Aggregate crushing value test

Aggregate crushing value test on coarse aggregates gives a relative measure of the resistance
of an aggregate crushing under gradually applied compressive load.

Coarse aggregate crushing value is the percentage by weight of the crushed material obtained
when test aggregates are subjected to a specified load under standardized conditions.

Aggregate crushing value is a numerical index of the strength of the aggregate and it is used
in construction of roads and pavements.

Crushing value of aggregates indicates its strength. Lower crushing value is recommended
for roads and pavements as it indicates a lower crushed fraction under load and would give a
longer service life and a more economical performance.

The aggregates used in roads and pavement construction must be strong enough to withstand
crushing under roller and traffic. If the aggregate crushing value is 30 or higher’ the result
may be anomalous and in such cases the ten percent fines value should be determined instead.

Aggregate Crushing Value Test

The objective of this test is to:

1. Determine the aggregate crushing value of coarse aggregate

2. Assess suitability of coarse aggregates for use in different types of road

Apparatus
 1. A steel cylinder 15 cm diameter with plunger and base plate.
2. A straight metal tamping rod 16mm diameter and 45 to 60cm long rounded at one
end.
3. A balance of capacity 3 kg readable and accurate to one gram.
4. IS sieves of sizes 12.5mm, 10mm and 2.36mm
5. A compression testing machine.
6. Cylindrical metal measure of sufficient rigidity to retain its from under rough usage
and of 11.5cm diameter and 18cm height.
7. Dial gauge

Sampling of Aggregates

Coarse aggregate passing 12.5mm IS sieve and retained on a10mm IS sieve are selected and
heated at 100 to 110°C for 4 hours and cooled to room temperature.

The quantity of aggregate shall be such that the depth of material in the cylinder , after
tamping as described below shall be 10 cm. The appropriate quantity may be found
conveniently by filling the cylinder.

Measure in three layers of approximately equal depth, each layer being tamped 25 times with
the tamping rod and finally leveled off using the tamping rod as straight edge.

Care being taken in the case of weaker materials not to break the particles. The weight of the
material comprising the test sample shall be determined (weight A) and the same weight of
sample shall be taken for the repeat test.

Procedure of Aggregate Crushing Value Test

 1. Put the cylinder in position on the base plate and weigh it (W).
2. Put the sample in 3 layers, each layer being subjected to 25 strokes using the tamping
rod. Care being taken in the case of weak materials not to break the particles and
weigh it (W1).
3. Level the surface of aggregate carefully and insert the plunger so that it rests
horizontally on the surface. Care being taken to ensure that the plunger does not jam
in the cylinder.
4. Place the cylinder with plunger on the loading platform of the compression testing
machine.
5. Apply load at a uniform rate so that a total load of 40T is applied in 10 minutes.
6. Release the load and remove the material from the cylinder.
7. Sieve the material with 2.36mm IS sieve, care being taken to avoid loss of fines.
8. Weigh the fraction passing through the IS sieve (W2).

Calculation of Aggregate Crushing Value

The ratio of weight of fines formed to the weight of total sample in each test shall be
expressed as a percentage, the result being recorded to the first decimal place.

Aggregate crushing value = (W2 x 100) / (W1-W)

W2 =Weight of fraction passing through the appropriate sieve

W1-W =Weight of surface dry sample.

The mean of two result to nearest whole number is the aggregate crushing value.

Result
The aggregate crushing value of the given sample=

Aggregate Crushing Values for Roads and

Pavement Construction
The table below shows limits of aggregate crushing value for different types of road
construction:

Types of Roads / Pavements Aggregate Crushing Value Limit

Flexible Pavements
Soling 50
Water bound macadam 40
Bituminous macadam 40
Bituminous surface dressing or thin premix carpet 30
Dense mix carpet 30
Rigid Pavements
Other than wearing course 45
Surface or Wearing course 30

Aggregate impact value test

Determination of Aggregate Impact Value – Impact Test on Aggregates is done to carry out
to:

 Determine the impact value of the road aggregates,

 Assess their suitability in road construction on the basis of impact value.

Aggregate Impact Value on Coarse Aggregates

Apparatus for Aggregate Impact Test

The apparatus as per IS: 2386 (Part IV) – 1963 consists of:

(i) A testing machine weighing 45 to 60 kg and having a metal base with a painted lower
surface of not less than 30 cm in diameter. It is supported on level and plane concrete floor of
minimum 45 cm thickness. The machine should also have provisions for fixing its base.

(ii) A cylindrical steel cup of internal diameter 102 mm, depth 50 mm and minimum
thickness 6.3 mm. .

(iii) A metal hammer or tup weighing 13.5 to 14.0 kg the lower end being cylindrical in
shape, 50 mm long, 100.0 mm in diameter, with a 2 mm chamfer at the lower edge and case
hardened. The hammer should slide freely between vertical guides and be concentric with the
cup. Free fall of hammer should be within 380±5 mm.
(iv) A cylindrical metal measure having internal diameter 75 mm and depth 50 mm for
measuring aggregates.

(v) Tamping rod 10 mm in diameter and 230 mm long, rounded at one end.

(vi) A balance of capacity not less than 500g, readable and accurate up to 0.1 g.

Theory of Aggregate Impact Test

The property of a material to resist impact is known as toughness. Due to movement of

vehicles on the road the aggregates are subjected to impact resulting in their breaking down
into smaller pieces.

The aggregates should therefore have sufficient toughness to resist their disintegration due to
impact. This characteristic is measured by impact value test.

The aggregate impact value is a measure of resistance to sudden impact or shock, which may
differ from its resistance to gradually applied compressive load.

Procedure of Aggregate Impact Test

The test sample consists of aggregates sized 10.0 mm 12.5 mm. Aggregates may be dried by
heating at 100-110° C for a period of 4 hours and cooled.

(i) Sieve the material through 12.5 mm and 10.0mm IS sieves. The aggregates passing
through 12.5mm sieve and retained on 10.0mm sieve comprises the test material.

(ii) Pour the aggregates to fill about just 1/3 rd depth of measuring cylinder.

(iii) Compact the material by giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded end of the tamping
rod.

(iv) Add two more layers in similar manner, so that cylinder is full.

(v) Strike off the surplus aggregates.

(vi) Determine the net weight of the aggregates to the nearest gram(W).

(vii) Bring the impact machine to rest without wedging or packing up on the level plate,
block or floor, so that it is rigid and the hammer guide columns are vertical.

(viii) Fix the cup firmly in position on the base of machine and place whole of the test sample
in it and compact by giving 25 gentle strokes with tamping rod.

(ix) Raise the hammer until its lower face is 380 mm above the surface of aggregate sample
in the cup and allow it to fall freely on the aggregate sample. Give 15 such blows at an
interval of not less than one second between successive falls.
(x) Remove the crushed aggregate from the cup and sieve it through 2.36 mm IS sieves until
no further significant amount passes in one minute. Weigh the fraction passing the sieve to an
accuracy of 1 gm. Also, weigh the fraction retained in the sieve.

Compute the aggregate impact value. The mean of two observations, rounded to nearest
whole number is reported as the Aggregate Impact Value.

Observations of Impact Test

Observations Sample 1Sample 2

Total weight of dry sample (W1 gm)
Weight of portion passing 2.36 mm sieve (W2 gm)
Aggregate Impact Value (percent) = W2 / W1 X 100

Mean =

Result of Impact Test

Aggregate Impact Value =

Recommended Aggregate Impact Test Values

Classification of aggregates using Aggregate Impact Value is as given below:

Aggregate Impact ValueClassification

<20% Exceptionally Strong
10 – 20% Strong
20-30% Satisfactory for road surfacing
>35% Weak for road surfacing

Specified limits of percent aggregate impact value for different types of road construction by
Indian Roads Congress is given below.

Sl No Type of pavement Aggregate impact value not more than

1. Wearing Course
a) Bituminous surface dressing
b) Penetration macadam 30
c) Bituminous carpet concrete
d) Cement concrete
2. Bitumen bound macadam base course 35
3. WBM base course with bitumen surfacing 40
4 Cement concrete base course 45

Aggregate 10% fines test

What is 10 % Ten Percent Fines Value of an Aggregate?
10 % Ten percent fines value of aggregate is a measure of the aggregate
resistance to crushing.

Why is 10 % Ten Percent Fines Value of Aggregate Test

Required?
1. 10 % Ten percent fines Value test required to know the resistance
strength of coarse aggregate.
2. 10 % Ten percent fines of aggregate Value must be satisfied with
resistance to crushing under the roller during compaction.
3. If the aggregate is weak in resistance, the stability of the pavement or
structure is likely to be adversely affected.

10 % Ten percent fines Value Test of Aggregate IS Code

IS Code for 10 % Ten percent fines value test of aggregate is IS 2386 part 4.

10 % Ten percent fines Value Test Apparatus and Tools

1. One open ended cylinder made by steel ( dia – 150 mm ) with plunger
and base plate.
2. Measuring cylinder ( dia – 115 mm, height – 180 mm ).
 3. Tamping rod ( dia – 16 mm, length – 450 mm to 600 mm ).
4. Weighing balance ( capacity minimum – 3000 gram, least count – 1 gram
).
5. Compression testing machine.
6. IS Sieve 12.5 mm, 10.0 mm and 2.36 mm.
7. Dial gauge.

Precautions Before Proceeding the Test

We should test 10 % Ten percent fines value of aggregate in surface saturated
dry condition. If you are using oven dried aggregates for this test, it shall be
dried not more than four hours otherwise result may affect.

Before 10 % Ten percent fines Value test we should ensure that the aggregate’s
temperature is similar to room temperature.

10 % Ten percent fines value apparatus and tools should be cleaned before
proceeding the test.

10 % Ten Percent Fines Value Test

Procedure of Coarse Aggregate
1. Take aggregates for 10 % Ten percent fines value test from stacking yard
not less than four places.
2. Mix the aggregates and take the aggregate sample by quartering it.
3. Near about 7 kilogram sample required for two tests.
4. Sieve these aggregates through 12.5 mm and 10.0 mm.
5. Take aggregates for the test which passed through 12.5 mm and
retained on 10.0 mm.
 6. Take aggregate measuring cylinder and we have to pour aggregates in
this cylinder in three approximately equal layers. Each layer shall be
temped 25 times by tamping rod.
7. In third layer fill aggregate over than the top surface of measuring
cylinder then temp 25 times.
8. Struck off the extra aggregates with temping rod using as a straight
edge.
9. Take the weight of these aggregates, Note down as weight A.
10. Place cylinder ( open on both end ) on the base plate then place weighed
aggregates in this cylinder layer by layer.
11. Again same procedure we have to follow to fill these aggregates in this
open ended cylinder means three layers, 25 blows for each layer.
12. Level the aggregates horizontally in the cylinder so that plunger can give
the equal distribution load all over aggregates.

13. Place the plunger in the cylinder.

14. Place this setup in compression testing machine, position in center.
15. Set the rate of loading so that it will penetrate 20 mm in 10 minutes.
16. Stop the compression testing machine when penetration reaches 20 mm
in 10 minutes.
17. Place all aggregates and particles in 2.36 mm sieve which kept already in
a tray.
18. Sieve it until aggregate particles are passing. When it stops take the
weight of passing material as weight B.

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How To Calculate Required Load

For this calculation, Use the average fine percentage from two test and applied
load.

Required Load for Ten percent fine value = (14 * x) / (y+4)

where x is average of two loads,

y is average of two fine percentage.

10 % Ten Percent Fine Value Test of Aggregate

Calculation and Formula
Aggregate crushing value (%) = (B / A) *100

10 % Ten Percent Fine Value Limit

The limit of 10 percent fine value limit is 7.5 to 12.5.

Viva Questions on 10 % Fine value Test

Q.1 What is 10 % fines value of an aggregate?

Ans. 10 % fines value of an aggregate is the resistance strength of crushing.

Q.2 What is the IS code used for 10 percent fines value test procedure?

Ans. IS 2386 part 4 is used for 10 % fines value test procedure.

Q.3 What is limit for 10 % fines value test?

Ans. Limit of 10 % fines value test is 7.5 to 12.5.