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Table 3- 6: Frequency of testing for aggregate road base

TEST FREQUENCY
Sampling One per 3000 cu.m
Liquid Limit One per 3000 cu.m
Plasticity Index One per 3000 cu.m

Sand Equivalent One per 3000 cu.m

Loss by Abrasion One per 3000 cu.m

Maximum Dry Density (Proctor) One per 3000 cu.m
Flakiness Index One per 3000 cu.m

Elongation Index One per 3000 cu.m

Soundness (Magnesium Sulphate) (5 cycles) One per 3000 cu.m

*Organic Matter Content One per 3000 cu.m
Acid Soluble Chlorides (Combined Aggregate) One per 3000 cu.m

Acid Soluble Sulphate (Combined Aggregate) One per 3000 cu.m

Soaked CBR One per 3000 cu.m

Aggregate Crushing Value One per 3000 cu.m
Water Absorption One per 3000 cu.m

3/14 WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE, DESCRIPTION

3/14.1 This work shall consist of furnishing and placing one or more courses of high
quality crushed aggregate, bound by means of carefully controlled moisture
content, on the prepared subgrade or sub-base in conformity to the line,
level and thickness shown on the drawings or as directed by the Engineer.

3/15 WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE MATERIAL

3/15.1 The coarse aggregate shall consist of crushed rock (each particle shall have
a minimum of one crushed face - DCL Test Method DMS-8:2001) and the
fine aggregate shall be crushed rock or naturally occurring material. The
aggregate shall conform to the following gradation (Table 3-7):

Table 3- 7: Grading for wet mix macadam

SIEVE SIZE (BS) PERCENT PASSING

50 mm 100
37.5 mm 95 – 100
20 mm 60 – 80
10 mm 40 – 60
5 mm 25 – 40
2.36 mm 15 – 30
0.6 mm 8 – 22
0.075 mm 2–8

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The particle size shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of

BS 1377 Part 2: 1990 (Method 9.2 or 9.3), AMD 9027:1996.

3/15.2 The gradation shall be adjusted as required or as directed by the Engineer

within the above limits to ensure the mix has adequate binding properties.

3/15.3 The standards listed in these specifications shall be the latest version at
time of use. The latest version may differ from the version listed at time of
writing of these General Specifications. Wet Mix road base material shall
have physical properties which comply with the following values (Table 3-8):

Table 3- 8: Test properties for Wet Mix Macadam

TEST LIMIT

Sampling ASTM D75: 2009

Liquid Limit BS 1377: Part 2: 1990 : Test 4.5, AMD 9027:96 25 % max.
Linear Shrinkage (BS 1377 Part 2: 1990 Method 6.5), AMD 9027:96 3 % max.
Plasticity Index BS 1377: Part 2: 1990: Test 5.4, AMD 9027:96 6 max.
Aggregate Crushing Value (BS 812: 1990 P 110) 30 % max.
Water Absorption (ASTM C128: 2007a / C127 : 2007) 2.0 %
max.
Flakiness Index (BS EN 933: Part 3, 1997 AMD 14866: 2004) 30% max.
Elongation Index (BS 812: 1990 Part 105, Section 105.2) 30% max.
Los Angeles Abrasion Loss (ASTM C-131:06 or C-535:09) 30 % max.
*Soundness Loss (ASTM C 88:2005) 5 cycles 12 % max
(Magnesium Sulphate)
*Organic Matter Content (BS 1377 Pt 3: 1990 Method 3, AMD 9028: 0.2 %
1996) max.
Chloride Content (Acid Soluble) BS 812: 1988 Part 117 1% max.
Sulphate Content (Acid Soluble) BS EN 1744-1:1998 0.5% max.
Sand Equivalent (ASTM D-2419:2009). 45 min
CBR on Remolded Samples after 4 days soaking at 100% of the 80%
maximum dry density (BS 1377: Part 4 : 1990: Test 7, AMD 13925: minimum
2005)

Maximum Dry Density (MDD), BS 1377 Part 4: 1990 (method 3.5 or 2.3
3.6, AMD13925-2002 ) minimum

3/15.4 The moisture content of the Wet Mix Macadam at the time of laying shall be
the optimum + 1 %. Water required to achieve this moisture content shall
be added at the mixing plant. Moisture determination shall be in accordance
with BS 1377: Part 2: 1990: Test 3.2,AMD 9027:96.

3/15.5 The mixing water should be clear, visually clean and free of matter harmful
to the pavement i.e. soluble salts. Sweat water can be used. Water of
questionable quality should comply with the chemical limitations listed in

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Table 3-9. Water shall be sampled in accordance with BS EN 1008:2008

latest edition.

Table 3- 9: Chemical requirements for mixing water

ITEM LIMIT TEST METHOD

Chloride as CL 250 ASTM D512-04

Sulphate as SO4 350 ASTM D516-07
Alkali Carbonates and Bicarbonates 500 ASTM D513:2006
Total Dissolved Solids including 2000 BS 1377 Part 3:Test
items 1,2 &3 above 1990 AMD 9028(1996)
pH 7-9 ASTM D 1293:2005

3/16 TRANSPORT AND SPREADING WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE

3/16.1 Transport vehicles carrying the plant mixed material shall have a capacity
suited to the output of the mixing plant and the site conditions and be
capable of discharging cleanly. Material when mixed shall be removed at
once from the mixer transported directly to the point where it is to be laid
and protected from the weather both during transit from the mixer to the
laying site and whilst waiting tipping. The mixture shall be transported from
the plant in vehicles that maintain moisture content and prevent segregation
and loss of the fine material

3/16.2 The material shall be placed and spread evenly. The material shall be
spread using a paving machine or spreader box operated with a mechanism
which levels off the material at an even depth and without delay. Except
where otherwise specified, the material shall be laid and compacted in
layers of maximum compacted thickness of 150mm.

3/17 COMPACTION TRIALS OF WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE

3/17.1 If directed by the Engineer, prior to the commencement of the Wet Mix
Macadam Roadbase operations, the contractor shall construct trial lengths,
not to exceed 50 meters. The materials used in the trials shall be those
approved for use as Wet Mix Macadam Roadbase and the equipment used
shall be that according to the Contractor's approved schedule of work.

3/17.2 Trial lengths may not form part of the permanent works but may be
permitted in the construction of temporary detours of sufficient length.

3/17.3 The objective of these trials is to determine the adequacy of the Contractor's
equipment, the loose depth measurements necessary to result in the
specified compacted layer depths, the field moisture content, and the
relationship between the number of compaction passes and the resulting
density of the material.

3/17.4 The Contractor may proceed with the Wet Mix Macadam Roadbase work
only after the methods and procedures established in the compaction trials
have been approved by the Engineer.

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3/18 COMPACTION OF WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE

3/18.1 The material shall be compacted to a field density equal to 100% of

maximum dry density value obtained when tested in accordance with BS
1377: Part 4 : Test 3.7 : 1990, AMD 13925-2002.

Field Density tests shall be carried out in accordance BS 1377: Part 9: 1990:
Test 2.2-AMD 8264-1995; AMD 17229-2007

3/18.2 Compaction shall be completed as soon as possible after the material has
been spread.

3/18.3 Special care shall be taken to obtain full compaction in the vicinity of both
longitudinal and transverse joints.

3/18.4 The surface of any layer of material shall on completion of compaction be

well closed free from movement under compaction plant and free from
compaction planes, ridges, cracks or loose material. All loose, segregated
or otherwise defective areas shall be made good to the full thickness of layer
and re-compacted.

3/18.5 Where directed by the Engineer a Sieve analysis shall be carried out on the
material recovered from 5 consecutive field density tests. Where this sieve
analysis shows oversize material content of 10 % or greater the area of
construction will be removed and the source of the material rejected until
further notice. Where considered necessary other areas of work which were
carried on using material from the same source shall be tested in a similar
manner.

3/19 FINISHING OF WET MIX MACADAM ROADBASE

3/19.1 Immediately prior to the placing of the first layer of the next pavement
course on to the Wet Mix Macadam Roadbase, the final layer of Wet Mix
Macadam Roadbase shall be at the specified density and to the required
grade and section. In order to maintain these requirements while placing
the next course, it may be necessary to water and reshape the surface of
the Wet Mix Macadam Roadbase. This work shall be at the Contractor's
expense.

3/19.2 The surface of the finished Wet Mix Macadam Roadbase will be tested with
a three (3) meter straight edge by the Engineer at selected locations. The
variations of the surface from the testing edge between any two (2) contacts
with the surface shall at no point exceed ten (10) millimeters when placed on
or parallel to the centre line, or ten (10) millimeters when placed
perpendicular to the centre line of the roadway. The Wet Mix Macadam
Roadbase shall be compacted to the thickness and cross sections as shown
on the drawings and shall not vary by more than ten (10) millimeters from
the required elevation.

All humps and depressions and thickness deficiencies exceeding the

specified tolerance shall be corrected by removing the defective work or by

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adding new material as directed by the Engineer. The following additional

requirements are to be complied with:

 The straight edge shall not have any supports enabling it to rest on
the surface.
 The plus tolerance of 10mm from the required elevation is not
applicable if read in conjunction with the thickness requirements of
asphaltic courses, Clause 3/44 unless design finished level is
revised, if agreed by the Engineer, to enable to obtain the required
thickness of the asphaltic courses in a smooth grading in the affected
road length.

3/19.3 Before placing the next construction layer or applying prime coat, the Wet
Mix Macadam roadbase shall be mechanically swept then cleaned with
compressed air to remove loose material. As soon as possible after
cleaning of the surface, the Wet Mix roadbase shall be sealed by the
application of a prime coat as specified. Should the surface of the material
be allowed to dry out before the seal is applied, it shall be lightly watered
and re-compacted immediately prior to spraying with prime coat.

In the event of a section of wet mix roadbase failing to comply, either by

level or degree of compaction, and where the full depth of the layer has
been allowed to dry out, it shall be removed and replaced at the Contractor's
expense, with fresh material. Watering and re-mixing in place will not be
permitted.

3/20 MINIMUM TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR WET MIX MACADAM

ROADBASE
3/20.1 One sample every 1,000 cu. m. or part of as directed by the Engineer shall
be tested for Grading Plasticity Index, Sand Equivalent value, Maximum Dry
Density, C.B.R. and Loss by Abrasion.

3/20.2 Three insitu density tests shall be made per unit (750 sq.m.) of each layer of
carriageway and three insitu density test per unit (450 lin.m.) of shoulder or
as directed by the Engineer.

3/20.3 Special care shall be taken to obtain full compaction in the vicinity of both
longitudinal and transverse joints.

3/21 BITUMINOUS PAVING COURSES, DESCRIPTION

3/21.1 This work shall consist of the construction of the following hot mix
bituminous courses which shall be either Asphaltic Concrete or Dense
Bitumen Macadam as shown on the drawings. Bituminous Paving Courses
shall consist of coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, filler material, and
bitumen binder.

3/22 COARSE AGGREGATES FOR BITUMINOUS PAVING COURSE

3/22.1 Coarse aggregates, which is the material retained on a 4.75 mm sieve, shall
consist of crushed rock or crushed gravel. It shall be clean, hard, tough,

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