2.

Aggregates
CE30201: Pavement Engineering

IIT Kharagpur, Autumn 2022

 Aggregates
• Aggregates – crushed
rock, or by-products
such as steel slag
• In most hot mix
asphalt mixes (HMA),
aggregates are 92
95% by weight
• 75 to 85% by weight
in PQC.
• Almost 100% in
GSB/GB
Aggregates
Learning objective
• What are different properties of aggregates?
• How these properties influence the pavement
performance?
Aggregate Properties

• Physical Properties
▪ Gradation/Particle Size
Distribution
▪ Specific gravity and absorption
▪ Geometrical properties
▪ Durability and Soundness
• Chemical properties
• Mechanical properties
Physical properties
Gradation/Particle Size Distribution

100
Well graded (BC)
Percentage passing (%)

80 Gap graded (SMA)

Open graded (OGFC)
60 Uniform graded
0.45 power gradation
40

20

0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Aggregate diameter (mm)
Physical properties
Gradation/Particle Size Distribution

• Dense or Well Gradation: Closely packed, lesser

voids, more particle contacts
• Gap Gradation: Contains only a small percentage
of aggregate particles in the mid-size range, more
voids, less workability, segregation
• Open Gradation: Contains only small portion of
aggregate particles in the small ranges (near vertical
in the mid-range and flat near small range)
• Uniform Gradation: Most of the particles in a
narrow range
Physical properties
Gradation/Particle Size Distribution

Fuller and Thompson observed that the bulk

aggregates have maximum density (i.e., densest
packing of particles) when;
0.5 where P is the percentage of
𝑑 aggregates passing the sieve size
𝑃 = 100 d, D is the maximum aggregate size
𝐷
in the gradation.

FHWA has recommended exponent of 0.45.

Physical properties
Gradation

• Aggregate gradation/blends – designated based

on Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS)
(Eg: 19mm BC)
• NMAS
▪ MoRTH - Largest sieve size on which any aggregate is
retained
▪ Superpave - One sieve size larger than the first sieve to
retain more than 10% by weight
Physical properties
Specific gravity
• Specific gravity of aggregates is used in calculations
of voids in a bituminous mixture and calculations of
weight/volume.
• Tests are based on the Archimedes principle
• The ratio of the mass of aggregate to the volume the
aggregate occupies (g/cm3, Mg/m3 or kg/m3)
• Aggregates have internally enclosed or surface
micro- or macropores
• Consequently, different measurements of specific
gravity
Physical properties
Specific gravity

Aggregate particle Schematic presentation

Physical properties
Specific gravity
• Apparent specific gravity: ratio of the weight of dry
aggregate to the weight of water having a volume equal to the
solid volume of the aggregate, excluding its permeable pores.

• Bulk-specific gravity: ratio of the weight of dry aggregate to

the weight of water having a volume equal to the volume of the
aggregate, including both its permeable and impermeable pores.
Physical properties
Coarse aggregate Specific gravity and water
absorption
Physical properties
Geometry
• Geometrical properties – shape, angularity and
surface texture
Physical properties
Geometry
Physical properties
Geometry
• Shape and angularity – influence by crushing
technique
• Texture – aggregate mineralogy
• These properties influence pavement surface
characteristics – micro-texture and macro-texture
• Aggregate angularity and texture positive effect om
the strength and stability of HMAs
Physical properties
Geometry – Coarse aggregate angularity
• CAA – expressed as % of
aggregates with specified
number fractured faces (larger
than 4.75 mm)
• Specified as minimum value
• Ensures a high degree of
aggregate internal friction for
rutting resistance
• Eg: Superpave requirement of
85/80 indicates that 85 percent
of the sample has one or more
fractured faces and 80 percent
has two or more fractured
faces.
Physical properties
Geometry – Fine aggregate angularity

• FAA - the percent of air voids present in loosely

compacted aggregates (smaller than 2.36 mm)
• This property is influenced by particle shape,
surface texture and grading
• High voids associated with more angular and
rough-surfaced fine aggregates
• Minimum requirement is usually specified
• Superpave specifies FAA requirement as a function
of traffic level and position within the pavement
Physical properties
Geometry – Fine aggregate angularity
Physical properties
Geometry – Flat and elongated particles

• F&E is the percentage by mass or by particle

count of coarse aggregates (greater than 4.75
mm) that have a maximum-to-minimum dimension
ratio greater than certain ration ( typically 5:1).
• Flat and elongated particles are undesirable
because they have a tendency to break during
construction and under traffic and they tend to
reduce VMA.
• Maximum values are specified
Physical properties
Geometry – Flat and elongated particles
 Physical properties
Geometry – Flakiness and Elongation test

• Flakiness Index - % by wt
of coarse aggregates
(greater than 6.3mm)
whose least dimension is
less than 0.6 times the
average size of the
aggregate fraction
• Elongation Index - % by
wt. of agg. having max
dimension greater 1.8
times the average
dimension.
 Physical properties
Durability and Soundness

• Durability and soundness - resistance to natural variation in

temperature and moisture
• Presence of clay affect the bond between the aggregates
and bitumen in HMAs. Weakens the bond between
aggregates and paste in PQC
• The sand-equivalent test (ASTM D 2419) is used to
determine the relative proportions of clay and dust in fine
aggregates.
 Physical properties
Durability and Soundness - sand-equivalent test

• Sample of fine aggregate placed in

a graduated cylinder with a
flocculating solution and agitated to
loosen clayey fines
• Flocculating solution forces the
clayey material into suspension
above the granular aggregate
• Heights are measured after
sedimentation
• Sand Equivalent Value = (Sand
Height/Clay Height) * 100
 Physical properties
Durability and Soundness - soundness test

• The freezing and thawing process is phenomenon that

could cause fracture of aggregates due to the buildup
of internal stresses as a result of the increase of water
volume inside the aggregate.
• The sulfate soundness test is used to measure the
aggregate resistance to freezing and thawing.
• Measures the percent loss of material from an
aggregate blend
Physical properties
Durability and Soundness - soundness test
 Chemical Properties
• The chemical properties influence adhesion to bitumen
• Poor adhesion leads to stripping and raveling.
• There are several theories that explain the bitumen-
aggregate adhesion mechanism (Aggregate surface
energy).
• Aggregates susceptible to adhesion loss in the
presence of water are typically called hydrophilic or
acidic.
• Aggregates that have good adhesion with bitumen and
exhibit good resistance to moisture damage are called
hydrophobic (exhibiting water aversion) or basic.
 Mechanical Properties

• Aggregates are subjected to impact and abrasion

loads during HMA production and paving, and during
in-service due to traffic loads
• Aggregates are expected have resistance to
degradation due to these loads.
• Weaker aggregates result in change in the gradation
• Aggregate minerology plays a role.
• Ideally strength or stiffness are more relevant. But,
tests are impractical.
 Mechanical Properties
Toughness and Abrasion Resistance

• Aggregates should be resistant to the abrasion and

polishing during the production, construction and in-
service forces
• Poor abrasion resistance may cause premature structural
failure and loss of skid resistance
• Los Angeles Abrasion Test is most widely used test
Mechanical Properties
Toughness and Abrasion Resistance
Mechanical Properties
Aggregate Impact
Mechanical Properties
Polished Stone Value
• Resistance to Polishing
• Important for aggregates in surface courses
• Aggregates embedded in a curved mould in
cement sand mortar and subjected to
accelerated polishing by a rotating Pneumatic
wheel
Mechanical Properties
Polished Stone Value
Mechanical Properties
Polished Stone Value
Example Specifications
MoRTH Bituminous Concrete – Coarse Aggregates
Example Specifications
Superpave mix design (AASHTO R 35) – Aggregates