1.

0 OBJECTIVE
To determine the aggregate crushing value (ACV) by compressive testing machine.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
The aggregate crushing value is the value which is mostly used in the design of the pavement of
the road because it gives the crushing strength of the aggregate. Other than aggregate crushing
value there are other parameter required in the design and these include; the elongation, flakiness
index and the Californian bearing ratio (CBR) of the aggregate. Thus for this laboratory report
these are not emphasized because their tests were not conducted.

The aggregate crushing value is defined, as a ratio of the weight of fines passing the specified IS
sieve to the total weight of the sample expressed as a percentage. The aggregate crushing value is
a value which indicates the ability of an aggregate to resist crushing. The lower a figure the
stronger the aggregates that is the greater its ability to resist crushing.

2.1 THEORY

Granular base layers and surfacing are subjected to repeated loadings from truck tires and the
stress at the contact points of aggregate particles can be quite high. Aggregate used in road
construction should be strong enough to resist crushing under traffic wheel loads. If the
aggregates are weak the stability of the pavement structure is likely to be adversely affected. The
strength of coarse aggregate is assessed by crushing test. The aggregate crushing value provides
a relative measure of resistance to crushing under a gradually applied compressive load. To
achieve a high quality of pavement, aggregate possessing low aggregate crushing value should
be preferred. These crushing tests can reveal aggregate properties subject to mechanical
degradation and also indicate the magnitude of the problem for design purposes.

The aggregate crushing value is found by the use of the following equation;

2.5
Aggregate crushing value (ACV) =
100%
3.0 EQUIPMENT
An open steel cylinder of nominal 150mm internal diameter with plunger and base plate.
(see Figure 1 below)
A straight taping metal rod of circular cross-section 16mm diameter and 600mm long.
A cylindrical metal measure for measuring the sample having an internal diameter of
115mm and an internal depth of 80mm.
An electric scale balance with a maximum capacity of 60kg.
A compression testing machine with a capacity of 72000kg force.
BS test sieves of size of 12.7 mm, 9.52mm and 2.5mm. (see Figure 1 below)

Figure 1: Aggregate Crushing Machine (left). Metal rod and open steel cylinder with plunger and base plate (right).

4.0 PROCEDURE
1. The aggregate (see figure 2 above) passing the 12.7mm sieve and retained on the 9.25mm
sieve were put in the cylindrical measuring cylinder and poured into the test cylinder as
different layers.
2. The cylinder test apparatus was put on the base plate and the test sample (aggregates)
added in two layers, each subjected to 25 strokes from the tamping rod, distributed evenly
over the surface of layer and dropping from a height approximately 50mm above the
surface of the aggregate.
3. The surface of the aggregate was then carefully leveled and the plunger inserted so that it
rest horizontally on the surface.
4. The apparatus with the test sample and plunger was placed between the platens of the
testing machine and loaded it at a uniform rate so that the required force of 72000kg force
was reached.
5. After the required load was reached, the apparatus was released and the crushed materials
were removed by holding the cylinder over a clean tray and hammering on the outside
until the particles of the sample were disturbed to enable the mass of the sample to fall
freely on to the tray.
6. The crushed sample on the tray was then sieved through a 2.5mm test sieve until no
further significant amount passed, the mass that passed the 2.5mm was weighed and the
aggregate crushing value determined.
7. Step 1 to step 7 was repeated for the second sample of the same aggregate and the
average aggregate crushing value determined.
5.0 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Table 1: results of sample 1 and sample 2

Sample 1 Sample 2

Total weight of dry sample 3172.8 3107.4

taken = W1 (g)

Weight of portion passing 1167.8 1261.7

2.5mm sieve = W2 (g)

Aggregate Crushing Value 36.81 40.60

(%)

Aggregate Crushing Mean 38.71

value (%)

5.1 Sample calculations

1167.8
Sample1. Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) = 3172.8 100% = 36.81%

1261.7
Sample2. Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) = 3107.4 100% = 40.60%

(ACV for Sample A + ACV for Sample B)

Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV) =
2

33.81+40.60
=
2

= 38.71%
 6.0 DISCUSSION
During the laboratory the dry test was conducted, that is, the aggregate was in surface dry
condition. The procedure was followed up to giving results of the tests. These tests are a
measure of the crushing properties of the aggregate. Two tests were carried out for the aggregate
crushing value (ACV) and the mean obtained gave the crushing value. This was to cushion the
errors which might have been realized during the exercise. The aggregate value that was
obtained is used for assessing if the material is worth for the road construction (in this case,
pavement construction). In road construction standard limits (BS EN 13043) are pegged which
are used for these assessments, that is, the aggregate crushing value for cement concrete
pavement shall not exceed 30% and, aggregate crushing value for wearing surfaces shall not
exceed 45%. This is according to standards. From the results obtained above it is therefore
important to mention that the crushing value (38.71%) is confirming that the aggregates are
capable to be used in both cement concrete pavement and wearing surfaces. In other words low
aggregate crushing value (ACV) indicates strong aggregates, meaning crushing fraction is low.
And the opposite is equally true that high crushing value indicates weak aggregates implying
crushing fraction is high. This is an indirect measure of crushing strength. All in all, the
aggregate crushing value helps the highway engineers to ascertain the suitability of aggregates
for various types of pavement components.

The ACV is a basis for designing the pavement structure of the road way thereby helps to
determine the quality, life span (durability), skid-resistance, performance and safety of the road
way. Thus, the quality of the aggregate crushing value should not be compromised.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION

a) Upgrading the crushing Mould to high collar Mould to avoid the aggregate to expel from
the Mould and affected the reading.

b) These experiments are done at the laboratory after taking the aggregate sample from
sites.

c) Consistence is affected therefore maintenance needs to be done to the machines to

avoid this kind of problem.

d) Sample need to be taken double from the balance of 3kg minimum capacity to achieve
the 3kg balance.
8.0 CONCLUSION
The experiment was a success because the objective was achieved. The ACV of the aggregate
was found to be approximately 38.71% and it was concluded that it was not suitable to be used
in the highway road construction as it was above the given ACV limit of 30%. It was also
concluded that it is important to carry out the ACV test before choosing an aggregate for road
construction because it helps in knowing the toughness and abrasion resistance of the aggregate.

9.0 REFERENCES

Muniandy R., Radin Umar Radin Sohadi. HIGHWAY MATERIALS, A GUIDE BOOK
FOR BEGINNERS. University Putra Malaysia: Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia; 2010.
AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE TEST (IS: 2386-PART-4)
Ms R.Mulanga (2015), CEE 4612 LECTURE NOTES, (PAVEMENTS), University of
Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Bullas J.C. and West G. (1991), Specifying clean, Hard and Durable Aggregate for
Bitumen Macadam Roadbase, Research Report 284, Transport and Road Research
Laboratory, Department of transport (British).
Millard, R.S. (1993). Road Building in the tropics. Transport Research Laboratory state-
of-the-art Review 9, HMSO, London.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 OBJECTIVE ........................................................................................................................... 1

2.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1

2.1 THEORY ...................................................................................................................... 1

3.0 EQUIPMENT .......................................................................................................................... 2

4.0 PROCEDURE ......................................................................................................................... 2

5.0 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 4

5.1 Sample calculations ...................................................................................................... 4

6.0 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................... 5

7.0 RECOMMENDATION .......................................................................................................... 5

8.0 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 6

9.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 6