Laboratory Exercise No.

7
LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST OF COARSE AGGREGATES

INTRODUCTION

Aggregates are raw materials in asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete
mixes used in the construction of roads and highways. Thus, aggregates are
subjected to crushing and abrasive wear during the manufacture, placing and
compaction of these paving mixes. They are also subjected to abrasion under traffic
loads. Resistance to abrasion is necessary to maintain surface texture of aggregates.
But unfortunately, the tougher an aggregate is, the more likely it is to polish under the
action of vehicle tires.
The Los Angeles abrasion test is used to evaluate the resistance of aggregates to
crushing and abrasive wear by means of the LA abrasion machine (Figure 7.1) in
which sample of aggregates is loaded together with steel balls into a steel drum
revolving on a horizontal axis. Although there is no really satisfactory test for
measuring aggregates' resistance to abrasion, Los Angeles test is one of the most
commonly applied. Aggregates resistance against abrasion is expressed as Los
Angeles Abrasion Value (LAV), which is the percentage of fines passing the 1.7 mm
sieve after a specified number of revolutions of the drum at specified speed. This test
is performed according to ASTM C131 – 06, Standard Test Method for Resistance to
Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los
Angeles Machine.

APPARATUS
1. Los Angeles abrasion machine
2. Sieves
3. Beam balance
4. Charge – the charge shall consist of steel balls with average diameter of
approximately 46.8 mm and each weighing between 390 and 445 grams.
The charge depends on the grading of the test sample and shall be as
indicated in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1 Grading and Mass of Charge

Grading Number of Steel Balls Mass of Charge, g

A 12 5000  25
B 11 4584  25
C 8 3330  20
D 6 2500  15
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
The test aggregates shall be washed and oven-dried at 110  5 °C to constant mass
and sieved into individual size fractions, and then recombined to the grading as
shown in Table 7.2.

Table 7.2 Grading and Mass of Charge

Sieve Sizes, mm Mass of Indicated Sizes, g

Grading
Passing Retained on
A B C D
37.5 25.0 1250  25
25.0 19.0 1250  25
19.0 12.5 1250  25 2500  10
12.5 9.5 1250  25 2500  10
9.5 6.3 2500  10
6.3 4.75 2500  10
4.75 2.36 5000  10
Total 5000  10 5000  10 5000  10 5000  10

PROCEDURE
1. Wash the coarse aggregate test sample and oven-dry at 110  5 °C to constant
mass.
2. Separate the aggregates into individual size fractions using standard sieves, and
recombine to the grading according to Table 7.2. Record the mass to the nearest
1 g.
3. Place the test sample and the charge in the Los Angeles testing machine.
4. Rotate the machine at a speed of 30 to 33 rpm for 500 revolutions.
5. Discharge the material from the L.A. abrasion machine and separate the sample
on a No. 12 (1.70 mm) sieve.
6. Weigh the material coarser than the No. 12 sieve and record this as the final
weight.

CALCULATION
1. Calculate the LA abrasion value
M1 M 2
LAV =  100 
M 2

2
 where:

LAV = Los Angeles abrasion value, %

M1 = original mass of aggregates, g
M2 = mass retained on sieve No. 12 after abrasion, g

Note: Local requirements are LAV  35% for wearing course, LAV  40% for
binder course, and LAV  45% for road base.

Figure 7.1 Los Angeles Abrasion Machine

3
FINAL DATA SHEET

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4
Grading
Number of Balls
Original Mass of Sample, g
Mass retained on No. 12 sieve, g
Los Angeles Abrasion Value, %
Average LAV, %

4
 Name: Date Performed:

Course/Year: Instructor:

Laboratory Exercise No. 7

LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST OF COARSE AGGREGATES

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Trial Numbers
Descriptions 1 2 3 4
Grading
Number of Balls
Original Mass of Sample, g
Mass retained on No. 12 sieve, g
Los Angeles Abrasion Value, %
Average LAV, %

GROUP No. _________

Group Leader: __________________

Group Members: Signature:
1. _____________________ ____________
2. _____________________ ____________
3. _____________________ ____________
4. _____________________ ____________
5. _____________________ ____________

Approved by:
_____________________
(Instructor)