylinder and weigh the aggregates, accurate upto 1 gm.
(viii) Transfer the whole of this weighed quantity to the test mould by filling it
in three layers in the same manner as for cylindrical measure. The total
 Experiment No. 1Aggregate Crushing Value Test 3

depth of the sample is then about 10 cms and the surface a little below
the top of mould.
(ix) Level off the surface and place the plunger over it so that it rests
horizontally on the surface of the aggregates.
(x) Place this assembly on the pedestal of compression testing machine.
(xi) Apply the load at a uniform rate of 4 tonnes per minute until the total
applied load is 40 tonnes.
(xii) Release the load.
(xiii) Take the aggregate out of cylinder and sieve them through 2.36 mm IS
sieve. Weigh this fraction passing through it to an accuracy of 0.1 gm.
This fraction is a measure of loss of material due to crushing.
(xiv) Note down the observations in the proforma and compute the aggregate
crushing value. The mean of two observations, rounded to nearest whole
number is reported as the Aggregate crushing value.

Test with Non-standard Sizes of Aggregates

If required, or if the standard size is not available, test may be carried out with
different gradings. However specifications will be different for such cases and
should conform to those given in the following table:

Aggregate size
IS Sieve for
Passing Retained Quantity of material, apparatus
separating
through on and procedure
fines
mm mm
25 20 Standard 4.75 mm
20 12.5 Standard 3.35 mm
10 6.3 Test cylinder 7.5 cm diameter 1.70 mm
6.3 4.75 Cylindrical measure 6.0 cm 1.18 mm
diameter and 9 cm height Tamping
rod 8 mm diameter and 30 cm
length
Depth of material in test cylinder
4.75 3.35 850 microns
after tamping 5 cm
3.35 2.36 Total load applied 10 tonnes 600 microns
uniformly in 10 minutes Quantity of
material 1 kg for two samples.

5.PRECAUTIONS
(i) The plunger should be placed centrally and rest directly on the
aggregates. Care should be taken that it does not touch the walls of
 4 Laboratory Manual in Highway Engineering

the cylinder so as to ensure that the entire load is transferred onto the
aggregates.
(ii) In the operation of sieving the aggregates through 2.36 mm sieve and
weighing care should be taken to avoid loss of fines. The sum of weights
of fractions retained, and passing the sieve should not differ from the
original weight of the specimen by more than 1 gm.
(iii) The tamping should be done properly by gently dropping the tamping
rod and not by hammering action. Also the tamping should be uniform
over the surface of the aggregates taking care that the tamping rod does
not frequently strike against the walls of the mould.

6. RECORD OF OBSERVATIONS

Sample I Sample II
Total weight of dry sample taken = W1 gm
Weight of portion passing 2.36 mm sieve = W2 gm
W2
Aggregate crushing value = 100 (per cent)
W1

Mean aggregate crushing value =

(Note : The mean of the two results to the nearest whole number is reported as
the Aggregate crushing value of the material).

7. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The suitability of aggregate is adjudged, dependent upon its proposed use in the
pavement layers. The table given below lays down specified limits of per cent
aggregate crushing value, for different types of road construction.

Aggregate crushing value not more

Type of road construction
than
I Flexible Pavements
(a) Soling 50
(b) Water-bound- macadam 40
(c) Bituminous macadam 40
(d) Bituminous surface-dressing
or thin permix carpet 30
(e) Dense-mix carpet 30
II Rigid Pavements
(a) Other than wearing course 45
(b) Surface or wearing course 30
 Experiment No. 1Aggregate Crushing Value Test 5

8. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

(i) Which property of aggregates is measured by this test?
(ii) How is aggregate crushing value expressed?
(iii) What variation in the results is expected if the smaller size aggregates
are used in test?
(iv) Should the aggregates having high ACV be considered good for load
construction?
(v) What are the uses of determining ACV?