Standard Practice for

Sampling Aggregate Products

AASHTO Designation: R 90-18 (2022)1

Reclassified: 2018 Reviewed but Not Updated: 2022

Technical Subcommittee: 1c, Aggregates

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

555 12th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20004

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 Standard Practice for

Sampling Aggregate Products

AASHTO Designation: R 90-18 (2022) 1
Reclassified: 2018 Reviewed but Not Updated: 2022

Technical Subcommittee: 1c, Aggregates

1. SCOPE
1.1. This practice covers the procedures for obtaining representative samples of coarse, fine, or
combinations of coarse and fine aggregate (CA and FA) products to determine compliance with
requirements of the specifications under which the aggregate is furnished. The method includes
sampling from conveyor belts, transport units, roadways, and stockpiles.

1.2. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use.
It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. REFERENCED STANDARDS
2.1. AASHTO Standards:
 M 323, Superpave Volumetric Mix Design
 T 11, Materials Finer Than 75-μm (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing
 T 27, Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates

2.2. ASTM Standard:

 D75/D75M, Standard Practice for Sampling Aggregates

3. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

3.1. Sampling is a critical step in determining the quality of the material being evaluated. Care shall be
exercised to ensure that samples are representative of the material being evaluated.

3.2. This practice is intended to provide standard requirements and procedures for sampling coarse,
fine and combinations of coarse and fine aggregate products. The detailed requirements as to
materials, interpretation of results, and precision and bias are described in specific test methods.

3.3. For sampling of potential aggregate sources and preliminary site investigation, refer to ASTM
D75/D75M.

4. APPARATUS
4.1. Shovels or Scoops, or Both—Tools with which to gather the sample.

4.2. Brooms, Brushes, and Scraping Tools—Tools to assist in collecting the sample.

TS-1c R 90-1 AASHTO

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 4.3. Sampling Tube—Plastic, aluminum, or similar tube whose diameter is at least three times the
nominal maximum aggregate size; the end of the tube may be angled to assist in sampling.

4.4. Mechanical Sampling Systems—Normally, a permanently attached device that allows a sample
container to pass perpendicularly through the entire stream of material or diverts the entire stream
of material into the container by manual, hydraulic, or pneumatic operation.

4.5. Belt Template—A pair of templates, either joined to each other or separate, which are the shape
and width of the aggregate stream belt. If the two templates are joined, enough space must be
allowed between the templates to yield an increment of the required weight.

4.6. Sampling Containers—Bags or other containers so constructed as to preclude loss or

contamination of any part of the sample, or damage to the contents from mishandling during
shipment. For moisture content samples, containers must prevent moisture loss.

5. PROCEDURE
5.1. Sampling is as important as testing. The technician shall use every precaution to obtain samples
that are representative of the material. Record the sampling time or location, or both. When
samples will be used as part of a statistical quality control or acceptance program, determine the
time or location for sampling using a random sampling procedure.

5.1.1. Ensure sampling equipment and containers are clean and dry before sampling.

5.2. The field samples should meet or exceed the minimum mass in Table 1. The amounts specified in
Table 1 will generally provide adequate material for routine grading and quality analysis (Note 1).
Note 1—Sample size is based upon the test(s) required. Generally, the field sample size should be
such that, when split twice, it will provide a testing sample of proper size. For example, the sample
size may be four times that shown in T 27, or in T 11 if that mass is more appropriate.

Table 1—Recommended Sample Sizes

Nominal Maximum Size Minimum Mass
mm (in.) kg (lb)
90 (31/2) 175 (385)
75 (3) 150 (330)
63 (21/2) 125 (275)
50 (2) 100 (220)
37.5 (11/2) 75 (165)
25.0 (1) 50 (110)
19.0 (3/4) 25 (55)
12.5 (1/2) 15 (35)
9.5 (3/8) 10 (25)
4.75 (No. 4) 10 (25)
2.36 (No. 8) 10 (25)

Note 2—Nominal maximum size may be defined by aggregate type or usage; for example, as
defined by M 323.

5.3. Sampling from Conveyor Belt Using a Sampling Template—Avoid sampling at the beginning or
end of the aggregate run due to the potential for segregation. Be careful when sampling in the rain.
Make sure to capture material that may stick to the belt or that the rain tends to wash away.

5.3.1. Stop the belt.

TS-1c R 90-2 AASHTO

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 5.3.2. Set the sampling template in place on the belt avoiding intrusion by adjacent material.

5.3.3. Remove the material from inside the template; include all of the material adhering to the belt.

5.3.4. Obtain equal increments when one increment is insufficient for the required testing.

5.3.5. Combine the increments to form a single sample.

5.4. Sampling from Conveyor Belt Discharge—Avoid sampling from the beginning or end of an
aggregate run due to the potential for segregation. To collect a representative sample the sampling
device must pass through the full stream of material as it runs off the conveyor belt. A manually,
semi-automatic, or automatically operated sampling device may be used to collect the sample.

5.4.1. Pass a sampling device, at a constant speed and perpendicular to the flow of material, through the
full stream once in each direction without overfilling; include all material that may adhere to the
sampling device when emptying into the container, or divert the full stream of material into
container.

5.4.2. Obtain multiple equal increments when one increment is insufficient for the required testing.

5.4.3. Combine the increments to form a single sample.

5.5. Sampling from Transport Units:

5.5.1. Visually divide the unit into four quadrants.

5.5.2. Identify one sampling location in each quadrant.

5.5.3. Remove approximately 0.3 m (1 ft) of material from the sampling area. Obtain an increment from
the exposed surface. Repeat in each of the remaining quadrants.

5.5.4. Combine the increments to form a single sample.

5.6. Sampling from Roadway—Berm or Windrow:

5.6.1. Do not take the sample or any increment from the beginning or end of the windrow or berm.

5.6.2. Remove the top one third of the windrow or berm before taking an increment.

5.6.3. Obtain a minimum of three approximately equal increments from random locations along the
windrow or berm.

5.6.3.1. Fully insert the shovel into the location, exclude the underlying material, roll back the shovel, and
lift the material slowly out of the pile to avoid material rolling off the shovel.

5.6.4. Combine the increments to form one single sample.

5.7. Sampling from Roadway—In Place:

5.7.1. Obtain representative sample after spreading and before compacting.

5.7.2. Insert the shovel to the full depth of the material, exclude the underlying material, roll back the
shovel, and lift the material slowly to avoid material rolling off the shovel. Repeat as necessary.

TS-1c R 90-3 AASHTO

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 5.8. Sampling from Stockpile for Coarse Aggregate and Mixtures of Coarse and Fine Aggregate
Products:

5.8.1. Sampling from a Flat Surface Created by a Loader:

5.8.1.1. Direct the loader operator to enter the stockpile with the bucket at least 0.3 m (1 ft) above ground
level without contaminating the stockpile.

5.8.1.2. Discard the first bucketful.

5.8.1.3. Have the loader re-enter the stockpile, obtain a full loader bucket of the material, and tilt the
bucket back and up.

5.8.1.4. Form a small sampling pile at the base of the stockpile by gently rolling the material out of the
bucket with the bucket just high enough to permit free flow of the material. Repeat as necessary.

5.8.1.5. Create a flat surface by having the loader back drag the small pile.

5.8.1.6. Obtain increments from at least three randomly selected locations on the flat surface at least 1 ft
(300 mm) from the edge.

5.8.1.7. Fully insert the shovel, exclude the underlying material, roll back the shovel, and lift the material
slowly out of the pile to avoid material rolling off the shovel.

5.8.1.8. Combine the increments to form a sample.

5.8.2. Sampling from a Horizontal Surface on the Stockpile Face:

5.8.2.1. Create horizontal surfaces with vertical faces in the top, middle, and bottom third of the stockpile
with a shovel, or with a loader if one is available.

5.8.2.2. Shove a flat board against the vertical face behind sampling location to prevent sloughing. Discard
sloughed material to create the horizontal surface.

5.8.2.3. Obtain sample from the horizontal surface as close as possible to the intersection of the horizontal
and vertical faces.

5.8.2.4. Obtain at least one increment of equal size from each of the top, middle, and bottom thirds of the
pile.

5.8.2.5. Combine the increments to form a single sample.

5.9. Sampling from a Stockpile for Fine Aggregate (Alternate Tube Method):

5.9.1. Remove the outer layer of material.

5.9.2. Using a sampling tube, obtain increments of equal size from a minimum of five random locations
on the pile.

5.9.3. Combine the increments to form a single sample.

TS-1c R 90-4 AASHTO

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 6. SHIPPING SAMPLES
6.1. Use bags or containers to transport aggregate samples. Make sure the bags and containers are
clean and undamaged to avoid contamination or loss of sample.

6.2. Label each sample with unique identification labels that contain the following information:

6.2.1. Date and time the sample was obtained;

6.2.2. Sampling location;

6.2.3. Quantity of material represented by the sample, if applicable;

6.2.4. Material type; and

6.2.5. Supplier.

7. KEYWORDS
7.1. Coarse aggregate; fine aggregate; samples.

1
Formerly T 2. First published as a practice in 2018.

TS-1c R 90-5 AASHTO

© 2022 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
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