JTC

MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL

PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES
AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV)

John M Turner
JT Consultant Services
28 Wing Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire, LU7 2NJ United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0) 1525 854819 Facsimile: +44 (0) 1525 854819
Mobile: +44 (0) 7710 668302 Email: jtc@jtconsult.co.uk

Web site: www.jtconsult.co.uk

Issue 1 JT Consultant Services 2003

 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Contents
Introduction 2
Principle
Application
Procedural stages 3
Preparation of specimens 4
Test procedure 5
Calculations 6
Results
Report
ACV of other size fractions
Apparatus 7
Certificate of test 9

Health and Safety

This test method may involve the use of hazardous materials, operations and equipment.

It is the responsibility of management and the users of this document to ensure that appropriate health and safety
practices are adopted and to comply with current local health and safety regulations in force.

Disclaimer
This document has been produced taking into account the latest published standard test method and accepted good
practice.

JT Consultant Services can accept no responsibility for any test results and their subsequent use in any design,
control or other such activity obtained when using this document.

The application of the data obtained to the design process is outside the scope of this document.

Users are advised to consult the latest standard in force at the time of use.

Page 1 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

References
BS 812-110 Testing aggregates. Method for determination of aggregate crushing value (ACV).
BS 812-100 General requirements for apparatus and calibration.
BS 812-102 Testing aggregates. Methods for sampling.

Introduction
The ACV test gives a relative measure of the resistance to crushing of an aggregate when it is subjected to a
gradually increasing compressive force up to a maximum value in a prescribed time.

The standard test is applicable to aggregates passing the 14 mm sieve size and retained on the 10 mm sieve size.

A recommended procedure is also described for testing smaller size fractions. The ACV test is not suitable for
testing aggregates with an ACV higher than 30. In such cases the 10 % Fines test (TFV) is applicable.

Principle
The principle of the test involves compacting the test specimen into a steel cylinder fitted with a freely moving
plunger, then subjecting it to a standard load applied through the plunger. The degree of crushing is then assessed
using a sieving test.

Typical values of ACV for various rock types are as follows;

Basalt range (Igneous) 7 25 Gritstone range (Sedimentary) 7 29

Porphyry range (Igneous) 9 29 Limestone range (Sedimentary) 11 37
Granite range (Metamorphic) 9 35 Slag range (Artificial) 15 39
Quartzite range (Metamorphic) 9 25

A numerically lower value indicates a greater resistance to crushing.

Application
Minimum values of ACV are often specified for concrete aggregates and aggregates used in the manufacture of
bituminous mixtures. In the case of concrete, the ACV will have a limiting effect on the strength of the concrete
produced irrespective of the design strength specified.
For bituminous mixtures the ACV is important when designing relatively thin surface layers. Aggregates with
high ACV (weak) are susceptible to crushing during compaction. This can lead to reduced permeability in, e.g.
open-graded friction course surfaces, and possibly durability as well as facilitating the loss of surface stones under
the action of traffic.

Page 2 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

PROCEDURAL STAGES

PREPARE PREPARE DETERMINE REQUIRED

APPARATUS SPECIMENS MASS OF TEST
SPECIMENS

REMOVE ADD SPECIMEN TO DRY AND WEIGH

SPECIMEN TEST CYLINDER
AND SIEVE AND APPLY LOAD

REPEAT TEST ON EVALUATE RESULTS

2nd SPECIMEN AND REPORT

1. Sample preparation 4. Sieving

Reduce laboratory sample to obtain a test portion Sieve test specimen on a 2,36 mm sieve
of 14 mm to 10 mm size fraction Weigh and record mass passing/retained
Sieve and remove over and under size material
Divide test portion into 3 test specimens

2. Determine mass for test 5. Repeat test

Fill measure in 3 equal layers Using second test specimen, load and sieve
Tamp each layer with 25 blows
Remove surplus material
Dry and determine mass

3. Loading 6. Evaluate results and report

Add test specimen to cylinder in 3 equal layers Calculate ACV for each test specimen
Tamp each layer with 25 blows Calculate mean of 2 results and report as ACV
Level surface of test specimen and insert plunger
Load plunger to 400 kN in 10 min.
Release load
Remove plunger from cylinder
Hammer sides of cylinder (Rubber Mallet)
and collect test specimen in a tray
Brush any fines on cylinder sides and plunger base into tray
Determine mass of test specimen

Page 3 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Preparation of specimens
Sieve the entire surface dry test portion on the 14 mm and 10 mm sieves to remove the oversize and under size
material.

Divide the resulting 14 mm to 10 mm size fractions to produce three test specimens each of sufficient mass to fill
the measure using the procedure described below.

The resulting mass should provide a depth of approximately 100 mm in the test cylinder after tamping.

Fill the measure with three approximately equal layers. Tamp each layer with 25 blows of the tamping rod, each
blow being applied by allowing the tamping rod to fall freely in a vertical position from a height of about 50 mm
above the surface of the aggregate. Distribute the blows evenly across the surface.

Remove the surplus aggregate by rolling the tamping rod across, and in contact with the top of the measure.
Remove by hand any particles which impede the rolling process and fill any obvious depressions with aggregate.

Dry the test specimens at a temperature of 105 + 5 oC for a period of not more than 4 h then cool to room
temperature before testing.

Record the mass of the test specimens (M1) in g before testing.

Note:
Mechanical sieving should only be used for aggregates which do not degrade

Keep tamping rod

vertical and allow each
Roll tamping bar over surface
of 25 blows per layer
to fall from a height of to level aggregate
about 50 mm above
the surface of the layer

Layer 3

Measure
full of
Layer 2
aggregate

Layer 1

Determine mass of aggregate for test specimen

Page 4 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Test procedure
Place the cylinder centrally on the baseplate and add the test specimen in three equal layers. Subject each layer to
25 blows of the tamping rod, each blow being applied by allowing the tamping rod to fall freely in a vertical
position from a height of about 50 mm above the surface of the aggregate. Distribute the blows evenly across the
surface.

Carefully level the surface of the test specimen and insert the plunger so that it rests horizontally on the surface.
Take care to ensure the plunger does not jam in the cylinder.

Place the apparatus with plunger in position centrally between the platens of the compression machine. Bring the
platens into contact with the plunger and load at a uniform rate so that the required force of 400 kN is reached in
10 + 0,5 m.

Release the load and remove the apparatus from the compression machine.

Hold the cylinder over a clean tray and remove the crushed test specimen by hammering the sides of the cylinder
with a rubber mallet until the test specimen falls into the tray. If this fails to release the test specimen other means
should be used but care should be taken not to cause further crushing of the aggregate particles.

Transfer any fine particles adhering to the cylinder, the baseplate and the underside of the plunger to the tray using
a stiff bristle brush.

Weigh the tray and test specimen and record the mass of aggregate used (M1) to the nearest 1 g.

Sieve the whole of the test specimen on a 2,36 mm sieve until no further significant amount passes during a
further period of 1 min.

Weigh and record the masses passing and retained to the nearest 1 g (M2 and M3 respectively). If the total mass
(M2 + M3) differs from the initial mass (M1) by more than 10 g, discard the result and test a further specimen.

Repeat the procedure using a second specimen.

Note
During the early stages of the test where there is significant deformation of the test specimen, variations in the
loading rate may occur. This is unavoidable but should be kept to a minimum. The principal object should be to
complete the loading in the overall specified time.
Ready for testing

Compacted specimen
Cylinder
Plunger

About 100 mm

Specimen placed in
3 compacted layers Baseplate

Page 5 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Calculations
Calculate the aggregate crushing value (ACV) for each test specimen from the following;

ACV = M2 / M1 x 100 % (to the first decimal place)

where
M1 is the mass of the test specimen (in g)
M2 is the mass of the material passing a 2,36 mm sieve (in g)

Results
Calculate the mean of the 2 values to the nearest whole number. Report the mean as the ACV.

If the individual results differ by more than 0,07 times the mean value, repeat the test on 2 further test specimens.

Calculate the median of the 4 results to the nearest whole number and report this as the ACV.

Notes
The median of four results is calculated by excluding the highest and lowest result and calculating the mean of
the two middle results.

Report
The report shall affirm that the test was carried out in accordance with BS812-110 and shall state if a certificate of
sampling is or is not available. If available a copy shall accompany the report.

name of the testing organisation;

sample identification reference or number and location;

size of aggregate tested;

cylinder size used;

the aggregate crushing value (ACV).

A suggested format for reporting results and information is included in this document.

Method for determining the ACV of other size fractions

When required, tests may be made on other aggregate sizes larger than the definitive size, up to a maximum size
of 28 mm using the standard apparatus (150 mm cylinder).

Smaller sizes down to a size retained on the 2,36 mm sieve may also be tested using a smaller (75 mm) cylinder
and tamping rod. In this case, the total force applied shall be 100 kN.

The procedure to be used is identical with the definitive method with the exception of the size range, force and
cylinder size in the case of smaller size fractions.

Additional apparatus for testing other size fractions is included in this document.

Page 6 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Apparatus
Steel cylinder with plunger and baseplate
The surfaces in contact with the aggregate shall be machined and case hardened or otherwise treated to give a
hardness value of > 650HV. The nominal 75 mm cylinder is used for testing aggregate smaller than 10 mm in
particle size. The dimensions shall be as follows;

Component Dimensions Nominal 150 mm Nominal 75 mm

(mm) cylinder cylinder
Cylinder Internal diameter 154 + 0,5 78 + 0,5
Internal depth 125 to 140 70 to 85
Wall thickness > 16 >8
Plunger Piston diameter (D) 152 + 0,5 76 + 0,5
Stem diameter > 95 to < D > 45 to < D
Length of piston 100 to 115 60 to 80
plus stem
Depth of piston > 25 > 19
Hole diameter 20 + 0,1 10 + 0,1
Baseplate Thickness > 10 > 10
Length of each 200 to 230 110 to 115
side of square

Test sieves
Square hole perforated plate of sizes 14,0 mm and 10,0 mm and a woven wire 2,36 mm test sieve.

Metal measure
Rigid and cylindrical, with an internal diameter of 115 + 1 mm and an internal depth of 180 + 1 mm.

Tamping rod
Straight iron or steel bar of circular cross-section, 16 + 1 mm diameter and 600 + 5 mm long with both ends
hemispherical.

Balance
Minimum capacity of 3000 g readable to 1 g.

Drying oven
Thermostatically controlled at 105 + 5 oC.

A rubber mallet

A metal tray
Of known mass large enough to contain 3 kg of aggregate.

A stiff bristle brush

Compression machine
Grade 1 or grade 2 accuracy, capable of applying a force of at least 400 kN at a uniform rate of loading so that the
force is reached in 10 min.

Page 7 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Additional apparatus for testing aggregate smaller than 10 mm particle size

Test sieves
Square hole perforated plate woven wire as follows

Passing Retained Separator for fines

(mm) (mm) (mm)

28,0 6,30 1,70

20,0 5,00 1,18
10,0 6,30 1,70
6,30 5,00 1,18
5,00 3,35 0,85
3,35 2,36 0,60

Metal measure
Rigid and cylindrical, with an internal diameter of 57 + 1 mm and an internal depth of 90 + 1 mm.

Tamping rod
Straight iron or steel bar of circular cross-section, 8 mm diameter and 300 mm long with one end hemispherical.

Balance
Minimum capacity of 500 g readable to 0,2 g.

Notes
Quality assurance requirements specify that the equipment used shall be recorded and be within its valid
calibration period.

All apparatus should be clean, in good condition and comply with the dimensions specified.

Where a dimension or other specified requirement has a tolerance applied, this should be checked regularly for
compliance and a record maintained.
Where a dimension is specified with manufacturing tolerances or limits, it shall be an essential dimension.

Dimensions stated without tolerances are given for guidance.

For mass, the manufacturing tolerance shall be within + 1 % of the specified mass unless otherwise stated.

Working tolerances apply to apparatus after being subjected to wear in use, and shall not exceed twice the
manufacturing tolerance unless other requirements are specified.

Page 8 of 9
 THE AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE (ACV) TEST JTC

Certificate No.
CERTIFICATE OF AGGREGATE
CRUSHING VALUE (ACV)
Date of Test Testing Organisation Name of Project

Sample Identification Cylinder size 150 mm / 75 mm * Aggregate size fraction tested

Sample Description

Comments

Test Number
Mass of specimen M1
g
Mass passing 2,36 mm
Sieve or mm M2 g
Mass retained M3
g
M2 + M3
g
ACV = (M2 / M1)100
%
Aggregate Crushing Value

Name of Tester
Signature of Tester

The tester certifies that the test was carried out in accordance with BS 812-110:1990

Name of person responsible for testing Checked by Approved by

Signature of person responsible for testing

Page 9 of 9