Grading of Aggregates

Many of the properties of an asphalt mix depend on the distribution of grain or

particle sizes within the stock aggregate. This is determined by subjecting a
representative sample of the material to a sieve analysis using a standard set of sieve
sizes, determining the cumulative percent of the sample that passes respectively
smaller sieve openings and then plotting the percent passing versus grain size on a
logarithmic scale.

Grading of granular material will generally vary depending on the processes (geologic
or engineering) that produced it. Samples of aggregate are generally categorized as
dense graded, gap-graded, uniformly graded, well graded or open graded as
illustrated in Figure 1.

FIGURE 1 – Grading Designations

The Unified Soil Classification system also designates coarse-grained samples that
have 12% or fewer fines as being either well graded or poorly graded. This is
determined by producing a grading curve for the sample, determining the values of
the critical particle sizes, D60, D30 and D10 that correspond to 60, 30 and 10 %
passing, calculating the values of the coefficients of uniformity, Cu and curvature, Cz
and finally comparing these values to critical ranges to determine whether the
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material is well graded or poorly graded. These coefficients are calculated as shown
below:

D60 (D 30 ) 2
Cu  Cz 
D10 D 60 D 10

The values of D60, D30 and D10 can be scaled from the gradation graph or they can be
calculated from the gradation data using semi-linear interpolation with the following
equation:
 P i  P low 
 P high  P low 
 D high   
D P i  D low 
 D low 
The term D10 is also known as the effective grain size and is related to soil
classification as well as the soil’s permeability (the speed that water can seep
through the soil) and its capillarity (the rise of water through a soil above the water
table). Another important parameter, especially for evaluating asphalt concrete
paving mixtures, is the Nominal Maximum Particle Size which is one sieve size larger
than the first sieve to retain more than a cumulative 10% of a sample by weight.

To illustrate these concepts, consider the following example of sieve results for a
fine aggregate to be used in the design of an asphalt concrete paving mixture.

TABLE 1 – Example Sieve Analysis Data for Fine Aggregate

SIEVE %
Designation Size (mm) PASSING
3/4” 19.1 100.0
1/2” 12.7 100.0
3/8” 9.52 100.0
No. 4 4.75 98.6
No. 8 2.38 87.9
No. 16 1.19 71.1
No. 30 0.59 44.5
No. 50 0.297 18.1
No. 100 0.149 7.2
No. 200 0.074 5.3
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The gradation curve for the sample data above is presented in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2 – Example Gradation Chart

The critical grain sizes, D10, D30 and D60 can be determined graphically as illustrated
in Figure 2 or they can be calculated as illustrated below:
 10  7.2 
 
 0.297   18.1  7.2 
D 10  0.149  , D10  0.1779mm
 0.149 
 30  18.1 
 
 0.59   44.5  18.1 
D 30  0.297  , D30  0.4047mm
 0.297 

 60  44.5 
 
 1.19   71.1  44.5 
D 60  0.59  , D60  0.8880mm
 0.59 
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D60 0.8880
Cu    4.992
D10 0.1779

Cz 
(D 30 ) 2

0.4047  2
 1.037
D 60 D 10 0.8880 0.1779 

In cases where the percent passing the No. 200 sieve is greater than 10% the No.
100 sieve would be used for the Dhigh and Phigh and the No. 200 sieve used for Dlow and
Plow. This uses the interpolation equation to extrapolate a D10 value. For example, if
the P200 = 11.2% and P100 = 15.3%, then D10 is extrapolated as follows:
 10  11.2 
 
 0.149   15.3  11.2 
D 10  0.074   0.0603mm
 0.074 
The final evaluation of grading is based on the Unified Soil Classification system’s
grading criteria as presented in Table 2 below. In order to be classed as well graded,
both criteria must be met. For this example the curvature criterion is met but the Cu
value is less than the minimum required value of 6 for sands. Therefore this material
is classified as poorly graded.

TABLE 2 – Unified Soil Classification Grading Criteria

MATERIAL
CRITERION
GRAVEL SAND
Uniformity Cu > 4 Cu > 6
Curvature 1 ≤ Cz ≤ 3 1 ≤ Cz ≤ 3

The effective grain size for this material is 0.1779 mm and the Nominal Maximum
Particle Size is a No. 4 or 4.76 mm as less than 10% of the sample is retained on
the No. 4 but more than 10% is retained on the No. 8 sieve.