CHAPTER 5:

ROAD MATERIALS

5-1 Aggregates
Aggregates intended for either bituminous(asphalt) or
Portland cement concrete pavement, should be of good quality
in accordance with the requirements of AASHTO standard or
Item -703 of the Department of Public Works and Highways
specifications which generally provides that:
“The aggregates shall consist of hard durable particles or
fragments of crushed stone, crushed slag, or crushed rock or
natural gravel”.
Aggregates to be classified as good quality, must undergo various test
enumerated as follows:
1.Test for strength.
2.Test for soundness.
3. Test for affinity and swell.
4. Test for shape and texture.
5.Test for resistance to polishing.
6. Degradation test.

Test for strength

The criterion for aggregate strength test is the Los Angeles Rattler Test
(AASHTO-96) briefly conducted as follows:
1. Rattler test is done in a hollow cylinder closed at both ends. The
cylinder measures 70 centimeters inside diameter by 50 centimeters
long provided with steel shelf projecting radially inward 3 ½ inches
mounted with its axis horizontally on stub shaft and fastened at the
ends.
2. The cylinder is rotated 500 revolutions at speed of 30 to
33 rounds per minute.
3. After testing, the sample is passed on to No. 12 sieve.
Those that passes through it are set aside, the amount of
loss is the difference between the original and final weight
expressed in percent.
4. The FHWA recommended that aggregates for a dense
graded mixture shall have 50 or less coefficient of wear.
5. For open graded mixture , the requirements is 40 or less.
However, percentage may be set in cases where excellent
aggregates are abundantly available.
Test for Soundness
Soundness refers to the resistance of materials to deterioration from the
effect of action like freezing and thawing. The common test for soundness
is the application with sodium or magnesium sulfate.(See AASHTO T-
104).
1. A sample of fine or coarse aggregate is dried, and then , immersed in
a saturated solution of sodium or magnesium sulfate, followed by
draining, and oven drying.
2. The application of liquid solutions will cause splitting, crumbling,
cracking or flaking of the particles surface. The application is
conducted in five immersion and drying cycles.
3. After washing and drying , aggregate samples are examined carefully
and sieve to determine the changes in the particle sizes. The result is
recorded as percentage loss.
4. Some road agencies do not require soundness test for aggregate
intended for asphalt pavement particularly in areas where temperature
of the pavement does not fall be low freezing point.
Test for Affinity and Swell
Strong and durable pavement must have binder that adhere or stick firmly to the aggregate particles.
If the binder separates or strip’s-off from the aggregate, the pavement will disintegrate under traffic.

Another reaction of the pavement is to pit when aggregates are pulled-off caused by running wheels.
In the event that pavement mixture swells, the interlock and friction between the particles are
destroyed resulting to collapse of the pavement stability.

1. Hydrophilic is the term used when the aggregate the greater affinity for water than asphalt.
Meaning, they like water than asphalt in contrast to hydrophobic which means fear, or against
water.
2. If an aggregate is hydrophilic, the chemical bond between the aggregates and water is much
stronger than those between aggregates and asphalt. On the contrary , if the aggregate is
hydrophobic, pinholes will develop on the asphalt and water penetrate the surface until it reaches
the aggregates.
3. Such water aggregate interferences may develop at the sharp edge of crushed particles and in
due time, water will destroy the aggregate and asphalt bond.
4. Sometimes , the stripped asphalt flushes to the surface of the pavement making it slicky, and
after stripping, fine aggregates that are susceptible to swelling will expand when moistened ,
then disrupt the pavement structure.
5. The immersion compression test (AASHTO T-165) indirectly measure the tendency of aggregate
to strip or swell under the effects of water. The stripping problem of aggregate has long been
perennial problem, although , many experienced engineers knows which of the aggregates being
used will or will not be affected.
Shape and Texture of Aggregates
A relatively rounded smooth aggregate particles like natural
gravel is recommended for Portland cement concrete
pavement
Because the mixture is workable. Meaning, easily managed
and consolidated inside the forms.
2. The angular or cubical shape and rough surface texture
aggregate has been proven excellent material for asphalt
pavement because it has stronger interlocking action and well
adherence of asphalt binder to the particles.
3. A thin or elongated piece of dirt is considered undesirable
material for either asphalt or concrete pavement.
4. The AASHTO Standard Specifications for asphalt pavement
aggregate has no specific stipulation as to the control of the
shape or surface texture.
Test for Resistance to Polishing
One good criterion for pavement design is the high coefficient of friction between
the tire and the road surface.
A good asphalt or concrete road design is when “the rubber tire is in direct contact
with the aggregate and not with the binder”
Measured under the following considerations:

1. If in so short a time, the aggregate surface of the road becomes polished and
sticky, the coefficient of friction between the road surface and the tire will be
dangerously low.
2. The skid resistance has bearing relation with the polishing of the aggregate,
prompting the road agency to consider the skid resistance measurement on
existing road to be included and part of the road inventory.
3. Aggregates produced from limestone are practically susceptible to polishing. On
the other hand, if the parent rocks are sandstone or fine grain igneous type,
polishing is not severe.
4. Limestone coarse aggregate containing larger amount of sand that are insoluble in
diluted hydrochloric acid, are found to be resistance to polishing.
5. Likewise , the friction factor between the tire and the road surface will increase
substantially if silica sand is included in the mixture.
Degradation Test

Some aggregates degrade in the presence of water. This is measured

through mechanical agitation in water under designation test T-210 of
AASHTO.

1. About 2.5 kilograms of coarse that is retained on No. 4 sieve are

washed thoroughly and agitated for 10 minutes.
2. Sedimentation test like the sand equivalent test for soil is done on
the sample passing the 0.075 mm (no. 200) particles generated. The
durability index result ranges from 0 to 100, but the FHWA
specifications set a minimum valve of 35.
3. For fine aggregate that passes the 4.75 mm (no. 4) sieve, test is the
same as the above procedures except that the sample size is only 1/2
kilogram.
4. The sand equivalent test is performed after 10 minutes to establish
durability Index of 35.
Particle Size
1. For dense graded pavement. - The particle size of
aggregate ranges from coarse to dust.
2. For open graded pavement. - One or more layer of the
coarse rock of uniform size is used.
3. For sheet asphalt . - The mineral aggregate is a
carefully graded sand and mineral dust.

For aggregates, the inherent variance in the materials,

the erosion in sampling and testing, the segregation in
the sample and in handling aggregate of large volume will
mean that
“the sieve analysis may not be true representative of the
material actually incorporated.”
5-2 Aggregate for Bituminous Pavement
Generally, for bituminous or asphalt pavement,
the aggregates constitute 88% to 96% by weight or
more than 75% by volume.AASHTO standard
specifications provides that:
“The aggregates shall consist of hard, durable
particles of fragments of stone or gravel and sand
or other fine mineral particles free from vegetable
matter and lumps or balls of clay and of such
nature that it can be compacted readily to form a
firm, stable layer. It shall conform to the grading
requirements shown in table 5-1 when tested by
AASHTO T-11 and 27.”
The following materials are classified under item 300 of the
DPWH standard specifications.
1. Coarse aggregate material s retained on 2.00 mm No.
10 sieve shall have a mass percent of wear by the Los
Angeles Abrasion test (AASHT T-96) of not more than 45.
2. When crushed aggregate is specified, not less than 50
mass percent of the particles retained on the 4.75 mm (No.
4) sieve shall have at least one fractured face.
3. The fraction passing the 0.75 mm (200) sieve should not
be greater than 2/3 of the fraction passing the 0.425
mm(No. 40) sieve.
4. The fraction passing 0.425 mm (No. 40) sieve shall have
a liquid limit not greater than 35 and a plasticity index range
of 4 to 9 when tested by AASHTO T-89 and T-90
respectively
5-3 Aggregate for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement
In order to obtain high quality concrete, road agencies have imposed almost
without exception that all aggregates shall pass appropriate tests for
strength, soundness, wear or the combination of these three.
1. The presence of organic impurities in the aggregates intended for
concreting road pavement may cause slow or non-hardening of the concrete.
Under AASHTO T-21 standard test, the aggregate is treated with a mixture of
sodium hydrochloride solution, and when the treated aggregate turns dark,
organic materials are said to be present in the aggregate.
2. The strength of fine aggregate is measured by the compression tests of
sand-cement mortar.
3. Soundness of fine aggregate is measured by the resistance to
deterioration under the action of Sodium or Magnesium Sulfate. The sodium
sulfate test is five cycles. The maximum loss under AASHTO specification is
10%.
4. For coarse aggregate the requirement consist of crushed stone, gravel,
blast furnace, slag, or approved inert materials of similar characteristics or
combination thereof having hard, strong durable pieces free from adherent
coatings.
 The Department of Public Works and Highways Standard
Specifications classify aggregate under item 703 and specifically
provides that:
1. Aggregate shall consist of hard, durable particles or fragments of
crushed stone, crush slug or crushed or natural gravel. Material that
breaks up when alternately wetted and dried shall be discarded.
2. Coarse Aggregate is the material retained on the 2.00 mm (No.
10) sieve and shall have a percentage of water not more than 50
for sub-base and not more than 45 for base and surface courses as
determined by AASHTO designation test T-96.
3. Fine aggregate is the material passing the No. 10 sieve (2.00
mm) consisting of natural, crushed sand, and fine mineral particles.
The fraction passing the 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve should not be
greater than 0.66 (2/3) of the fraction passing the 0.425 mm (No.
40) sieve.
4. For Base Course, The fraction passing the 0.425 mm (No. 40)
sieve shall have a liquid limit of not more than 25 and a plastic
Index (PI) not greater than 6. For sub-base course , the liquid limit
should not be greater than35, and Plastic Index not greater than 12.
5. For Surface Coarse the fraction passing the 0.425 mm (No. 40)
sieve shall have a liquid limit not more than 35 and Plasticity Index
not less than 4 nor exceed 9.
5-4 Mineral Filler
The strength of road pavement will be increased if dust
additives which dense the graded mixture is added. It is
called mineral filler that reduces the void contents in the
mixture. This dust additive is not the ordinary dust that is
being found in our floor or tables.

Dust additive is classified into:

1. Finely powdered limestone
2. Slag
3. Hydrated lime
4. Portland Cement
5. trap rock dust
6. fly ash
The DPWH Standard Specifications relative to mineral filler
states that:
“Mineral filler shall consist of finely divided mineral matter such
as rock dust, slag dust, hydrated lime, hydraulic cement, fly ash
or other suitable mineral matter. It shall be free from organic
impurities and at all time of use shall be sufficiently dry to flow
freely and shall be essentially free from agglomerations”.
AASHTO M-17 provides that:
Percentage passing by weight shall be as follows:
No. 30(0.66mm) sieve 50
No. 50(0.30mm) sieve 95-100
No. 200(0.075mm) sieve 70-100

AASHTO further stipulates that all minerals other than hydrated

lime or Portland cement, the Plastic Index (PI) value shall be 4 or
less.
5-5 Bituminous Material
Bituminous material or asphalt in short, is a viscous liquid
used a binder for aggregates in road construction. At normal
temperature, asphalt is either slightly thicker than water or hard
but brittle material that breaks under a hammer blow when cold.

1. Bituminous material is in liquid form when mixed or

combined with aggregates. This liquid form may be produced
either by heating the hard asphalt, by dissolving in solvent or by
emulsifying in water. However, there are bituminous liquid
material available and ready for use.
2. The action of asphalt binder depends on its type and the
aggregate it is combined with. The purpose of the asphalt
binder is to resist the abrasive force brought about by heavy
traffic.
3. If the road pavement is the open type,
cosisting entirely of coarse particles and
asphalt, heavy binder is needed requiring
more asphalts. On the other hand, if
aggregates in the pavement contain fine
particles, cohesion will be developed by
surface tension in the thin asphalt film
surrounding the fine particles. Hence,
viscous asphalt is required.