TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

Institute of Engineering
KHWOPA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Libali-2, Bhaktapur

LAB REPORT
ON
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
Report No: 03

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

MANJESH MISHRA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
074BCE038 KHWOPA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 2077/10/30

 DETERMINATION OF LOS ANGELES ABRASION
VALUE
OBJECTIVE:
• To obtain the Los Angeles number in the form of percentage wear of aggregates which reflects
their resistance to degradation using the Los Angeles testing machine.
• To ascertain the degradation of aggregates by abrasion and impact.
• To determine the percentage of aggregates use in bituminous road surfacing.
• To measure the hardness of aggregates that are recommended for use in highway projects.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
The apparatus as per IS: 2386 (Part IV) – 1963 consists of:
1. Los Angeles Machine: It consists of a hollow steel cylinder, closed at both ends. With an
internal diameter of 700mm and length 5oo mm and capable of rotating about its horizontal
axis. A removable cover for introducing sample is provided which when clamp is dust tight.
A removable steel shaft projecting radially 88mm into cylinder and extending full length
(i.e., 500mm) is mounted firmly on the interior of the cylinder. The shelf is placed at a
distance 1250mm minimum from the opening in the direction of rotation.
2. Abrasive charge: Cast iron or steel balls, approximately 48mm in diameter and each
weighing between 390 to 445 g; six to twelve balls are required.
3. Sieve: 1.70, 2.36, 4.75, 6.3, 10, 12.5, 20, 25, 40, 50, 63, 80 mm IS Sieves.
4. Balance of capacity 5 kg or 10 kg
5. Miscellaneous like tray

THEORY
The Los Angeles test has been widely used as an indicator of the relative quality or competence
of various sources of aggregates having similar mineral compositions. Specifications limit based
on this test should be assigned with extreme care taking into consideration the aggregate type
and their performance history in specific end uses. D>F Orchard suggest the following
specifications using the LA value :
a) The LA value should be equal to or less than 40% if aggregate is to be used in concrete. For
concrete wearing course lower values should be specified.
 b) The LA value should be equal to or less than 45% for road base materials in lightly trafficked
road.
The JKR Specification gives the following limits :
a) Aggregate for use in concrete – maximum 50%
b) Aggregate for used in bituminous road surfacing – maximum is 40%
• The test is an important tool to measure the hardness of aggregates that are recommend for use
in highway projects. The test also will determine the quality of the aggregate. The soft
aggregates will be quickly ground to dust, whilst the hard aggregates are quite resistant to
crushing effect.
The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to produce abrasive action by use of standard steel
balls which when mixed with aggregates and rotated in a drum for specific number of revolutions
also causes impact on aggregates. The percentage wear of the aggregates due to rubbing with steel
balls is determined and is known as Los Angeles Abrasion Value.

Fig: Los Angeles Machine

Table 1: Grading of Test Samples – *Tolerance of ± 2 percent
permitted.

Sieve size (square Weight in g of test sample for grade

holes)

Passing Retained A B C D E F G
mm on mm
80 63 2500•
63 50 2500•
50 40 5000• 5000•
40 25 1250 5000• 5000•
25 20 1250 5000•
20 12.5 1250 2500
12.5 10 1250 2500
10 6.3 2500
6.3 4.75 2500
4.75 2.36 5000
Table 2: Selection of Abrasive Charge
Grading No. of steel balls Weight of charge. gm
A 12 5000±25
B 11 4584±25
C 8 3330±20
D 6 2500±15
E 12 5000±25
F 12 5000±25
G 12 5000±25
 Recommended Los Angeles Test Values for Pavements
Los Angeles test is commonly used to evaluate the hardness of aggregates. The test has more
acceptability because the resistance to abrasion and impact is determined simultaneously.

Depending upon the value, the suitability of aggregates for different road constructions can be
judged as per IRC specifications as given:

Table 3: Maximum abrasion value for different pavement layer

S.N. Type of pavement layer Maximum permeable
abrasion value in %

1. Water bound macadam, sub bound course 60

2. WBM base course with bituminous surfacing 50

3. Bituminous Bound Macadam 50
4. WBM surface course 40
5. Bituminous penetration Macadam 40
6. Bituminous surface dressing, cement concrete 35
surface course
7. Bituminous concrete surface course 30

PROCEDURE:
1. The grading is selected which is to be used in the test such that it confirmed to the grading to
be used in construction, to the maximum extent possible.
2. 5 kg of sample for grading A was taken according to table 1.
3. The abrasive charges required were taken as per Table 2 i.e., 12 no’s grading of aggregates A.
4. The aggregates and abrasive charges were placed on the cylinder and fix the cover.
5. The machine was rotated at a speed of 30 to 33 revolutions per minute. The number of
revolutions noted was 500 for grading A. The machine was balanced and driven such that there
was uniform peripheral speed.
6. The machine was stopped after the desired number of revolutions and material was discharged
to a tray.
7. The entire stone dust was sieved on 1.70 mm IS sieve.
8. The material coarser than 1.7mm size was weighed.
9. Percentage loss of the material was calculated.
10. The resultant value was reported as Los Angeles Abrasion Value.

OBSERVATION:
Grade of sample: B
No. of steel balls required = 11

Observed Sample

Original weight of the sample(W1) 5 kg

Weight of aggregates retained on 1.70 mm IS sieve(W2) 3.94kg

Loss of weight (WL)= (W1-W2) 1.06 kg

Percentage wear = (W1− W2) /W1 ∗ 100% 21.2%

RESULT:
Los Angeles Abrasion Value for the given sample was found to be 21.2%.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION:

As the abrasion value is smaller than 30,So the value that was obtained ok. The aggregate is
suitable for all mixture. According to the specifications if Los Angeles Abrasion Value (LAAV)
is equal to or less than 45% then this aggregate is suitable for all mixture for raod base materials
in lightly trafficked road. It can be used for bituminous bound Macadam pavement, sub bound
course WBM base course with bituminous surfacing and Water bound macadam, WBM surface
course , Bituminous penetration Macadam, Bituminous surface dressing, cement concrete surface
course, Bituminous concrete surface course as per Table 3.

PRECAUTIONS
1. The lid of the testing machine should be properly closed.
2. All the samples from the testing machine should be collected after use.
3. Apparatus should be handled with care.
4. Grading should be chosen appropriately and necessary criteria is to be fulfilled.