Appendix B

Site Investigation Manual - 2002 Laboratory Testing

Appendix B Laboratory Testing

B.1 General

The nature of the field sampling program has been outlined in Chapters 3 and 4. The
outline of the required laboratory tests has also been given. The exact scope of the
laboratory program, particularly in terms of the number of tests, should be refined during
and at completion of the field activities, in view of a number of factors such as:

• An assessment of the most promising sources of materials and their distribution

along the alignment
• An identification of the most significant soils and materials problems
• Schedules and laboratory workload

The laboratory results may not fully agree with the indications derived from the field
tests. Careful analysis and comparison of both the results is necessary. Based on the
analysis, re-testing of soil samples may be necessary. It is the responsibility of the
engineer(s) in charge of the investigations to exercise judgment, propose explanations for
possible apparent discrepancies, and finally recommend values of the various design
parameters with due consideration to the purpose, conditions and requirements of the
study.

On the basis of the field and laboratory results, the engineer(s) in charge of the
investigations are also to compare material properties with the Standard Specifications, to
indicate whether they are suitable or not for their intended use, and to provide input
relative to the Project Specifications.

B.2 Soils and Gravels

(1) Preparation of Disturbed Samples for Testing

The following methods are applicable:

• AASHTO T 87 Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples
• AASHTO T 248 Methods for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size

The methods for preparation of samples for compaction testing in accordance with
AASHTO T 180 are indicated in the test methods.

Samples for testing for CBR are to be handled and prepared as for the compaction tests,
except as modified per the indications in the CBR test method AASHTO T 193.

(2) Determination of the moisture content

The moisture content in the laboratory shall be determined in accordance with AASHTO
T 265 Method for Laboratory Determination of Moisture Content of Soils. (As
mentioned in Chapter 3, the moisture content may be determined in the field by
AASHTO T 217, Method for Determination of Moisture in Soils by Means of a Calcium
Carbide Gas Pressure Moisture Tester.)

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Laboratory Testing Site Investigation Manual - 2002

(3) Determination of the Atterberg Limits

These tests are to be carried out in accordance with:

• AASHTO T 89, T 90 Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and
Plasticity Index of Soils

(4) Determination of the linear shrinkage

This test shall be carried out in accordance with BS 1377, Test 5.

AASHTO T 92 may also be consulted.

(5) Determination of the specific gravity of soils and particles

The following test methods apply:

• AASHTO T 100 Specific Gravity of Soils
• AASHTO T 85 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
• AASHTO T 84 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate

(6) Determination of the particle size distribution

The particle size distribution shall be determined in accordance with one or the other of
the following methods as indicated in Chapters 3 and 4 of the manual:

• AASHTO T 27 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
• AASHTO T 88 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils

(7) Determination of the organic matter content

Refer to AASHTO T 267 Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter
of Peat and Other Organic Soils

(8) Determination of the pH value

Refer to AASHTO T 289 Standard Test Method for Determining pH of Soil for Use in
Corrosion Testing

(9) Determination of the density-moisture content relationship using a 4.5 kg

rammer

This test shall be carried out in accordance with AASHTO T 180 Test Method for
Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using 4.5 kg Rammer.

-Method A (101.6 mm mold) shall be used for materials passing a 4.75 mm sieve

(10) Determination of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

This test shall be carried out in accordance with AASHTO T 193.

Material in the specimens retained on the 19 mm sieve shall be replaced as provided by

the procedure (Section 5.1.1 therein).

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Site Investigation Manual - 2002 Laboratory Testing

(11) Determination of the Sand Equivalent

This test shall be carried out in accordance with AASHTO T176.

(12) Determination of the dry density on the site

The dry density in-situ may be determined in accordance with one of the following
methods:
• AASHTO T 191 Test Method for Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone Method
• AASHTO T 238 Test Method for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate In-Place by
Nuclear Method (Shallow Depth). This method needs proper calibration

B.3 Stones, Aggregates, Sands

(1) Determination of the particle size distribution

The particle size distribution shall be determined in accordance with:

• AASHTO T 27 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates

(2) Determination of the Flakiness Index

British Standard 812, Part 105

(3) Determination of the specific gravity and water absorption

• AASHTO T 85 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate

• AASHTO T 84 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate

(4) Determination of the moisture content

The moisture content in the laboratory shall be determined in accordance with AASHTO
T 255 Method for Total Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying.

(5) Determination of the Aggregate Crushing Value

British Standard 812, Part 110

(6) Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete

AASHTO T21 or ASTM C 40

(7) Resistance to abrasion of coarse aggregate by use of the Los Angeles machine

AASHTO T 96

(8) Soundness of Aggregates

AASHTO T 104

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Laboratory Testing Site Investigation Manual - 2002

(9) Determination of the Sand Equivalent

This test shall be carried out in accordance with AASHTO T176

(10) Average Least Dimension of an Aggregate

The Average Least Dimension (ALD) of a sample of aggregate shall be determined as

follows:

(a) Method

By means of a riffler, divide out a representative sample of such a size as to give at least
200 aggregate particles of each of the fractions to be tested.

Sieve the sample through a sieve with an aperture size half the nominal size of the
aggregate to be tested and discard the particles passing the sieve (see (c)).

By means of calipers with platens of at least 5 mm in diameter (or square) measure to

smallest dimension of each particle retained on that sieve, accurate to 0.1 mm, and record
the measurements and the number of particles tested.

(b) Calculations

Calculate the average least dimension to the nearest 0.01 mm as follows:

Average Least Dimension (mm) = A

B
where: A = sum of the smallest dimension of all the particles in mm
B = number of particles

Report the average least dimension to the first decimal place.

(c) Note

Nominal size can be considered as the smallest sieve through which at least 85 per cent
of the aggregate will pass.

B.4 Cement or Lime-Treated Materials

Road lime shall comply with AASHTO M 216.

BS 1924 Stabilized materials for civil engineering purposes.

Part 1 General requirements, sampling, sample preparation and tests on materials before
stabilization.

Part 2 Methods of test for cement-stabilized and lime-stabilized materials.

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Site Investigation Manual - 2002 Laboratory Testing

B.5 Bituminous Mixes and Surface Treatments

Reference material regarding mix design methods may be found in the Asphalt Institute
Manual Series No.2 (MS-2) Sixth Edition: Mix Design Methods for Asphalt Concrete
and Other Hot-Mix Types, which lists relevant ASTM and AASHTO test procedures.

For chippings and aggregates used in bituminous mixes and surface treatments, the
following tests apply:

• AASHTO T 182 for coating and stripping of bitumen-aggregate mixtures.

• AASHTO T 112 for clay lumps and friable particles in aggregate.
• BS 812 Part 105 for Flakiness Index.
• AASHTO T 104 for soundness value.
• AASHTO T 96 for Los Angeles Abrasion.
• AASHTO T 176 for sand equivalent value.

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