M 147
Standard Specification for
Materials for Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base and Surface Courses
1. SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the quality
and grading of sand-clay mixtures;
gravel, stone or slag screenings; or sand,
crusher run coarse aggregate consisting
of gravel, crushed stone or slag with or
without soil mortar or any combination of
these materials for use in the construction
of subbase, base and surface courses. The
requirements are intended to cover only
materials having normal or average
specific gravity, absorption and gradation
characteristics. Where other materials are
to be used, appropriate limits suitable to
their use must be specified.
1.2 The values stated SI units are to be
regarded as the standard.
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Coarse Aggregate:
2.1.1 Coarse aggregate retained on the
2.00-mm (Nº 10) sieve shall consist of
hard, durable particles or fragments of
stone, gravel or slag. Materials that break
up when alternately frozen and thawed or
wetted and dried shall not be used.
2.1.2 Coarse aggregate shall have a
percentage of wear, by the Los Angeles
test, AASHTO T 96, of not more than 50.
NOTE 1-A higher or lower percentage of wear
may be specified by the engineer, depending
upon the materials available for the work.
2.2 Fine Aggregate:
2.2.1 Fine aggregate passing the 2.00-
mm (Nº 10) sieve shall consist of natural
or crushed sand, and fine mineral
particles passing the 0.075-mm (Nº 200)
sieve.
2.2.2 The fraction passing the
0.075mm (Nº 200) sieve shall not be
greater than two-thirds of the fraction
passing the 0.425-mm (Nº 40) sieve. The
SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS
AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 147-65
fraction passing the 0.425-mm sieve shall
have a liquid limit not greater than 25 and
a plasticity index not greater than 6.
2.3 All material shall be free from
vegetable matter and lumps or balls of
clay. The soil-aggregate material shall
conform to the grading requirements of
Table 1. The grading requirements for
composite aggregate material will be
specified by the engineer.
3. SUBBASE MATERIALS
3.1 Materials for subbase shall conform
to the requirements of sections 2 and 3
for gradings, A, B, C, D, E. or F. The type
and grading desired shall be specified.
NOTE 2-Where local experience has shown
that lower percentages passing the 0.075-mm
(Nº 200) sieve than are required in Table 1 are
necessary for subbase materials in order to
prevent damage by frost action, the engineer
should specify such lower percentages.
4. BASE COURSE MATERIALS
4.1 Materials for base course shall
conform to the requirements of section 2
for gradings A, B, C, D, E, or F. The
grading desired shall be specified.
NOTE 3-Where local experience has shown
that lower percentages passing the 0.075-mm
(Nº 200) sieve than are required in Table 1 are
necessary for base course materials in order to
prevent damage by frost action, the engineer
should specify such lower percentages.
5. SURFACE COURSE
MATERIALS
5.1 Materials for surface course shall
conform to the requirements of sections 2
and 3 for gradings C, D, E, or F. The
gradings desired shall be specified.
NOTE 4-Where it is planned that the soil
aggregate surface course is to be maintained
for several years without bituminous surface
treatment or other superimposed impervious
surfacing, the engineer should specify a
minimum of 8 percent passing 0.075mm (Nº
200) sieve in lieu of the minimum percentages
shown in Table 1 for grading C, D, or E, and
should specify a maximum liquid limit of 35
and plasticity index range of 4 to 9 in lieu of
the limits given in Section 2.2.2.
6. MOISTURE CONTENT
6.1 All materials shall contain moisture
equal to or slightly below the optimum
necessary to insure that the design
density requirements are obtained when
materials are compacted.
7. ADMIXTURE
7.1 Calcium chloride used for the control
of moisture shall meet the requirements
of Standard Specifications for Calcium
Chloride (AASHTO M 144).
8. METHODS OF SAMPLING AND
TESTING
8.1 Sampling and testing shall be in
accordance with the following standard
methods of the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation
Officials:
Sampling T2
Sieve analysis T 27 or T 88
Surveying and sampling soils for
highway subgrades T 86
Preparing samples T 87
Liquid limit T 89
Plastic limit and plasticity index T
90
Percentage of wear T 96
Passing 0.075-mm (Nº 200 sieve) T
11
111
 TABLE 1 Grading Requirements for Soil-Aggregate Materials
Sieve Designation Mass Percent Passing
Standard mm Alternate Grading A Grading B Grading C Grading D Grading E Grading F
50.0 2 in. 100 100 - - - -
25.0 1 in. - 75-95 100 100 100 100
9.5 1/8 in. 30-65 40-75 50-85 60-100 - -
4.75 Nº 4 25-55 30-60 35-65 50-85 55-100 70-100
2.00 Nº 10 15-40 20-45 25-50 40-70 40-100 55-100
0.425 Nº 40 8-20 15-30 15-30 25-45 20-50 30-70
0.075 Nº 200 2-8 5-20 5-15 5-20 6-20 8-25