LAB MANUAL

Transportation Engineering

STUDENT NAME :__________________________

REGISTRATION # :__________________________

SECTION : __________________________

LAB INSTRUCTOR :_________________________

Prepared By: Engr. Nadeem Ahmed

SWEDISH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RAHIM YAR KHAN

 List Of Experiments Of TE Lab

CE-421L

SR.NO EXPERIMENTS Date Signature

Gradation, Flakiness Index & Elongation Index of

1
Aggregates

Angularity number of Crush aggregate

2

Specific Gravity & Water Absorption of Coarse

3
Aggregate

Los Angeles Abrasion Test on Coarse Aggregate

4

Skid Resistance Test

5

Penetration test on bituminous material

6

Ductility and Viscosity on Bitumen sample.

7

8 Flash Point of Bitumen sample

9 Specific Gravity and Softening Point of a Bitumen

Sample

10 Marshall Stability Test for Mix Design

Experiment No. 1
 FLAKINESS AND ELONGATION INDEX OF AGGREGATE

Objective

Particle shape and surface texture influence the properties of freshly mixed
concrete more than the properties of hardened concrete. Rough-textured,
angular, and elongated particles require more water to produce workable
concrete than smooth, rounded compact aggregate. Consequently, the
cement content must also be increased to maintain the water-cement ratio.
Generally, flat and elongated particles are avoided or limited to about 15 %
by weight of the total aggregate.

Theory

Flakiness Index: - The flakiness index is the percentage by weight of

particles whose least dimension (thickness) is less than three-fifths (0.6) of
their mean dimension.

Elongation Index: - The elongation index is the percentage by weight of

particles whose greatest dimension (length) is (1.8) times of their mean
dimension.

Apparatus

Thickness/Flakiness Index Gauge

Length/Elongation Index Gauge

Aggregate sample to be test

 Procedure:

1. A quantity of aggregate shall be taken sufficient to provide the minimum

number of 200 pieces of any fraction to be tested.

2. The sample shall be sieved with the set of sieves.

3. Separation of Flaky material- Each fraction shall be gauged in turn for

thickness on a metal gauge of the pattern shown in Fig.

4. The total amount passing the gauge shall be weighed to an accuracy of at

least 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample.

5. The Flakiness Index is the total weight of the material passing the various
thickness gauges or sieves to the total weight of the sample, expressed in
percentage.

6. Separation of Elongated Material- Each fraction shall be gauged individually

for length on a metal length gauge of the pattern shown in Fig.

7. The total amount retained by the length gauge shall be weighed to an

accuracy of at least 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample.

8. The elongation index is the total weight of the material retained on the
various length gauges to the total weight of the sample, expressed in
percentage.

Observation & calculations:

 Observation Sheet

Determination of flakiness and elongation index of Aggregates

(a) Total weight of sample W1 (gm)= …………..........

(b) Nominal Size of aggregates (mm) = ………………

Size of Aggregates
Correspondi Weight of Correspondin Weight of
ng Thickness aggregates g Length aggregates
gauge size passing gauge size Retained on
through length gauge
thickness
gauge
Passing Retained (mm) (mm)
through on IS Sampl Sampl Sampl Sample
IS sieves sieves eI e II eI II
(mm) (mm)
1 2 3 4 5 6

28 20 14.4 45.6

20 14 10.2 32.3

14 10 7.2 22.8

10 6.3 4.89 15.5

Total of (4) Total of (6)

W2 = W3 =
 Flakiness Elongation
W2 Index
Index = W 1
W3
x 100 = W 1 x 100

Result

Average flakiness index of tested aggregates =…………..%

Average Elongation index of tested aggregates =…………..%

PRECAUTIONS:

 While sieving, care must be taken that the particles that are chocked in the
sieve must not be forced down into the next sieve. Such particles should be
pushed back into the same sieve.

 While placing different fractions on the table, place them some distance
apart so that no two fractions may get mixed.

 Be careful while selecting the opening of the flakiness and elongation

gauges for any particular fraction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acfJIG9o8iw
 Experiment No. 2

Angularity Number Test of Aggregate

Related Theory

This test is also carried out for determining shape of the aggregates. Based upon
shape, the aggregates may be classified as Rounded, Angular, Flaky or Elongated.

The degree of packing of particles of single sized aggregates depends upon the
angularity of aggregates.

ANGULARITY

It is the absence of roundness. An aggregate particle, which is more rounded, is

less angular and vice versa.

ANGULARITY NUMBER

Angularity number of an aggregate is the amount by which the percentage of

voids in it after compacting in a prescribed manner exceeds 33.

Where, “33” is the percentage of volume of voids, in a perfectly rounded

aggregate. “67” is the percentage of volume of solids in a perfectly rounded
aggregate.

The value of angularity number generally lies between 0 & 11. In road
construction angularity number of 7 – 10 is generally preferred.
APPARATUS

 A metal cylinder of about 3-liter capacity.

 Temping rod of circular cross-section, 16mm Φ, 610 mm in length.
 A metal scoop.
 A weighing balance.

Procedure:
1. 10 Kg of the sample is taken for the test. The material should be oven
dried.
2. The test sample of the aggregate is sieved and specified size ranges
such as 16-20 mm, are used for the test.
3. The aggregate is compacted in three layers, each layer being given
100 blows using the standard tamping rod at a rate of 2 blows per
second by lifting the rod 5 cm above the surface of the aggregate and
then allowing it to fall freely.
4. After compacting the third layer, the cylinder is filled to overflowing
and excess material is removed off with temping rod as a straight
edge.
 5. The aggregate with cylinder is then weighed. Three separate
determinations are made and mean weight of the aggregate in the
cylinder is calculated.
6. Then use the following formula to find the Angularity number:
W .100
Angularity Number= 67 – ( w .Gs )
Where,
W=Aggregate weight filled in the cylinder.
w=Weight of the water filled in the cylinder.
G= Sp. gr. of aggregate.

Observations & Calculations

Specific Gravity of aggregates = ………………..

Empty cylinder weight (W1) = …………………….

Sample 1 2 3

Weight of Cylinder + Aggregates (W2)

Weight of Cylinder + Water (W3)

Weight of Aggregates = (W2 - W1 )

Weight of water (W3 - W1)

W .100
Angularity Number =67 – ( w .Gs )
Result

The average angularity value of tested sample of aggregates is ………………

 Experiment No. 3

SPECIFIC GRAVITY & WATER ABSORPTION TEST ON COARSE

AGGREGATES

Related Theory

Specific gravity;

Specific Gravity is defined as the ratio of weight of solid to the weight of an equal
volume of gas free distilled water (no dissolved air/impurities) at a stated
temperature.

Water Absorption;

It is the ratio of weight of water absorbed to the weight of dry sample expressed
as a percentage. It will not include the amount of water adhering to the surface of
the particles.

Coarse Aggregates

Any material which is retained on BS sieve #4 (ASTM sieve 4.75mm) is known as

coarse aggregate.

Specific gravity test of aggregates is done to measure the strength or quality of

the material while water absorption test determines the water holding capacity of
the aggregates.

Aggregates having low specific gravity are generally weaker than those with
higher specific gravity values.

Objectives

 To measure the strength or quality of the material.

 To determine water absorption of aggregates.
Apparatus

 Wire basket not more than 6.3 mm mesh

 Oven maintain temperature 100 to 110 o C.
 Container for filling water and suspending the basket
 An air tight container
 Balance
 Shallow tray & absorbent clothes.

Procedure

1. About 2kg of the aggregate sample is washed thoroughly to remove fines,

drained and then placed in the wire basket and immersed in distilled water at
a temperature between 22 to 320C with a cover of at least 50 mm of water
above the top of the basket.
2. Immediately after the immersion the entrapped air is removed from the
sample by lifting the basket containing it 25 mm above the base of the tank
and allowing it to drop 25 times at the rate of about one drop per second. The
basket and the aggregate should remain completely immersed in water for a
period of 24±0.5 hours afterwards.

3. The basket and the sample are then weighed while suspended in water at a
temperature of 22 to 320C. The weight is noted while suspended in water (W1)
g.

4. The basket and the aggregate are then removed from water and allowed to
drain for a few minutes, after which the aggregates are transferred to one of
the dry absorbent clothes.

5. The empty basket is then returned to the tank of water and shakes 25 times
and weights in water (W2) g.

6. The aggregates placed in the dry absorbent clothes are surface dried till no
further moisture could be removed by this clothe.

7. Then the aggregate is transferred to the second dry cloth spread in a single
layer, covered and allowed to dry for at least 10 minutes until the aggregates
are completely surface dry. 10 to 60 minutes drying may be needed. The
surface dried aggregate is then weighed W3 g.

8. The aggregate is placed in a shallow tray and kept in an oven maintained at

a temperature of 1100C for 24 hours. It is then removed from the oven,
cooled in air tight container and weighed W4 g. 
 Calculations

Weight of sample = 2 kg

Description Sample No.

Weight of sample + Container + Water (A)g

Weight of Container + Water (B)g

Weight of saturated and surface dry sample (C)g

Weight of oven dry aggregates (D)g

D
Specific gravity = C−( A−B)

D
Apparent specific gravity = D−( A−B)

C−D
Water Absorption = D
x 100
Results

The average specific gravity of the sample is ………………………..

The average apparent specific gravity of the sample is …………………………

The average water absorption of the sample is ……………………………..

 Experiment No. 4

Los Angeles Abrasion Test on Coarse Aggregate

Related Theory
Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates. The
principle of Los Angeles
abrasion test is to find the percentage wear due to relative rubbing action
between the aggregate and
steel balls used as abrasive charge.

Objective

The object of this test to determine the aggregate abrasion value.

Apparatus

 Balance
 Set of Sieves (as per gradation of aggregate) and 1.7 mm
 Los Angeles Testing Machine
Inside Length = 50 cm and Inside Diameter = 70 cm
 Abrasive Charges
Diameter = 48 mm and Weight = 390 to 445 g
Procedure
Gradation Of Aggregate
Gradation of the Aggregate should be carried out so as to assess the Grade of the Aggregate (A to G).

Weight
in gm. of
Sieve Test
Size Sample A B C D E F G
for
Grade
Retaine
Passing
d
(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 1: Gradation of Aggregate

1. Dry the material in an oven maintaining the temperature 105 0c – 110 0c for
a period of four hours.
2. Take the material out from oven and allow it to cool as a room
temperature.
3. Measure the exact quantity of the material as per the grading specified and
note down the exact weight of the material.
4. Corresponding to the selected grading take the abrasion charge.

Grading No. of steel balls

A 12
B 11
C 8
D 6
E 2
F 12
G 12
5. Place the aggregate sample along the abrasive charge into the cylinder,
before placing material make sure the cylinder is clean from inside and fix
the cover firmly in position.
6. Check that the counter reading is zero.
7. Now, switch on the machine and allow it to revolve at the speed of 30 to 33
revolutions per minute.
8. Give 500 revolutions for grading A, B, C or D and 1000 revolutions for
grading E,F or G.
9. After the test is complete open the steel cover and remove the crushed
material within the cylinder in a tray.
10.Sieve the removed material through 1.7 mm sieve, and record the weight
of passing material as (w2 g) through sieve 1.7 mm.
11.Now, determine the Los Angeles abrasion value by using formula,
wt . of friction passing1.7 mm sieve
Los Angeles abrasion value = wt . of total material

12.Repeat the test and take the mean of two samples as Los Angeles abrasion
value.
Observations and Calculations

Grading selected Sample 1 Sample 2

Original wt. of the sample (w1)g =
5000 5000

Wt. of aggregates passing through

1.7 mm sieve (w2)g =

w2
% wear = x100
w1
 Experiment No. 5

Measuring surface fractional properties by using

Skid Resistance Test

Related theory:

The portable skid resistance tester acts like a pendulum swings from side to side
during skid resistance test. The test is usually conducted on a routine basis to
assess the resistance of wet and dry surfaces to slipping and skidding, both in the
lab and on site.

Skidding: In skidding phenomena the distance travelled by wheel on the road is

more than the circumferential movement. When breaks are applied, wheels get
looked and still if the vehicle moves ahead, longitudinal skidding is said to occur.

Slipping: In slipping the distance travelled by wheel on the road is less than the
circumferential movement. When breaks are applied, if the wheels of vehicle are
rotating but the vehicle is not moving forward, then slipping is said to occur.

Objective:

To check the resistance of road surfaces to skidding under different conditions .

Apparatus:

 Portable skid resistance tester.

 This ruler / Measuring scale
 Surface thermometer
 Brush
 Procedure:

1. Leveling: apparatus is leveled using 3 leveling screws until the bubble is

centered in the spirit level.

2. Zero adjustment – raise the pendulum mechanism by loosening locking

knob, till it swings free of test surface. Tighten the knob. Place pendulum in
release position and drag pointer in horizontal position. Execute a free swing
and note the pointer reading to zero.

3. Slide length adjustment –Mark the sliding length, is the distance between

the two points where the sliding edge of the rubber touches the test surface.,
which is 63 mm on both sides from the center of the pendulum for checking
the skid resistance of the roads and 37.5 mm on both sides from the center of
the pendulum for checking on tiles.
4. Apply sufficient water to cover the test area thoroughly. Also wet the
rubber of the pendulum.

5. Place the pendulum arm in released position, and release it by pressing the
button, catch it on the return swing before the slider strikes the road surface.

6. Repeat swings, spreading the water over the contact area with the hand or
the brush between each swing.

7. Record mean of five successive readings, provided they don’t differ more
than three units.

Suggested minimum values of skid resistance measured with the portable skid resistance tester
Type of site Minimum Skid resistance on wet Risk level
surface

1. Roundabouts 65

2. Bends with 65
radius less than
150 mm

3. Gradient 1 in 20
or steeper of 65
length greater Low risk of slip
than 100 mm

4. Motorways, truck
and class one
roads carrying 55
more than 2000
vehicles/day

36 + Low risk of slip

5. For public place / 25 – 35 Moderates risk of slip
malls – tiles 0 - 24 High risk of slip
Observation and calculations:

Trail 1 2 3 4 5

Distance

Average skid resistance =

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69z_el7_7rE
 PENETRATION TEST ON BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

RELATED THEORY

PENETRATION

Consistency of a bituminous material expressed as the distance in tenths of a

millimeter that a standard needle vertically penetrates a sample of the material
under known conditions of loading, time, and temperature.

SOURCES OF BITUMEN

Bitumen is generally obtained from the following three sources;

1. Naturally occurring (in West Indies)

2. Extracted from Limestone and Sandstone (procedure adopted in USA).
3. From Oil Refineries (this is the major source of bitumen in Pakistan).

SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE

1.  The penetration test is used as a measure of consistency. Higher values of

penetration indicate softer consistency.
2. The test is widely used all over the world for classifying bituminous
materials into different grades.
3. Depending upon the climatic conditions and type of construction, bitumen
of different penetration grade are used. Commonly used grades are 30/40,
60/70 and 80/100.
4. In warmer regions, lower penetration grades are preferred and in colder
regions bitumen with higher penetration values are used.
5. The test is not intended to estimate consistency of softer materials like cut
back which are usually graded by viscosity test.
Equipment for Penetration test

 Penetrometer:- consisting of a needle assembly with a total weight of 100

grams and a device for releasing and locking needle in any position.
 Sample Container: - A metal or glass cylindrical, flat-bottom container of
the following dimensions shall be used.

Penetration Diameter Internal Depth

<200 55 35
Between 200 & 350 55 70

Standard Penetrometer

 Water Bath: - A bath having a capacity of at least 10 Liter and capable of

maintaining a temperature of 25 ± 0.1 °C.

 Timing Device: - For hand operated Penetrometers any convenient timing

device such as an electric timer, a stop watch.
 PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN

Heat the sample with care, until it has become sufficiently fluid to pour. In no case
should the temperature be raised to more than 90 °C. Do not heat samples for
more than 30 minutes. Avoid incorporating bubbles into the sample.

Pour the sample into the sample container,

Loosely cover each container as a protection against and allow cooling in air at a
temperature between 15° and 30 °C for 1 to 1.5 hours for the small container
and 1.5 to 2 hours for the taller.

TEST CONDITIONS

Where the conditions of test are not specifically mentioned, the temperature,
load, and time are understood to be 25 °C, 100 gram, and 5 seconds, respectively.
Other conditions may be used for special testing, such as the following:

Procedure

1. Now the sample containers are placed in a temperature-controlled water

bath at a temperature of 25 c for one hour.

2. Then at the end of one hour, the sample is taken out of water bath and the
needle is brought in contact with the surface of bitumen sample at that time
reading of dial is set at zero or the reading of dial noted, when the needle is in
contact with the surface of the sample.
3. After that, the needle is released and the needle is allowed to penetrate
for 5 seconds and the final reading is recorded. On that sample at least three
penetration observations should be taken at distances at least 10 mm apart.
After each test, the needle should be, wiped with benzene, and dried. The
amount of penetration is recorded.

4. The mean value of the three measurements is reported is the penetration

test.

5. The accuracy of the test depends upon pouring temperature, size of the
needle, the weight placed on the needle, and test temperature.

6. The grade of bitumen is specified in terms of penetration value. For

example, 30/40 grade bitumen indicates the penetration value of the bitumen
in the range of 30 to 40 at standard test conditions.

Observation and calculations

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

Penetrometer dial
reading
200 260 331
a) Initial
260 331 405
b) final

Penetration value 60 71 74

Results: The mean penetration value of test sample is 68.

 Ductility Test on Bitumen sample.

Related theory:

Ductility:-
Ductility of a material is a property of material by virtue of it can be pulled without breaking
apart. The ductility of a bituminous material is defined as the distance in centimeters, to which it will
elongate before breaking when two ends of a briquet specimen of the material, are pulled apart at a
specified speed and a specified temperature. the test shall be made at a temperature of 25 ± 0.5 °C and
with a speed of 5 cm/min ± 5.0 %.

SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE

1. This test method provides measure of tensile properties of bituminous materials and may
be used to measure ductility for specification requirements.
2. Bituminous materials used in pavement construction should possess sufficient ductility
otherwise the pavement would crack due to temperature or traffic stresses and may render the
pavement pervious and damage the pavement structure.
3. The ductility value varies from 5 to over 100 cm’s.
4. Several agencies have specified minimum ductility values for various types of bitumen
pavements. However a ductility of 100 cm’s is specified generally for bituminous
construction.
5. Roads expand at daytime while they contract at night. So, if the bitumen is not adequately
ductile cracking will occur.

APPARATUS

 Mold: the mold is made of brass

 Water Bath: he water bath shall be maintained at the specified test temperature, varying
not more than 0.1 °C from this temperature. The volume of water shall be not less
than 10 liters, and the specimen shall be immersed to a depth of not less than 10 cm and
shall be supported on a perforated shelf not less than 5 cm from the bottom of the bath.

 Testing Machine — For pulling the briquet of bituminous material apart, any apparatus
may be used which is so constructed that the specimen will continuously immersed in
water, while the two clips are pulled apart at a uniform speed, as specified, without undue
vibration.

 Thermometer — A thermometer having a range -8 to 32 °C (18 – 89 °F).

Sample preparation:

 To prepare the sample heat the bitumen to a temperature of 75 to 100 0c above the
approximate softening point.
 Prepare a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and dextrin and mix it
 Apply the mixture to the surface of the plate and interior of the sides of the mould to
prevent the sticking of bitumen to the surface of the mould.
 Now pour the heated bitumen in to the mould, and fill all the moulds.
 Allow it to cool in air for 30 to 40 minutes then keep the assembly along with the sample
in water bath maintain a temperature about 27 oC for a period of half an hour.

Testing the sample

1. Remove the sides of the mould and secure the assembly in the machine.
2. Check that the point is at zero or note the initial reading.
3. Now switch on the machine and put it to appropriate gear such that it runs at
a speed of 50 mm / minute while on end is fixed and other end is pull apart.
4. Observe the sample and note the distance at which the specimen is braked.
5. Note down the value for all the three samples.
6. The mean of the three reading observed to the nearest whole number is the
ductility value of the bitumen.
Observations and calculations

Bitumen Grade = S-65

Test temperature = 27 oC
Periods of cooling in minutes
a) In air = 30 minutes
b) In water bath before trimming=
c) In water Bath after trimming =

Briquette No.
a) Initial reading 1 2 3
b) Final Reading 0 0 0
76.8 75.8 76.6
Ductility = (b - a) cm 76.8 75.8 76.6

Results: The ductility value of tested bitumen is ……………..