LosAngelesAbrasion

Hardness
Hardnessistheaggregatesresistancetoabrasion
(wear)
Hardnessisanimportantpropertyforaggregatesin
pavementsurfaces
TestedbyLAAbrasionorMicroDeval

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 LosAngelesAbrasion
Measureofresistanceofcoarseaggregateto
degradation(breakdown)by
impact
abrasion
grinding
Note:LAAbrasiontestisnotjustameasureofabrasion!

LosAngelesAbrasion
CoarseAggregate<11/2in.
ResistancetoDegradationofSmallSizeCoarse
AggregatebyAbrasionandImpactintheLosAngeles
Machine
AASHTOT96
ASTMC131
CoarseAggregate>3/4in.
ResistancetoDegradationofLargeSizeCoarse
AggregatebyAbrasionandImpactintheLosAngeles
Machine
ASTMC535

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 Significance
Indicatesrelativequalityofaggregatesources
havingsimilarmineralcompositions
Example:comparedifferentsourcesofgranite
Cannotnecessarilycomparedistinctly
differentsources
Example:granitevs.marinelimestone
Hardrock=Lowerpercentageloss
Softrock=Higherpercentageloss

LosAngelesAbrasion
LocalVariabilityinGranite
16%(MartinMarietta Augusta,GA)
25%(MartinMarietta Cayce,SC)
38%(Hanson Demorest,GA)
43%(Hanson Jefferson,SC)
43%(Vulcan Anderson,SC)
53%(Vulcan Lyman,SC)

ValuesfromSCDOTJanuary2013QPL

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 RequiredApparatus
LosAngelesMachine
StandardSieves
Scales
DryingOven
SteelCharge
#12Sieve

LosAngelesMachine
drum
shelf

charge + sample

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 LosAngelesMachine
Drum
Hollowsteelcylinder,closedatbothends
Insidediameterof28 0.2in.
Rotatesonhorizontalaxis
slopetoleranceof1in100
Dusttightcoverforopening

LosAngelesMachine
Shelf
Removable,steelshelf
Extendsfulllengthofcylinder
DimensionsofShelf=3widex1thickx20
length(each 0.1)
Mountedtobefirmandrigid

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 Charge
Steelspheres
6to12spheres
Average127/32in.diameter
Weigh390to445g(slightlylessthan1lb.)

Charge

Sample No. ofSpheres Total Massof

Grading* Charge
A 12 5000g+ 25g
B 11 4584g+ 25g
C 8 3330g+ 20g
D 6 2500g+ 15g

*Aiscoarsestgrading,Disfinestgrading

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 TypeBGrading
TotalSample:5,000 10g(about11lbs)
in.Stone(passingin.sieve)
2,500 10g
in.Stone(passingin.sieve)
2,500 10g

TestProcedure
Sample
Washandovendry5,000gofaggregatesample
Drytoconstantmassat230F(+/9)(110C(+/ 5))
Separatesampleintoindividualsizefractionsby
sieving
Recombinethesievedmaterialtotherequired
grading
Recordtotalmasstonearest1g

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 TestProcedure
Rotatethedrumfor500revolutionsataconstant
speedof30to33rpm
approximately15minutes
shelfpicksupcharge+sampleatbottomofdrum
charge+sampledroppedasdrumrotates crushing
charge+samplerollatbottom grinding

TestProcedure
Removethesamplefromthemachine
SievedryoveraNo.12sieve
Materialpassing=degraded
Materialretained=intact
Washandovendrymaterialretained(if
required)
Weightonearest1g

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 LosAngelesAbrasionHardness
Mass(weight)placedinabrasionmachine
Mass(weight)ofintactparticlesleftaftertest
PercentLoss
=InitialMass FinalIntactMassx100%
InitialMass

Example
Mass placed in abrasion machine 5008 g
Mass of intact particles left after test 3891 g

(1 pound = 454 grams)

% loss =(5008 g 3891 g) x 100 = 22.3%

5008 g

Report results as 22% (nearest whole number)

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 SCDOTQCTestFrequency
TypeB
Materials ValueRange MinimumTesting
Frequency
55.0&above 1daily
Stone 50.0 54.9 1weekly
(nonslag) 40.0 49.5 1monthly
Lessthan 40.0 1every6months
35.0 &above 1weekly
Slag
Lessthan35.0 1every6months

SCDOTSpecifications
TypeB
MaterialUse Specification
SlagforConcrete 40Max
Slag forAsphaltConcrete 45Max
Interstate/PrimarySurface Courses 55Max
SecondarySurfaceCourses 60Max
Interstate/PrimaryIntermediateCourses 55Max
SecondaryIntermediate Courses 60Max
HMA BaseCourses 60 Max
Asphalt DoubleTreatment 60Max
Concrete 60Max
MarineLimestoneBase 65Max
SoilAggregate Subbase 65Max

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 CommonErrors
Samplenotrepresentative
Incorrectnumberofspheres
Totalchargemassoutsidetolerances
Notsetting(orresetting)counter
Drumnotrotatedatconstantspeed
slipandbacklash
Notremovingallmaterialfromdrum
Samplenotdriedtoconstantmass
Impropersealbetweenhatchanddrum

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