As per the MORTH technical specification, following Test Frequency and

Acceptance Criteria of Road Construction Materials are adapted for Flexible

Pavements.

Road Construction materials – Tests on soil:

Following test frequency and acceptance criteria of road construction materials are selected for
embankment and subgrade construction.

S.NO Type of Test Frequency Location Acceptance

. Criteria

1.1 Borrow Material for Embankment and Subgrade:

(i) Sand Content (IS: Two tests per 3000 Grid the borrow area
2720 Part 4) cu.m of soil. at 25 m c/c

(ii) Plasticity Test (IS: Two tests per 3000 Grid the borrow area LL<70%
2720 Part 5) e.g. cu.m of soil. at 25 m c/c
LL, PL & PI
PI<45%

(iii) Density Test Two tests per 3000 Grid the borrow area Max laboratory dry
(IS:2720 Part 8) cu.m of soil at 25 m c/c Unit weight

Embankments up to
3m height, not
subjected to
extensive flooding:
Not less than 15.2
KN/cu.m.

Embankments
exceeding 3 m
height or any height
subject to long
periods of
inundation: Not less
than16.0 KN/cu.m.

Sub-grade/earthen
shoulder/
verge/backfill: Not
less than 17.5
KN/cu.m.
 S.NO Type of Test Frequency Location Acceptance
. Criteria

(iv) Deleterious content As and when Grid the borrow area

Test (IS:2720 Part required by the at 25 m c/c
27); Engineer.

(v) Moisture content One test for every In situ -2% to+1% of
Test (IS: 2720 Part 250 cum of soil. OMC
2)

(vi) CBR test on the One CBR test for Grid the borrow area Not less than the
material to be every 3000 cum or at 25 m c/c designed CBR
compacted in the closer as and when value 8% and 10 %
sub-grade on required by the at 97% of MDD (4
soaked samples Engineer. days-soaked value)
(IS:2720 Part 16)

1.2 Compaction One Density test In situ Relative

control (IS:2720 for each 1000 sqm compaction as % of
Part 28) on each of compacted area max. laboratory dry
layer for the body of the density
embankment, to be
increased to one
(MORTH Spec. test per 500 sqm of Embankment not
903.2.2 compacted area for less than 95%
sub-grade i.e. top
500 mm portion of Sub-grade/earthen
embankment [1.65- shoulder not less
{1.65/ (no of the than 97%
sample) ^0.5}]
times the standard
deviation

1.3 Surface Levels Every 10 m interval In situ Sub-Grade

(MORTH Spec. + 20mm to

902.3)
(-) 25mm

2.0
GSB and WMM Road Construction Materials:
Granular Sub Base (GSB) is road construction materials. It is known as subbase,
which is the layer of aggregate material placed on the subgrade, on which the WMM
layer as a base course is found.
S.N Type of Test Frequency Location Acceptance Criteria
O.

2.1 GSB Material:

(i) Gradation (IS: 2720 One test per 200 Stock Yard/In As per Table 400- 1 of
Part 4 as per job mix cu.m situ MORTH Specs for R & B
formula Works.

(ii) Atterberg Limit One test per 200 Stock Yard/In LL & P.I. not more than 25
(IS:2720 Part 5) cu.m situ and 6% respectively.

(iii) Moisture content One test per 250 In situ OMC –2% to OMC + 1%
prior to compaction sqm.
(IS:2720 Part 28)

(iv) The density of the One test per 500 In situ Mean density not less than
compacted layer sqm the specified density + [1.65-
(IS:2720 Part 28) {1.65/ (no of the sample)
^0.5}] times the standard
deviation

(v) Deleterious (IS:2720 As required Stock Yard/In –

Part 27) situ

(vi) C.B.R. (IS:2720 Part As required Stock Yard/ In Not less than 30%
16) situ

(vii) Water absorption (IS: As required Stock Yard/In 2% maximum.

2386 Part III) situ

If this value is more than

2%, the soundness test to be
carried out.

(viii) Soundness (IS:2386 As required Stock Yard/ In 12% maximum with Na2 So4,
Part 5) situ

18% with Magnesium

Sulphate

(ix) 10% Fines Value of As required Stock Yard/In 50 KN or more in soaked

Coarse aggregate BS situ condition
812 (Part-111)

(xi) Surface Level Every 10 m In situ + 10mm to –20 mm

S.N Type of Test Frequency Location Acceptance Criteria
O.

MORTH, Spec. interval

902.3

2.2 WMM Material:

(i) Aggregate Impact One test per 200 In situ Max. 30%.
Value (IS:2386 Part cum of aggregate
4)

(ii) Grading (IS: 2720 One test per 100 In situ As per Table 400-11 of
Part 4) cum of aggregate MOSRT&H Specs

(iii) Flakiness and One test per 200 In situ Max. 30%
Elongation Index cum of aggregate
(IS:2386 Part 1)

(iv) Atterberg limits of One test per 100 In situ Not Exceeding (PI) 6%
the portion of cum of aggregate
aggregate passing
425-micron sieve
(IS:2720 Part 5)

(v) The density of the One test per 500 – At least 98% of the max. dry
compacted layer sqm. density.
(IS:2720 Part 8)

(vi) Abrasion value As required In situ Max. 40%

(IS:2386 Part 4)

(vii) Fractured Faces As required In situ 90% of material > 4.75 mm

size shall have at least 2
fractured faces.

(viii) Water absorption As required In situ Max. 2%.

Soundness test to be
conducted in case
water absorption is
more than 2%.
S.N Type of Test Frequency Location Acceptance Criteria
O.

(ix) Surface Level Every 10 m In situ + 10mm

(MORTH Spec. interval
902.3)
Also, Read: Concrete Subbase Course – DLC Construction
3.0
Road Construction – Tests on Bitumen Materials:
Bitumen is a black, sticky, viscous liquid or semi-solid material derived from crude oil. It is generally
found in natural organic deposits or may be a refined petroleum product. Bitumen is the essential
road construction materials for flexible pavement.

S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria

Construction

NO.

3.1 Prime Coat and Tack Coat:

(i) Quality of binder Number of samples HM Plant Bitumen Emulsion

(IS:73,217 & 8887) per lot and tests as complying with IS:8887 of a
per IS:73, IS:217 type and grade as specified
and IS:8887 as in the contract or as directed
applicable by Engineer.

(ii) Temp. of the binder At the regular close In situ –

for application interval

(iii) Rate of spread of Not less than 2 tests In situ 6-9 kg/10 sqm of liquid
binder per day; One test per bituminous material for a
500 sqm. prime coat over the surface
of low porosity.

2.5-3.0 Kg/10 sqm. of liquid

bituminous material for tack
coat.

(iv) Quality of As required In situ No pools

Application No dry spots

Evenly applied
S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

3.2 Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Bituminous Concrete (BC):

(i) Quality of binder Number of samples HM Plant Bitumen Emulsion

(IS:73,217 & 8887) per lot and tests as complying with IS:73 of a
per IS: 73, IS:217 type and grade as specified
and IS: 8887 as in the contract or as directed
applicable by Engineer

(ii) Aggregate Impact One test per 50 cum. HM Plant Aggregate Impact Value
Value / Los Angles of aggregate
Abrasion Value
(IS:2386 Part 4) DBM 27% max.

BC 24% max

Los Angeles Abrasion Value

DBM 35% max

BC 30% max

(iii) Flakiness Index & One test per 50 cum. HM Max. 30%
Elongation Index of aggregate Plant/stockyard
(IS:2386 Part 1)

(iv) Stripping value Initially one test of 3 HM Minimum retained coating

(IS:6241) representative Plant/stockyard of Bitumen Aggregate
specimens for each Mixtures 95%
source of supply.
Subsequently when
warranted by
changes in the
quality of
aggregates.

(v) Water absorption of Initially one test of 3 HM Plant Max. 2% for DBM
aggregate (IS:2386 representative
Part 3) specimens for each
source of supply. Max. 1% for BC
Subsequently when
warranted by
S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

changes in the
quality of
aggregates.

(vi) Soundness Initially, one HM Sodium Sulphate

(Magnesium and determination by Plant/stockyard
sodium sulphate) each method for
(IS:2386 Part 5) each source of 12% max.
supply, then as
warranted by a Magnesium Sulphate
change in the 18% max.
quality of the
aggregates.

(vii) Sand equivalent As required HM Plant Not less than 50

test for fine
aggregate

(IS:2720 Part 37)

(viii) Plasticity Index As required HM Plant Not more than 4% for

(IS:2720 Part 5) fraction passing 0.425mm
sieve

(ix) Stone Polish Test As required, for HM Plant 55minimum (for BC)
(BS 812 Part – 114) Bituminous
Concrete.

(x) Percentage of When gravel is HM Plant When crushed gravel is

fractured faces used, one test per 50 proposed for use, not less
(IS:2386 part-I) cum of aggregate. than 90% by weight of the
crushed material retained on
the 4.75mm sieve shall have
at least two fractured faces

(xi) Mix grading One set of tests on HM Plant The combined grading for
individual the particular mixture shall
constituents and be within the limits given in
mixed aggregate Table 500.10 of MORTH,
from the drier for Specs. for R & B. Works
every 400 tonnes of when tested in accordance
S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

mix subject to a with IS:2386 Part I for DBM

minimum of two & Table 500 – 18 for BC.
tests per plant per
day.

(xii) Stability of mix For every 400 HM Plant As per Table 500.11 for
tonnes of mix DBM and Table 500.19 for
produced, a set of 3 BC of MORTH Specs for R
Marshall specimens & B Works.
to be prepared and
tested for stability,
flow value, density
and void content
subject to a
minimum of two
sets being tested per
plant per day.

(xiii) Water sensitivity of Initially one test of 3 HM Plant 80% min DBM & BC
mix (Retained representative
tensile strength) – specimens for each
AASHTO T 283 source of supply.
Subsequently when
warranted by
changes in the
quality of
aggregates (if
required)

(xiv) Swell test on the As required for the HM Plant Refer Section 6.18 of MS2.
mix Bituminous Applicable only to Hveem
Concrete Method of Mix Design

(xv) Control of the At a regular close HM Plant Bitumen mixing temp 150-
temperature of interval 165°C
binder in the boiler,
aggregate in the
dryer and mix at Aggregate mixing temp 150-
the time of laying 170°C
and rolling.
Mixed Material 165°C max.

Laying: 125oC min. temp. on

S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

MORTH Spec. Rolling 90°C min.

Clause 501.3 and
Table 500-5

(xvi) Control of binder One test for every As shown in Table 500-10
content and grading 400 tonnes of mix for DBM and Table 500-18
of the mix. subject to a for BC of MORTH, Specs
minimum of two for R&B Works.
tests per day per
plant.

(xvii) Rate of spread of Regular control Hot-mix pant of adequate

mixed material through checks on capacity and capable of
the weight of mixed yielding a mix of proper and
material and layer uniform quality with
thickness thoroughly coated
aggregates.

(xviii) The density of the One test per 700 In situ 92% of the theoretical
compacted layer sqm area [1.65- maximum specific gravity of
{1.65/ (no of the the loose mix (Gmm)
sample) ^0.5}]
times the standard
deviation

(xix) Coating and As required HM Plant Min 95% coating retained.

stripping of
bitumen aggregate
mixtures IS:6241.

(xx) Surface levels As required In situ + 6 mm

(MORTH Spec.
902.3)

3.3 Modified Binder:

(i) Softening point Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

(IS:1205) submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

thereafter daily if MOSRT&H Specs.

site blended, weekly
if preblended.

(ii) Penetration at 25°C Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

and 4°C submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
thereafter daily if MOSRT&H Specs.
site blended, weekly
(IS: 1203 and IS: if preblended.
1205 respectively)

(iii) Elastic Recovery Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

(ASTM D 5976) submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
thereafter daily if MOSRT&H Specs
site blended, weekly
if preblended.

(iv) Ductility (IS:1208) Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
thereafter daily if MOSRT&H Specs
site blended, weekly
if preblended.

(v) Flashpoint Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

(IS:1209) submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
thereafter daily if MOSRT&H Specs
site blended, weekly
if preblended.

(vi) Fraass Breaking Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

Point (IS:9381) submission 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
MOSRT&H Specs of
modifier used.

(vii) Viscosity at 150°C Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

(IS:1206) submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
MOSRT&H Specs

(viii) Thin-film oven test, Initially on HM Plant As specified in Table 500-

penetration, submission, 44, 500-45 and 500-46 of
softening point, MOSRT&H Specs
elastic recovery of
S. Type of Test Location Acceptance Criteria
Construction

NO.

residue, loss on
heating. (IS:
9382).